Ministry of Immigration and Corrections
Directorate General of Immigration
JAKARTA - A 32-year-old female foreign citizen from Russia, referred to as AA, was deported by the Denpasar Immigration Office in Bali on Friday, September 6, 2024, due to the misuse of her stay permit. Investigations revealed that AA, who held an Investor Temporary Stay Permit (ITAS), was suspected of involvement in prostitution. According to the Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, AA entered Indonesia with a Visitor Visa in December 2020, which she later extended to an Investor ITAS. At that time, the requirement for obtaining an Investor ITAS was a capital deposit of IDR 1 billion.
"Before the enactment of Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation No. 22 of 2023 regarding Visas and Stay Permits, the issuance of ITAS for Investors could be processed with relatively low capital requirements, specifically IDR 1 billion. When I took office, the new regulations changed the capital requirements to IDR 10 billion for temporary stay permits for investment purposes and IDR 15 billion for permanent stay permits. This change aims to limit the number of foreign nationals receiving investor visas, and we are becoming increasingly selective," explained Silmy Karim.
The adjustment in immigration policy regarding capital investment for Investor Visa applicants responds to Investment Coordinating Board Regulation No. 4 of 2021 on Guidelines and Procedures for Risk-Based Business Licensing Services and Investment Facilities.
In line with this, the Directorate General of Immigration (DGI) is actively regulating investor visa holders to prevent misuse. Immigration also conducts routine surveillance operations on foreigners throughout Indonesia, especially in Bali, to identify those not complying with their residence permits.
"Last June, the DGI took action against 103 foreigners from Taiwan who were involved in cybercrime, some of whom were using investor visas," he added.
Silmy noted that visa issuance can occur procedurally if applicants meet the necessary requirements based on verification results. This verification also includes checks on exit/entry prevention lists.
"If the applicant satisfies all the requirements and does not have any concerning history, the visa can be issued. However, not all foreigners adhere to regulations while in Indonesia. Issues can range from reckless driving to engaging in activities that violate their residence permits," he stated.
Recently, law enforcement action was taken against three female foreign nationals: two Ugandan citizens, referred to as RKN and FN, and a Russian citizen known as IT. Immigration officers arrested them for their involvement in prostitution in Bali.
"Immigration is an agency that performs two key functions: service and law enforcement. As we continue to enhance our services, we are also strengthening immigration oversight. We are accelerating both service delivery and law enforcement systematically, improving our infrastructure and policies. Continuous evaluation is essential to maximize the quality of foreigners entering Indonesia," concluded the Director General of Immigration.
Last updated 25 November 2024
