South Jakarta Immigration Raids 'Celebrity Portrait' Event, 13 Foreign Nationals Found in Violation

The South Jakarta Immigration Office has taken action against 13 foreign nationals who were conducting a commercial photo shoot, finding that they had violated the terms of their stay permits in Indonesia.

“The Intelligence and Enforcement Team of the South Jakarta Immigration Office carried out immigration monitoring during the ‘Celebrity Portrait’ event,” the South Jakarta Immigration Office stated via its Instagram account @kanimjaksel on Friday (20 February 2026).

Based on the results of the inspection, the foreign nationals had organised a ‘Celebrity Portrait’ event — a celebrity-style photo session held on a commercial basis and open to the public. The foreign nationals originated from several countries.

“During the event, the South Jakarta Immigration team discovered the involvement of 13 foreign nationals from China and Malaysia who were serving as photographers, make-up artists, and stylists, clearly carrying out work activities of a commercial nature,” the office said.

The foreign nationals had entered Indonesia on A1, B1, and C2 visit stay permits. These categories of permit do not authorise the holder to work or receive remuneration.

“On that basis, all 13 foreign nationals apprehended were subject to administrative immigration measures in the form of deportation back to their countries of origin,” the office stated.

The deportations were carried out via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport under close escort by intelligence and enforcement officers from the South Jakarta Immigration Office. The foreign nationals were also placed on a prevention list, barring them from re-entering Indonesia for a specified period.

“Immigration monitoring will continue as a form of oversight to ensure that every foreign national conducting activities within Indonesian territory does so in accordance with the purpose and conditions of their stay permit. Through these measures, it is hoped that order, legal certainty, and the prevention of potential immigration violations can be achieved in order to safeguard national sovereignty,” the office said.