Sport Visa by Directorate General of Immigration Strengthens National Sports Ecosystem

Jakarta, KORANTRANSAKSI.com – The Directorate General (Ditjen) of Immigration under the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (Kemenimipas) is supporting the national sports ecosystem by providing easier services and special lanes for foreign athletes handling administrative processes in Indonesia through the Sport Visa.

This support is further strengthened through synergy between the Directorate General of Immigration and the Central Board of the Indonesian Basketball Association (DPP Perbasi) in supervising and educating foreign players competing in the Indonesia Basketball League (IBL).

Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko, stated, “This support is part of Immigration’s role as a facilitator of growth in potential sectors, including sports.”

He further explained that a special team has been formed to handle the sports sector, assisting foreign athletes with administrative processes to make them more efficient.

“The special team consists of representatives from various technical directorates, both in services and supervision. So, while the goal is to facilitate, the supervisory function remains in place,” he emphasized.

According to him, the formation of this special team ensures that Sport Visa services remain adaptive and efficient in line with the evolving sportainment industry. The Sport Visa itself is a visit visa specifically intended for athletes (index C8A) and officials or companions (index C8B) participating in non-commercial sports activities upon invitation from the government or international sports organizations.

In addition, there is also a D8 index for those requiring multiple-entry visas. To apply for this service, applicants need to submit a passport, recent photograph, invitation letter, sponsor guarantee, and bank statement via the evisa.imigrasi.go.id website.

Hendarsam emphasized that the Sport Visa has received a positive response, reflected in its increasing usage trend. In 2025, Immigration issued 6,388 sports visas. Meanwhile, from January 1 to March 31, 2026, applications remained high, with a total of 866 visas issued.

Beyond ease of access, the Directorate General of Immigration also ensures comfort for international athletes by providing special lanes (fast track) and dedicated document inspection counters at airports, eliminating long queues.

Other facilities include the use of autogate technology to accelerate arrival and departure processes automatically. Immigration also provides collective visa issuance and expedited visa processing for sports activities upon request from event organizers.

With these conveniences, it is expected that athletes can maintain optimal performance by avoiding fatigue caused by complex administrative procedures. Hendarsam affirmed that these facilities will continue to be improved as Indonesia prepares to host various international events, such as the FIBA U-17 Asia Cup and the FIBA U-19 World Cup.

“A growing sports ecosystem will bring a positive image of Indonesia to the world,” he said.

As part of its commitment to supporting the national sports ecosystem, the Directorate General of Immigration has facilitated numerous international sporting events from 2023 to 2026, including Formula E Jakarta, MotoGP Mandalika, the U-17 World Cup, FIFA Series Indonesia, the Olympics and Paralympics, and other international sporting events.

“We strive to deliver adaptive services without neglecting supervision, in order to strengthen the national sports industry and boost the economy through international events,” he concluded. (TIM)