Futuready segment head Gretel Griselda told reporters in Jakarta that based on internal company estimates between 210,000 and 240,000 visa applicants were rejected each year.

“Many of our buyers are relatively young. First jobbers. Young families. They are digitally literate. Maybe that’s why they use online platforms,” she said, “Our customers are mostly 20 to 35,  or maybe up to 40."

For a one-time Rp 70,000 (US$4.95) premium, the company would reimburse rejected applicants 90 percent, up to Rp 8 million, of the visa application fee charged by any embassy. In comparison, a single-entry tourist visa to Japan costs Rp 380,000 and a similar visa to Australia costs more at Rp 1.53 million.

The visa insurance coverage is applicable for up to 90 days after application forms are accepted by an embassy and Gretel said that funds were usually disbursed two to three weeks after claims are submitted to Futuready.

Futuready, a subsidiary of the Aegon Group, a Dutch insurance provider, declined to reveal internal risk-related data, such as which embassies have high rejection rates and the average visa rejection rate among Indonesians.

However, Australia, a country Gretel said was a popular visa-requiring destination among Indonesians, is known to be tightening immigration policies under Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Popular

To rescue or abandon Java?

Govt imports over 1,500 dairy cows to boost milk production

Lessons from Aceh peace process may still be relevant in today’s conflicts