Indonesia: Work Permit Delays Due to System Outage

Indonesia’s processing of foreign worker permits has been disrupted following a technical outage in the government’s online portal, causing delays for employers and expatriates.

The TKAOnline platform, which manages applications for foreign employee permits, went offline on September 15, 2025, halting new approvals and slowing ongoing cases. Although the system has since been restored, immigration authorities report that backlogs remain, with processing times extended by at least a week.

The disruption has affected companies across multiple sectors that depend on foreign talent, forcing some to postpone start dates and adjust project timelines. Immigration advisors have warned that the delays could also impact legal compliance if work authorizations are not issued on schedule.

Officials have not confirmed whether contingency measures—such as manual processing or temporary extensions—will be introduced to ease the backlog. Normal turnaround times are expected to resume once pending applications are cleared.