Immigration Authorities Impose New Photo and Interview Requirements for Foreign Residents Extending Stay Permits
The Directorate General of Immigration under the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services has established new regulations for the processing of stay permits for foreign nationals in Indonesia.
Referring to Circular Letter Number IMI-417.GR.01.01 of 2025, which will take effect from 29 May 2025, foreign nationals residing in Indonesia will be required to have their photograph taken and undergo an interview at an immigration office when applying for stay permit extensions.
Prior to these steps, foreign nationals must register their stay permit applications and upload required documents online through the evisa.imigrasi.go.id website. The procedure also applies to foreign nationals holding visa on arrival (VoA).
Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman explained that the policy was established as a damage control measure, aimed at minimising the potential misuse of stay permits, maintaining orderly immigration administration, and supervising the role of foreign national sponsors.
"We have devised this adjustment to the stay permit extension procedures after carefully examining the results of a comprehensive evaluation by the Directorate General of Immigration. We found that the rate of stay permit misuse and sponsors failing to fulfil their responsibilities remains high," he said in a written statement on Monday (2 June 2025).
During the foreign investment operations (OPS PMA), conducted jointly with the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) during the first quarter of 2025, the Directorate General of Immigration identified a total of 546 foreign nationals suspected of stay permit misuse, as well as 215 companies suspected of being fictitious or problematic whose business licences had been revoked by BKPM.
Based on periodic statistical data on immigration administrative actions, the January to April 2024 period recorded 1,610 foreign nationals, whilst the January to April 2025 period recorded 2,201 foreign nationals. Immigration law enforcement performance based on administrative actions in 2025 increased significantly, rising by 36.71 per cent.
Under Law Number 6 of 2011 on Immigration, Article 63 Paragraph (2) states that sponsors are responsible for the presence and activities of the foreign nationals they sponsor during their stay in Indonesian territory, and are obliged to report any changes in civil status, immigration status, and address.
For foreign nationals belonging to vulnerable groups — such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those in urgent circumstances — the application process, document submission, and payment may be conducted in person simultaneously with the photograph and interview at the immigration office on a walk-in basis, with assistance from officers.
Yuldi also urged all foreign nationals currently processing stay permit extensions or data changes to provide truthful information during interviews with officers. "We remind foreign nationals to provide completely truthful information to officers to avoid difficulties in the future," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services Agus Andrianto said that with the implementation of this policy, his ministry hopes to strengthen the surveillance system for the presence and activities of foreign nationals in Indonesia. "This measure also ensures that all immigration processes are conducted in accordance with prevailing legal provisions," he explained.
Referring to Circular Letter Number IMI-417.GR.01.01 of 2025, which will take effect from 29 May 2025, foreign nationals residing in Indonesia will be required to have their photograph taken and undergo an interview at an immigration office when applying for stay permit extensions.
Prior to these steps, foreign nationals must register their stay permit applications and upload required documents online through the evisa.imigrasi.go.id website. The procedure also applies to foreign nationals holding visa on arrival (VoA).
Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman explained that the policy was established as a damage control measure, aimed at minimising the potential misuse of stay permits, maintaining orderly immigration administration, and supervising the role of foreign national sponsors.
"We have devised this adjustment to the stay permit extension procedures after carefully examining the results of a comprehensive evaluation by the Directorate General of Immigration. We found that the rate of stay permit misuse and sponsors failing to fulfil their responsibilities remains high," he said in a written statement on Monday (2 June 2025).
During the foreign investment operations (OPS PMA), conducted jointly with the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) during the first quarter of 2025, the Directorate General of Immigration identified a total of 546 foreign nationals suspected of stay permit misuse, as well as 215 companies suspected of being fictitious or problematic whose business licences had been revoked by BKPM.
Based on periodic statistical data on immigration administrative actions, the January to April 2024 period recorded 1,610 foreign nationals, whilst the January to April 2025 period recorded 2,201 foreign nationals. Immigration law enforcement performance based on administrative actions in 2025 increased significantly, rising by 36.71 per cent.
Under Law Number 6 of 2011 on Immigration, Article 63 Paragraph (2) states that sponsors are responsible for the presence and activities of the foreign nationals they sponsor during their stay in Indonesian territory, and are obliged to report any changes in civil status, immigration status, and address.
For foreign nationals belonging to vulnerable groups — such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those in urgent circumstances — the application process, document submission, and payment may be conducted in person simultaneously with the photograph and interview at the immigration office on a walk-in basis, with assistance from officers.
Yuldi also urged all foreign nationals currently processing stay permit extensions or data changes to provide truthful information during interviews with officers. "We remind foreign nationals to provide completely truthful information to officers to avoid difficulties in the future," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services Agus Andrianto said that with the implementation of this policy, his ministry hopes to strengthen the surveillance system for the presence and activities of foreign nationals in Indonesia. "This measure also ensures that all immigration processes are conducted in accordance with prevailing legal provisions," he explained.