Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration has officially issued C18 visa, a new policy on Visit Visas for prospective foreign workers undergoing skill trials. The regulation is outlined in Circular Letter No. IMI-453.GR.01.01, dated May 27, 2025, and came into effect on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
The Acting Director General of Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, emphasized that this updated rule aims to curb potential misuse of foreign labor by companies.
“There are two critical points in this new policy. First, the maximum stay for C18 visa holders is 90 days, and it cannot be extended. Second, a foreign national is prohibited from using the same company sponsor more than once,” said Yuldi on Monday (June 16, 2025), as quoted by Berita Satu.
The policy applies only to new visa applications submitted after 00:01 AM on June 14, 2025. Applications filed before the cutoff will still follow the old rules. These allow for a 60-day stay with the option to extend.
C18 Visa Application Goes Fully Digital
To apply for a C18 visa, sponsors must register and apply through the official e-Visa portal at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Once registered, the sponsor is required to upload all necessary documents and complete the application online.
The updated C18 visa requirements include:
- A valid passport with at least six months of validity.
- Bank statements for the past three months, either in the name of the foreign worker or the sponsor.
- A recent color passport-sized photo taken within the past year.
- An official invitation letter for the skill trial from either a government institution or a private company.
Yuldi stressed that the new guidelines are part of the government’s strategy to balance facilitation and control in the recruitment of foreign workers.
“We want to support foreign workers coming in for trials, but with restrictions in place to limit potential violations,” he said, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to a more accountable visa process.
In a separate statement quoted by Kaltim Today, Yuldi said the changes ensure the C18 visa is used as intended. It helps screen foreign workers before employment.
“This is to make sure that the recruitment process of foreign workers follows the rules, and that C18 visa usage is more controlled and accountable,” he said.
With the rollout of this updated policy, the Immigration Directorate expects visa issuance to become more selective and transparent, especially for foreign nationals in the trial phase of employment.
The Indonesian government continues to improve immigration oversight in response to growing concerns about the misuse of work visas and the need to protect the integrity of the labor system. The revised C18 visa regulation is seen as a preventive measure to avoid long-term exploitation while still accommodating legitimate employment needs.
For further details and updates, sponsors and applicants are encouraged to refer to the official immigration website or contact the Directorate General of Immigration directly.
Source: Imigrasi, Berita Satu, Kaltim Today
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
