Dear Members and Friends,
The Indonesia Institute, its members and partners are committed to strengthening our connections with our nearest neighbour, Indonesia.
We have written the attached position paper to raise awareness on how current visa requirements for Indonesians impede tourism, family visits, business and trade between Australia and Indonesia and recommend solutions.
Even though the Australian Government recognises the importance of the economic and bilateral relationship, the visa issue must be addressed as it is critical to maximising the intent of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or the IA-CEPA. When applying for an Australian visa, Indonesians are treated differently to other nationalities in the region and have an outdated application process and a different fee structure. In addition, there are fewer restrictions for Indonesians to visit other neighbouring countries than to Australia, which is a lost opportunity.
The visa issue is critical for Australia and Indonesia, and we welcome any feedback or support from interested stakeholders.
Salam hangat
The Indonesia Institute
