The Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration has launched an investigation into ‘problematic’ foreign investment companies that are sponsoring hundreds of visas for foreigners in the country, many of whom are in Bali.
The investigation comes as Indonesia’s Immigration teams look to crack down on visa violations and close loopholes in the law.
During a press conference held at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, the Head of the Directorate General of Immigration Public Relations Team, Achmad Nur Salehm explained the results of the first wave of the investigation.
He and his teams followed up on a number of Foreign Investment Companies (PMA) who had had their Business Parent Number (NIB) revoked by the Investment and Downstreaming-Investment Coordination Board (BKPM) on 1st November 2024.
He explained “In the Bali region on Operation Wira Waspada in January 2025, the Directorate General of Immigration inspected 267 PMA companies whose NIB had been revoked. From that number, it is known that as many as 74 PMAs in Bali are still active as guarantors of 126 foreigners.”
Through this phase of Operation Wira Waspada, Salehm and his teams secured 186 foreigners sponsored by 86 problematic PMAs.
He revealed “Immigration surveillance in the same period was also carried out on 208 foreigners sponsored by 43 companies that were suspected of being fictitious. Currently, 48 of them have been deported.”
He noted that the foreigners in question were from Australia, China, Russia, India, and Pakistan, who were mostly being sponsored through PMAs in the trade or consulting sector.
Salehm concluded “Based on the results of the examination and deepening of foreigners, we have carried out immigration administrative actions in the form of deportation and deterration. There are some that are still being checked.”
Indonesia Immigration is on a mission to crack down on foreigners conducting illegal activities in Bali, including breaking the conditions of their visas.
Over the last six months, Indonesian Immigration has focused on identifying individuals who are believed to be working on tourist visas, engaging in business activities on social-cultural visas, those who are misusing the pre-investment and investment visa categories, and now foreigners who are obtaining residency permits based on ‘problematic’ Foreign Investment Companies.
Earlier this month Bali’s Denpasar Immigration Office confirmed the deportation of six foreigners found to be abusing the tourist visa on arrival.
It is very clear that the eVoA and VoA only permit foreigners to engage in social visits and tourism activities and to attend some business events. The visa is valid for 30 days and can be extended one time only, for a further 30 days.
The visa costs IDR 500,000 and is available for tourists from over 90 countries. What the visa does not allow foreigners to do is engage in any income-generating work, or business activities while in the country.
For example, foreigners in Bali on a visa on arrival cannot be tour guides, retreat hosts, photographers, drivers, fitness coaches, or yoga teachers.
Officials from the Denpasar Immigration Office confirmed that the six men were all from the UK, Canada, Ghana, and India and were detained on individual and unconnected charges.
All six have now been deported and Immigration teams across Bali remain committed to identifying and bringing to justice foreigners who are found to have been breaking immigration law, or engaging in criminal activity. Criminal activity including hiking Bali’s sacred peaks without a guide.
Immigration teams are focused on Just this week the Head of Singaraja Immigration Office, Hendra Setiawan, confirmed the arrest and deportation of a 41-year-old Norwegian man who was caught hiking Mount Agung without a guide. This is the second such deportation in just as many months.
Setiawan shared “The foreign citizen was secured by the Singaraja Immigration enforcement officers based on a report from the local authorities.”
Adding “After receiving the report, we immediately sent a team to the location and secured the foreigner concerned for further questioning at the office.”
He concluded, “The person concerned will be subject to administrative immigration action in the form of deportation and deterrence.”
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M
Saturday 1st of March 2025
They shouldn't be deported. They should sit in jail if they're so brave to brake the laws & rules. Using a loophole is not an excuse, or they're breaking the rule or they don't. Working with an investor visa is not using a loophole but acting against the rules. Stop.
Jason Markowsky
Thursday 27th of February 2025
Indonesian companies are sponsoring more fake visas than PMA companies. Investigate them all.
Randy
Friday 28th of February 2025
@Jason Markowsky, DO YOU HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PROOF!! Or you are just another bad actor spreading disinformation. Many foreigners have used consulting firms in Bali to set up a PT PMA. So it is up to the individual who knowingly well the circumstances that has been laid out before him or her should they break the law. YES blame the entitled foreigners for their own actions.
This is what an Aussie friend had to say. He got the Work KITAS , as opposed to an investor KITAS, that does NOT allowed to work (that includes conducting meetings, organize etc...) This person has set up a PT PMA...if you are that smart look it up what the acronym stands for. He has been doing well, and knows the law and abide by the rules. This individual knows that foreigners have been caught working illegally under a different KITAS and get deported.
With a KITAS that is renewed each year, you still have to enter and leave the country manually. A KITAS holder may not use the auto gates and I hear a lot from @exp about that on here which he should know that is the immigration procedure and instead he enjoys complaining and posting grievances. Sigh.
Brian
Thursday 27th of February 2025
Yet Donald Trump gets criticized for deporting illegal immigrants. Go figure.
Randy
Friday 28th of February 2025
@Brian, these people are investing and using a loophole to work illegally. There are two types of KITAS (investor that does not allow to work) and a KITAS that allows to work. And it depends what type of company you are setting up for under a PT PMA.
J West
Thursday 27th of February 2025
Well Bali....you went wrong at the very beginning by allowing foreigner criminals to control your visa sponsorship program.
Randy
Thursday 27th of February 2025
“Over the last six months, Indonesian Immigration has focused on identifying individuals who are believed to be working on tourist visas, engaging in business activities on social-cultural visas, those who are misusing the pre-investment and investment visa categories, and now foreigners who are obtaining residency permits based on ‘problematic’ Foreign Investment Companies.” SAME old broken record!!
THEY ALL FOUND A LOOPHOLE because the Indonesian immigration has NOT done enough to explain the content of a visa, the ramifications for abusing the visa rules or these foreign visa violators may simply ignore the law. Indonesia has been willing to give the benefit of the doubt on this one.
However ignorance of the law is NO excuse be it here, in the US, in Europe or even in Thailand !!! DEPORT ALL VIOLATORS. THERE IS NO SUCH THING as a comment “ Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” RUBBISH and RACIST simple as that. In this ever changing global environment, Indonesia may have to safeguard their own people and for the sake of national security of the Republic.
The foreigners in question were from AUSTRALIA, CHINA, RUSSIA, INDIA, and PAKISTAN who were mostly being sponsored through PMAs in the trade or consulting sector. A visa is a privilege and NOT a right. Be smart!! YOU ARE STILL GUESTS IN INDONESIA no matter how much entitlement you may feel that you cannot break no law. Sigh...