Foreigners in Bali who are operating on the wrong side of the law are being found out evermore quickly by immigration officials.
The arrest of four foreigners this week on suspicion of working on tourist visas comes as a stark warning to foreigners who are considering overstepping the mark of their visa permits.
Bali Immigration teams are examining two Polish nationals who have been arrested on suspicion of working as illegal tour guides. The man and a woman, known by their initials RS and MT, respectively, were arrested by Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement officers at the International Departure Terminal of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airpot on Friday, 7th February.
The Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Winarko, explained to the reporters, “If it is proven that there have been immigration violations, we will take action in accordance with the applicable regulations.”
The pair were arrested while wearing uniforms of the travel agency they are believed to be working for, and each carrying clipboards. Details released by the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office show that the duo entered Bali on 4th January 2025 both on visitor visas on arrival, which have been extended and are still valid.
Between 1st January and 10th February 2025 Ngurah Rai Immigration Office alone has issued 90 administrative immigration actions. Winarko told reporters, “We are committed to continuing to monitor the presence and activities of foreign nationals in order to maintain a conductive tourism climate in Bail.”
It is not only the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office who have been busy catching foreigners on the wrong side of immigration law but the Singaraja Immigration Office too.
The Head of the Singaraja Immigration Office, Hendra Setiawan, has confirmed the arrest and immediate deportation of two Chinese nationals believed to be illegally working as driving instructors in Karangasem Regency.
The men, known by their initials CJ and AM were arrested following initial checks on their personal documents.
Setiawan explains, “Due to the alleged misuse of immigration residence permits, the two foreign nationals were summoned for further information at the Singaraja Immigration Office.”
The pair entered Indonesia on socio-cultural tourist visas. CJ arrived in Indonesia on 26th November 2024, while AM arrived on 21st November 2024. Their visas were set to expire on 24th March 2025 and 18th June 18, 2025, respectively.
However, both CJ and AM were subject to Administrative Immigration Action in the form of deportation and detention due to carrying out activities not permitted by their visa categories, as in accordance with Article 75 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 122 letter a of Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration.
CJ and AM were deported via I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport on Monday 10th February. Both boarded China Southern Airlines flights, one to Guangzhou and the other to Shenzen.
Bali is seriously committed to catching foreigners who are disobeying the conditions of their visa, and breaking Indonesian law. Forgeries who are suspected of abusing the conditions of their tourist visa on arrival, pre-investment, and investment visas are of particular interest to immigration teams.
Foreigners are reminded that conducting any kind of income-generating activity ‘on the ground’ in Indonesia without a work permit, even if that income is sent to accounts offshore, is illegal.
For example, running retreats, offering tour guiding services, massage, health or wellness treatments, photography services, consulting, real estate management, and taxi services all fall under the umbrella of illegal work.
It is not only illegal work that Bali Immigration is on the lookout for, but breaking the law, disrespecting local customs, and overstaying visas too. On 24th January 2024, a German tourist was quickly deported from the island after he was caught hiking Mount Agung without a guide.
On Tuesday, 4th February, the Head of the Denpasar Immigration Office, Ridha Sah Putra, confirmed the imminent deportation of six men on a range of immigration offenses, including a Ghanaian man who was found to have overstayed his visa on arrival by nearly six years.
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