Batam Immigration Records 87 Non-Compliant Passport Applications

The Class I Special Immigration Office of TPI Batam discovered 87 problematic passport applications from January to May 2026. The applications could not be processed due to several administrative obstacles encountered during the submission process. Head of the Immigration Information and Communication Section at the Batam Immigration Office, Kharisma Rukmana, stated that the most dominant cause was duplicate applications. In several cases, applicants submitted a request for a new passport, even though immigration data showed they still held or previously held a passport. “The most dominant reason for rejection is duplicate applications. Applicants submit a request for a new passport, whereas based on immigration data, the person concerned still or previously had a passport, so they should have applied for a passport replacement in accordance with applicable regulations,” he said on Tuesday (30/6). According to him, errors in selecting the type of application service still occur quite frequently. Many applicants do not yet understand the difference between a new passport application and a passport replacement. This situation causes submissions to be non-compliant with immigration administrative provisions. Besides duplicate applications, the Batam Immigration Office also found other obstacles, such as incomplete administrative requirements, discrepancies in identity data, and applicants who could not fulfil the requirements or provided inaccurate information during the inspection process. Kharisma explained that his office continues to strive to reduce the number of problematic passport applications through increased public education. This education is carried out through various communication channels, ranging from social media and official websites to direct outreach activities. “Education will be focused on understanding the appropriate type of passport application, the requirements that must be met, and the importance of ensuring that the data submitted is correct and matches the applicant’s condition,” he said. In addition to strengthening outreach, immigration officers will also enhance assistance and information provision to the public before the passport application process is carried out. This step is expected to minimise administrative errors from the initial stage of the application. Kharisma added that these efforts are part of improving the quality of public services in the immigration sector. With a better public understanding of passport processing procedures, the service process is expected to be faster, more accurate, and in compliance with statutory regulations. “The hope is that the public can obtain more effective passport services, while the potential for administrative errors can be minimised,” he said.