Since Director General Silmy Karim was appointed to his post in 2023, the Indonesian Immigration Office has been on a mission to level up its services for both Indonesian citizens and foreigners.
From new visa categories to improved online services and now even more efficient communication, it is clear that Karim is sticking to his promises.
In April 2024 the Directorate General of Immigration launched an Instagram account in English to better help communicate with an international audience.
However, it seems that very few Bali lovers are aware of this new communication channel, as the account has only 2,100 followers.
This account, now a little over three months old, will continue to be the easiest way to keep up to date with advice from Indonesia’s Immigration services.
The account is populated with helpful posts including details on how to extend the visa on arrival, how to use the newly installed auto-gates at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, and tips of how to stay the right side of the law while in the country.
This improvement in communications is part of Silmy Karim’s commitment to leveling up immigration services nationwide.
Since he took up the post of Director General of Immigration for Indonesia, Karim has ensured that the visa application service has become digitalized and launched several new visa categories, making it easier for foreigners to stay longer in the country for tourism, business, and social purposes.
He and his teams have improved the way in which foreigners pass through the country’s busiest airports with the rollout of autogates at Bali Airport and Jakarta Airport.
One of the biggest changes to the tourism visa system implemented by Karim has been the official launch of the e-visa on arrival and the online extension of the visa on arrival.
It is now possible for tourists to apply for and pay for their visa on arrival online, prior to landing in Indonesia. This saves time at the airport upon arrival and also means travelrs are eligible to extend their eVOA online too.
To clarify, only those tourists who have entered Indonesia on an eVOA can apply for their additional 30-day extension online. Those who have been granted a visa on arrival must extend their visa at the closest Immigration Office.
Both the eVOA and the VOA are available to tourists from 97 countries, including Indonesia’s most frequent international arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, France, Germany, China, South Korea, India, and more.
For prospective visitors who have questions about immigration services in Indonesia, there is also a live chat option and an extensive FAQ section on the imigrasi.go.id website.
There is even a section where prospective travelers can answer a series of questions to establish exactly which visa category is correct for their upcoming visit or stay in Indonesia.
The site is available in both Bahasa Indonesia and English. However, the site tends not to work if users are working on a web browser that is also using a VPN or ad-blocker.
The latest development from the Director General of Immigration was the long-anticipated launch of the Golden Visa.
The newly established visa category is a residency-by-investment style visa that allows for high-wealth individuals, investors, or corporations to secure 5-10 year residency permits in return for substantial financial investment in Indonesia.
The visa can also be awarded at the discretion and invitation of the Director General of Immigration and top government officials for talented individuals and those who are working in collaboration with the government.
Speaking to reporters following the launch of the Golden Visa, Indonesia’s Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said “This policy, which has been designed for quite some time since 2022, and finalised in 2023, has finally launched today (25/07/24), and quite a lot of people have expressed and interest in it to is and we have coordinated it with the Director General.”
Minister Uno added, “We hope that this will increase the amount of investment in the tourism and creative economy sectors. We also see opportunities to activate business people.”
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Shorty
Saturday 3rd of August 2024
It would be simple programming to have the e-visa site not affected by ad blockers or VPNs.
Many of people, me included, will only do financial transactions where you have the extra security and encoding of a VPN.
The programming on the auto gates also needs modifying. I have an Australian chipped passport and a KITAS which is obviously in the RI data bank. The auto gate programme doesn't recognise it.
Randy
Sunday 4th of August 2024
@Shorty, using VPN for extra layers of security.
Auto gates recognized US, French passports and a few others who have applied online for the VoA...breeze through.
A Dutch Friend used the Autogate with a KITAP last May. Indonesians nationals may use the auto gates even without a chipped passport as well.
Probably immigration keeps an eye on Aussie chipped passports regardless of the holder’s status. Who knows...
In Japan, some nationals can use the auto gates when exiting and some passports have to be stamped when exiting Japan. Oh well...
Exp
Saturday 3rd of August 2024
Instagram marketing fluff?
The article do not answer why each time I renew a visa I have to bring exactly the same documents as per original application? Have they lost my original application? And sometimes they even ask for things not listed on their webpage to make sure I need to make another visit.
And what is the purpose of "local sponsor" for everything? In developed countries a sponsor may be required to take financial responsibility of a visitor, but that is surely not the case for a local Bali sponsor making (lets say) 5-10 Juta/month.
Shorty
Monday 5th of August 2024
@Exp,
What the f*** are you complaining about? From your posts your'e a long time resident.
211? After initial application and the approval fingerprint and photo it's only every 6 months. KITAS once a year. KITAP every 5 years. If you use an agent, the sponsor is no problem.
It's called security, something you b**** on about.
Of course they want to see the original documents. No matter which visa there's ample time for the nasties to steal your identity.
But then again that would give you yet another topic for whingeing.
Randy
Sunday 4th of August 2024
@Exp, There are 10 countries whose citizens are eligible for the Golden Visa. Australia is not in the list. Oh, that’s too bad!! So you can save your grievances next time you write on here.
Other countries around the world including the U.S., Ireland, New Zealand and Spain have introduced similar golden visas for investors, seeking to attract capital and entrepreneurial residents.
You can’t argue with that right...oh yeah because there are developed countries.
Wayan Bo
Saturday 3rd of August 2024
Anyway it’s a culture clash touch, because: Visa what for 🤣