Ministry of Immigration and Corrections
Directorate General of Immigration
GRESIK—The Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, has introduced an innovative public service by inaugurating the fourth Immigration Lounge in Indonesia. This new facility is located on the second floor of Icon Mall Gresik and was officially opened on Friday, 18 October 2024. It is the first Immigration Lounge in East Java. It operates under the Tanjung Perak Immigration Office in collaboration with the management of Icon Mall Gresik.
"The demand for convenient access to immigration services in malls and shopping centers extends beyond Jakarta and its nearby areas, and it is also prevalent in other major cities. Given that Gresik is now a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a significant industrial area, the community's need for immigration services is particularly high," explained Silmy Karim.
The Tanjung Perak Immigration Office, which serves Gresik and its surrounding areas, processes around 600 passport applications daily. Thus, the opening of the Gresik Immigration Lounge provides an essential alternative location for immigration services in the region.
The position of the Immigration Lounge near the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) makes it easier for foreign nationals living in Gresik to extend their stay permit. "Currently, there are approximately 3,000 foreign nationals in the jurisdiction of the Tanjung Perak Immigration Office, most of whom reside in Gresik. Therefore, the services offered at the Gresik Immigration Lounge for extending stay permits are particularly beneficial," added Silmy Karim.
The Gresik Special Economic Zone officially commenced operations following the Decree of the Chairman of the SEZ National Council, Number 1 of 2022, on 8 November 2022. It is envisioned to become a new economic hub for East Java Province. The SEZ serves as a strategic government initiative to promote development, encourage national economic equity, and enhance industrial areas that boost job creation in Indonesia. It has various facilities and conveniences for domestic and foreign investors.
To meet the community's needs, the Gresik Immigration Lounge offers an electronic passport service that can be completed in one day, with a daily quota of 100 applicants for Indonesian citizens. Additionally, it provides a visa-on-arrival (VoA) extension service with a daily quota of 50 for foreign nationals. Priority is given to specific groups, such as the elderly, children under five, disabled individuals, and pregnant women, who can access services directly (walk-in) without prior registration using the M-Passport Application.
The Gresik Immigration Lounge operates seven days a week, from 10:00 AM to 17:00 WIB. It also offers passport delivery services through PT Pos Indonesia for those who complete their photo processes and wish to leave the lounge earlier.
This initiative builds on the success of similar programs in Jakarta. Those interested in utilizing the passport acceleration service at the Gresik Immigration Lounge can register in advance through the M-Passport application.
"We are committed to supporting innovative practices implemented in other immigration offices. We hope that this new service will meet the Gresik community's and surrounding areas' needs for more accessible and convenient immigration services," concluded Silmy Karim.
For more information about the Gresik Immigration Lounge, the public can contact the Tanjung Perak Immigration Office via WhatsApp at 081-234-333-700 or the social media account @kanim_tgperak.
Last updated 21 November 2024
