Immigration Ministry Cooperates with Investment Ministry to Tighten Foreign Entry Permits
DENPASAR — The Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (Imipas) is cooperating with the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) to supervise and tighten entry permits for foreign nationals.
"We are working together with the Ministry of Investment," said Imipas Minister Agus Andrianto on the sidelines of a review of immigration services in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday, 20 May.
According to him, a number of foreigners who entered Indonesia as investors turned out to have fictitious investments and offices. These foreigners were actually working by encroaching on the livelihoods of local residents, including working as tour guides and opening grocery stores.
"This is what we will discuss at the ministry level. When applying for an investment permit, they are not providing sufficient detail," he said.
From a security standpoint, his ministry supervises foreigners passing through immigration checks via automated immigration crossing facilities (autogate). At Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, for example, 90 units are currently installed — 60 at the international arrival terminal and 30 at the international departure terminal.
The installation of autogate facilities at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport began on 27 October 2023, with trials commencing on 1 February 2024. The automated facility captures biometric data from travellers and cross-checks it against Interpol databases, including internal watchlist data. The service is equipped with facial recognition technology and a Border Control Management System.
"Because Bali is a tourist destination with many visitors from around the world, what we are most wary of are foreigners who overstay beyond their permitted duration," he said.
The ministry has carried out Operation Wira Alert, arresting 170 foreigners in Jakarta, Depok, Bekasi and Tangerang for violating residence permit conditions, with deportation as the prescribed action.
Additionally, Agus noted that Operation Bali Becik was also conducted in Bali. During this operation, officers arrested 97 foreigners, 12 of whom had exceeded their residence permits, whilst the remainder were under investigation.
"I believe that with the extraordinary local wisdom of the Balinese people, they can set a good example for foreigners in Bali so that they abide by the rules," he said.
"We are working together with the Ministry of Investment," said Imipas Minister Agus Andrianto on the sidelines of a review of immigration services in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday, 20 May.
According to him, a number of foreigners who entered Indonesia as investors turned out to have fictitious investments and offices. These foreigners were actually working by encroaching on the livelihoods of local residents, including working as tour guides and opening grocery stores.
"This is what we will discuss at the ministry level. When applying for an investment permit, they are not providing sufficient detail," he said.
From a security standpoint, his ministry supervises foreigners passing through immigration checks via automated immigration crossing facilities (autogate). At Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, for example, 90 units are currently installed — 60 at the international arrival terminal and 30 at the international departure terminal.
The installation of autogate facilities at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport began on 27 October 2023, with trials commencing on 1 February 2024. The automated facility captures biometric data from travellers and cross-checks it against Interpol databases, including internal watchlist data. The service is equipped with facial recognition technology and a Border Control Management System.
"Because Bali is a tourist destination with many visitors from around the world, what we are most wary of are foreigners who overstay beyond their permitted duration," he said.
The ministry has carried out Operation Wira Alert, arresting 170 foreigners in Jakarta, Depok, Bekasi and Tangerang for violating residence permit conditions, with deportation as the prescribed action.
Additionally, Agus noted that Operation Bali Becik was also conducted in Bali. During this operation, officers arrested 97 foreigners, 12 of whom had exceeded their residence permits, whilst the remainder were under investigation.
"I believe that with the extraordinary local wisdom of the Balinese people, they can set a good example for foreigners in Bali so that they abide by the rules," he said.