BNO passport holders get visa free entry

JAKARTA (JP): British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders are free to visit Indonesia for up to 30 days without a visa as of July 1, the director of immigration, Pranowo, said yesterday.

Pranowo said the decision was temporary and that the government would determine if a 30-day visa-free visit was enough.

The government is considering whether to treat BNO passport holders as it does citizens from countries who can enter Indonesia visa-free for a short visit.

Before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China, there were at least three categories of immigration documents required for Hong Kong to visit Indonesia.

People from mainland China who had lived in Hong Kong for less than seven years required a Document of Identity (D of I).

Those who had lived in Hong Kong for more than seven years needed a Certificate of Identity (C of I). A C of I was enough to apply for a BNO passport.

A BNO passport holder can visit Indonesia for holidays, business and investment talks and sociocultural matters, but cannot seek employment, Pranowo said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice made the decision after Hong Kong reverted back to Chinese sovereignty at midnight Monday.

"The policy is just a continuation of visa-free access for BNO passport holders," Pranowo said.

The Indonesian government sets several conditions for BNO passport holders wanting to enter.

They have to have an Exit Reentry Permit, so if they are deported they will have a home country.

They also have to have an ID card showing they are permanent residents of Hong Kong. (pan)