Foreigners Found Overstaying Bali Tourist Visas By 9 Months 

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Immigration teams deployed as part of Operation Jagratara, a crackdown on foreigners abusing the visa system in Bali, have continued to find violations this week.

Four more foreigners have been rounded up as part of the targeted immigration mission and have even been found to have been overstaying their visas by months on end.

Speaking to reporters the Head of the Singaraja Immigration Office, Hendra Setiawan, revealed that four foreign nationals that were arrested earlier this week were HED, 74, from Switzerland, KCD, 57, from Canada, and two Russian citizens with the initials DS, 41, and AV, 33. Due to privacy laws immigration teams generally only identify offenders by their initials, ages and nationalities.

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Setiawan told reporters, “HED has overstayed for 275 days. For now, the person concerned is still waiting for the administrative process for further deportation and detention.”

He went on to confirm that KCD was secured in the Karangasem Regency area for committing violations by carrying out activities not in accordance with his residence permit. The male foreigner had entered Indonesia on an investor visa.

However, when questioned by officers, he could not show documents related to PMA (Foreign Investment), and according to details shared by Bali Immigration, KCD, who is originally from Canada, also admitted that he had lost contact with his guarantor and had no place to live. 

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Setiawan confirmed that the Russian couple, known by their initials DS and AV, did not report a change in their residential address while in Bali. Both were secured at an address in Buleleng Regency. When their place of residence was confirmed, the two foreigners admitted that they had indeed lived there. However, until now, neither has reported their place of residence.

Setiawan noted that while HED will be held in detention pending deportation, the other three offenders remain under investigation. He confirmed that HED, who had overstayed, was charged with Article 78 paragraph (3) of Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration.

Setiawan added, “For the other three people, examination and investigation are still being carried out regarding the immigration violations committed.”

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He concluded, “We deployed patrol teams to locations that are vulnerable to the presence of foreigners in our work area, namely Buleleng, Jembrana, and Karangasem Regencies.”

Elsewhere this week, immigration patrols were carried out in Central Ubud, though no violations were found. Speaking to reporters, the Head of the Denpasar Class I TPI Immigration Office, Ridha Sah Putra, explained that this week’s patrol targeted two main locations: Jalan Monkey Forest and Ubud Art Market, both of which are the busiest tourist centers of Ubud. 

Immigration officers across Bali have the full backing of the Directorate General of Immigration, ISlmy Karim, and the Head of the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Pramella Yunidar Pasaribu, who is clear that the zero tolerance approach to foreigners breaking immigration law will be upheld.

She previously announced, “This monitoring is carried out to ensure that all foreigners in Bali comply with immigration regulations. We want to keep Bali safe and conducive for tourists and local residents.”

And has added, “Immigration patrols will continue to be carried out routinely in various other locations in Bali that are tourist centers to ensure that security and order are maintained.”

Earlier this month, Silmy Karim awarded Bali Immigration over 20 new immigration patrol vehicles to help officers be increasingly mobile across the island.

Operation Jagratara is ongoing and is focused on identifying foreigners who are breaking immigration law and engaging in criminal activities.

The most appropriate visa for most Bali holidaymakers is the 30-day visa on arrival or e-visa on arrival, which can be arranged before flying to Indonesia.

The visa costs IDR 500,000 and can be extended for 30 more days. It permits visitors to engage in tourism-related activities, a limited range of business activities, and social visits.