House Member Says Immigration Digitalisation Can Eliminate Bribery

A member of House Commission XIII, Yanuar Arif Wibowo, has assessed that the comprehensive digital transformation of the Directorate General of Immigration can close opportunities for illegal levies while strengthening surveillance of people’s movements. According to him, this step aligns with the 15 Action Programmes of Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto, particularly the strengthening of digital-based immigration services and the supervision of foreign nationals. “Digitalisation must no longer leave manual stages that could potentially open up opportunities for abuse of authority,” Yanuar said in a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday. He added that all administrative processes should utilise technology, including artificial intelligence, to validate and confirm data so that illegal levies no longer occur. He reminded that Immigration is Indonesia’s face to the world and the front line in safeguarding state sovereignty. Each year, he noted, around 25 million people enter and exit Indonesian territory, so the surveillance system must be increasingly modern and accountable. In addition to digitalisation, Yanuar supports the simplification of visa services, Golden Visas, and residence permits while maintaining the principle of selectivity. “We want to ensure that people entering Indonesia have an impact on national economic growth. Screening must be strengthened to prevent issues such as overstaying or visa misuse for illegal work,” said the member of the commission overseeing immigration and corrections. He also stressed the importance of a monitoring system for the length of stay of foreign nationals so that overstay violations can be prevented early. On another note, he appreciated the Directorate General of Immigration’s move to tighten passport application checks to prevent the criminal act of human trafficking. He considered that examining travel purposes, conducting applicant interviews, and delaying passport issuance if suspicious indications are found are important steps to protect Indonesian citizens. “Immigration is not just about pursuing Non-Tax State Revenue from visas, but also about safeguarding state sovereignty. Screening of every person entering Indonesia must be carried out properly, accompanied by strong officer integrity,” Yanuar said. In line with this, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections continues to promote digital transformation as one of the priorities in Minister Agus Andrianto’s 15 Action Programmes. The digitalisation is directed at creating faster, easier, transparent, and accountable immigration services while strengthening surveillance of people’s movements at entry points and within Indonesian territory. The Ministry is also continuously strengthening electronic-based immigration service systems, from passports and visas to residence permits. At the same time, supervision of foreign nationals is tightened through the use of information technology and strengthened inter-agency coordination to support a healthy investment climate and maintain national security and sovereignty. Through this transformation, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections aims for public services that are increasingly professional, free from illegal levies, and capable of providing legal certainty for the public, business actors, and investors operating in Indonesia.