Business travel to Jakarta, planned from Pakistan
Jakarta is Indonesia’s capital and commercial centre, and Indonesia is one of Pakistan’s biggest trading partners in Asia, mainly through palm oil. Pakistani companies go there to meet palm-oil and commodity suppliers, textile and garment firms, and distributors for food and pharmaceuticals.
Jakarta for business travellers from Pakistan
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visa | Pakistani citizens are not eligible for visa on arrival. Apply in advance for the C2 business visit e-visa on Indonesia’s official e-visa website. |
| C2 visa | Single entry, for meetings, negotiations, contracts and inspections, not paid work. Allows a stay of up to 60 days. |
| Documents | Passport valid for at least six months, photo, recent bank statement and business invitation or correspondence. |
| Airport | Soekarno-Hatta International (CGK), west of the city. |
| Flight time | About 9 to 11 hours with one stop, often via Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or the Gulf. |
| Working week | Monday to Friday; many offices close early on Friday for prayers. |
| Money | Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Cards are accepted in hotels and malls; carry cash for smaller places. |
The Indonesian business e-visa
Indonesia does not offer visa on arrival to Pakistani passport holders, so the visa must be issued before travel. The C2 business visit e-visa, applied for on the Directorate General of Immigration’s official e-visa website, covers meetings, negotiations, signing contracts and inspecting goods or factories. It does not allow paid work.
Check the official site for whether a sponsor is needed in your case; the rules list some nationalities that need one. A letter from the Indonesian company explaining the meetings makes the file stronger.
Palm oil, textiles and food
Pakistan buys large volumes of Indonesian palm oil, and many edible-oil and ghee companies send buyers to Jakarta and to plantation and refinery areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Indonesia also has a large textile and garment industry, and Pakistani yarn and fabric exporters meet buyers there.
Where business happens
Jakarta’s traffic is among the worst in Asia, so the hotel must be close to meetings:
- Sudirman and Thamrin for banks, corporate offices and ministries
- SCBD and Kuningan for headquarters and embassies
- Kemayoran for JIExpo, the main exhibition centre
- BSD City, south-west, for ICE BSD, another large exhibition venue
- Cikarang and Karawang, east of the city, for factories
Getting around and meeting culture
The MRT and TransJakarta buses cover parts of the centre, but most trips need a car or ride-hailing. Allow an hour or more from the airport. Indonesian business culture is polite and relationship-based; decisions take time, and patience is valued. The country has the world’s largest Muslim population, so halal food and prayer facilities are easy to find.
How Go Global manages a Jakarta trip
Visa plan
We prepare the C2 e-visa application.
Flights
One-stop routes into Soekarno-Hatta.
Hotels
Close to meetings to cut travel time.
In Jakarta
Cars and drivers, and trips to industrial zones.
After the trip
One invoice and a trip record.
Jakarta business travel questions
Can Pakistanis get a visa on arrival in Indonesia?
No. Apply for the e-visa before travel.
Which visa is used for business meetings?
The C2 business visit e-visa, which allows meetings, negotiations and inspections, but not paid work.
How long can I stay on a C2 visa?
Up to 60 days, according to the Directorate General of Immigration.
How long is the drive from the airport?
Plan for an hour or more, depending on traffic.
More guides: China, Africa and visas
Planning a trip to Jakarta?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.