Batam Immigration Flags 280 Foreigners for Permit Abuse
Batam Immigration Flags 280 Foreigners for Permit Abuse
Reporter
September 29, 2026 | 08:30 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Class I Special Immigration Office in Batam, Riau Islands, recorded 280 foreign nationals abusing their stay permits between January and August 2026.
Kharisma Rukmana, head of information and communication at the Batam Immigration Office, said enforcement data showed this group accounted for roughly 78 percent of all foreign nationals subjected to administrative immigration actions during that period.
He explained that the violations involved activities inconsistent with the purpose of their stay permits, as stipulated in Article 122(a) of Law No. 6/2011 on Immigration.
“In addition to misusing stay permits, Batam Immigration recorded 42 foreign nationals committing violations by overstaying their permits,” Kharisma said when contacted in Batam on Tuesday.
He added that 30 foreign nationals faced administrative action for engaging in activities that threatened public order and security or for flouting laws and regulations.
Meanwhile, seven individuals were found to have entered or exited Indonesian territory without passing through designated Immigration Checkpoints (TPI).
While monitoring foreign nationals, Batam Immigration also caught an unusual departure pattern among Indonesian citizens: using Saudi Arabian work visas to perform the Umrah pilgrimage.
“On February 28, 2026, Immigration officers at the Hang Nadim TPI delayed the departure of five Indonesian citizens suspected of planning to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah using work visas,” said Kharisma.
The case raised concerns due to a clear mismatch between the visa type held and the stated purpose of travel given to officers.
Kharisma noted that Batam Immigration subsequently launched an in-depth investigation to ensure travel documents aligned with travelers’ intended departures.
In response, the agency continues to sharpen document checks and travel verification as part of heightened oversight, targeting both foreign nationals in Batam and outbound Indonesian travelers.
“These efforts aim to ensure compliance with immigration regulations and prevent the misuse of travel documents and stay permits,” said Kharisma.
Read: Bali Immigration Detains 13 Foreign Nationals Over Suspected Prostitution
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