Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration has issued new regulations for the issuance of C18 visit visas for foreign nationals seeking to undergo skills trials before employment, in an effort to tighten oversight and prevent misuse by companies.
The new provisions, detailed in Circular Letter Number IMI-453.GR.01.01 dated 27 May 2025, took effect on Saturday, 14 June 2025.
“Through this regulation, we hope to prevent the misuse of foreign workers by companies,” said Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman in a statement on Tuesday, 17 June 2025.
Visa valid for 90 days, non-renewable
Under the updated rule, the C18 visa grants a maximum stay of 90 days and cannot be extended. In addition, foreign nationals are no longer allowed to apply for the same visa more than once with sponsorship from the same company.
Yuldi said visa applications submitted before 14 June 2025 at 00:01 WIB will follow the previous rules, allowing a stay of up to 60 days with the possibility of renewal.
Mandatory online registration and document requirements
Sponsors or guarantors for prospective foreign workers must now have a registered account on the official portal evisa.imigrasi.go.id to apply for the C18 visa.
Applicants must submit a valid passport with at least six months’ validity, proof of financial capability in the form of a bank statement from the past three months (either under the applicant’s or sponsor’s name), a recent color passport photo taken within the past year, and an official letter of invitation to participate in a skills trial from a government agency or private institution.
“The Directorate General of Immigration aims to facilitate prospective foreign workers while restricting their mobility to minimize the risk of violations,” Yuldi added.
