National Internship Programme Batch 2 2026: Can Graduates from Two Years Ago Apply?

The Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) has announced the schedule for the National Internship Programme Batch 2 of 2026. The requirements have attracted the attention of recent graduates, particularly regarding the maximum period since graduation. The quota for the National Internship Programme Batch 2 has been increased by Kemnaker from 100,000 to 150,000 participants. Minister of Manpower Yassierli explained during the launch at the Kemnaker Job Centre in Jakarta on Monday (29/6/2026) that this figure will be divided equally across three batches. “So the first batch is 50,000 people. We will open registration soon, followed by the second batch of 50,000 and the third batch of 50,000,” he said. Registration for the National Internship Programme Batch 2 will open shortly. According to information on the @maganghub.kemnaker Instagram account, company and ministry/institution registration runs from 29 June to 15 July 2026. Participant registration will then take place from 15 to 28 July 2026. The selection process is scheduled for approximately one week, from 29 July to 5 August 2026. Successful participants will be announced on 7 August and will begin their internships on 10 August 2026. While the complete list of participant requirements has yet to appear on the MagangHub Kemnaker portal, one condition has been confirmed: a maximum age of 27 years. The portal states the programme is for “students or fresh graduates of D3/S1 programmes, max. 27 years old, who want to gain professional work experience.” The graduation year limit has not yet been displayed. However, based on the 2025 programme, participants were permitted to have graduated no more than one year prior. Minister Yassierli emphasised that the National Internship Programme is a school-to-work transition initiative, designed to provide exposure for recent graduates. According to Minister of Manpower Regulation (Permenaker) Number 8 of 2025, participants must be Indonesian citizens with a valid National Identity Number (NIK), must have graduated from a diploma or bachelor’s degree programme no more than one year before registering, and must come from a higher education institution registered with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. Companies or institutions wishing to host interns must be registered on the SIAPkerja platform, possess a valid Business Identification Number (NIB) or Mandatory Manpower Report (WLKP), have an active Taxpayer Identification Number (NPWP), be an Indonesian legal entity, have adequate facilities, and be willing to sign a cooperation agreement with the ministry. Participants will receive a certificate recognised by HR departments nationwide, professional mentoring, networking opportunities, pre-internship training, and a government-funded stipend equivalent to the local minimum wage plus BPJS employment insurance. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya noted that 30 per cent of previous participants were directly recruited into permanent positions.