Ministry of Immigration and Corrections
Directorate General of Immigration
JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Immigration (DGI) has unveiled a new design for the Republic of Indonesia passport, featuring the colours of the Indonesian national flag—red and white. This announcement commemorates the 79th Indonesian Independence Day on Saturday, 17 August 2024, during an event at the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski in Jakarta. In his remarks, the Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna H. Laoly, expressed his appreciation for the DGI's performance in implementing many positive changes, particularly the new passport design, which he highlighted as a representation of Indonesian culture on the international stage.
"I appreciate the hard work of the Director General of Immigration and his staff, who have brought about significant improvements, especially with this new passport design. It serves as our identity abroad and acts as a cultural ambassador, showcasing the beauty and uniqueness of Indonesia to the world," said Minister Laoly.
Supporting this sentiment, the Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, explained that the new passport design goes beyond merely changing the cover colour. It aligns with international standards and recommendations outlined in The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 9 on Facilitation, which emphasizes that member countries must regularly update their passports' security features to keep pace with the latest developments. This initiative aims to deter forgery, reproduction, and other forms of passport fraud. The improvements to the passport design are a response to the evolving strategic immigration landscape, considering political, legal, social, cultural, and security aspects.
"This new passport design is intended specifically for e-passports. We have enhanced the quality of raw materials and added new types and quantities of security features. Travel documents must include security techniques capable of safeguarding against various forgery attempts, including tampering with the biodata page," stated Silmy Karim.
The new Indonesian passport incorporates multiple security features, including a heat-resistant cover that is flexible and designed to protect embedded chips. The biodata page is constructed from several layers of polycarbonate and has a protective coating. Additionally, the passport paper is resilient and reacts to chemicals. The ink used consists of both visible and invisible types (fluorescent and infrared), which fluoresce under ultraviolet light, and this ink technology is also employed in the stitching thread of the passport, featuring three colors.
"The design of the passport pages showcases traditional fabric motifs from various regions of Indonesia, with the motifs changing shape when viewed under UV light," Silmy added.
The launch of this new passport design represents an effort to strengthen the Indonesian passport's integrity. The combination of advanced security features, high-quality materials, and modern techniques ensures that the passport remains secure during international travel, facilitating easier authentication. It will also serve as a reliable form of physical evidence in legal proceedings.
Since its establishment in 1945, the Indonesian passport has undergone several colour changes. From 1945 to 1958, it was light grey. Between 1959 and 1982, the colour changed to blue, followed by green in 1983. In 1995, the passport cover became dark green, and since 2014, it has been a greenish-blue colour.
Last updated 25 November 2024
