Visa Applications for Indonesian Migrant Workers to Türkiye Nearly Double, Government Seeks Faster Processing

Indonesia and Türkiye strengthen coordination to improve work visa processing amid growing labor demand.

Jakarta — The number of work visa applications submitted by Indonesian migrant workers to Türkiye has nearly doubled over the past year, reflecting the country’s increasing demand for foreign workers across several sectors, including hospitality and tourism.

According to Indonesia’s Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI), the significant rise in applications has led to longer visa processing times for workers who have completed their recruitment process. To address the issue, Deputy Minister Christina Aryani met with Turkish Ambassador to Indonesia Prof. Dr. Talip Küçükcan, accompanied by representatives from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss solutions that could improve the visa issuance process.

During the meeting, Christina Aryani revealed that visa applications increased from approximately 6,700 applications during the November 2024–April 2025 period to nearly 12,000 applications in the same period a year later. Around 6,500 applications are currently awaiting processing, highlighting the growing demand for Indonesian workers in Türkiye.

“We hope this meeting will produce concrete solutions so Indonesian migrant workers who have completed the recruitment process can receive their visas more efficiently and begin working in Türkiye as scheduled,” Christina Aryani stated.

Both governments agreed to strengthen communication through the existing Joint Working Group (JWG) under the bilateral labor cooperation framework. The initiative is expected to improve coordination between relevant institutions, identify administrative bottlenecks, and support a more efficient visa application process while maintaining compliance with immigration regulations.

The increase in visa applications also reflects Türkiye’s expanding labor market, particularly in industries experiencing continuous growth such as tourism and hospitality. Hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other tourism businesses continue to seek qualified workers to support rising international visitor numbers.

For Indonesian hospitality professionals, the latest development demonstrates that Türkiye remains an attractive destination for building an international career. While visa processing may require additional time during periods of high application volumes, candidates are encouraged to ensure all required documents are complete and to follow official recruitment procedures through licensed placement agencies.

As cooperation between Indonesia and Türkiye continues to strengthen, both countries remain committed to supporting safe, transparent, and well-managed labor mobility that benefits workers, employers, and the hospitality industry alike.