Insights From Bali Immigration Highlight Island’s Ongoing Surveillance Of Tourists 

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Indonesia’s Immigration Teams have been increasing surveillance on tourists to Bali over the last six months.

With Bali Immigration teams recording an alarming spike in the number of violations in the first quarter of 2025, officials were clear that the situation needed to be brought under control.

Bali is Indonesia’s flagship tourism destination. Considered to be one of the world’s most in-demand travel destinations, leaders are acutely aware of the island’s public image on the global stage.

With tourism targets set for over 6.5 million international visits by the end of 2025, leaders have had no choice but to double down on commitments to ensure that high-quality and sustainable tourism prevails as bad behaviour by tourists seemingly grows. 

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It is not only the impact on Bali’s image that leaders are concerned about, but public safety, too. Bali is famed and adored for being an exceptionally safe travel destination for young families, solo travellers, especially solo female travellers, and retirees.

Leaders in Bali are keen to ensure that Bali’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination remains intact. There are even more practical reasons, too. Bali Province’s GDP is primarily dependent on tourism and hospitality.

As many businesses are only just starting to get financially back into flow after the impacts of the pandemic, Bali’s economic survival is almost entirely predicated on a thriving tourism sector.

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A series of major policy changes have been put in place in 2025 so far to help Indonesia’s Immigration keep better tabs on what tourists are up to during their time in the country. One of the biggest changes came into effect in May 2025 when the Indonesian Immigration changed the way in which tourists and visitors on socio-cultural visas could extend their stays. 

The new Hybrid Application System came into place. The policy shift came as Indonesia’s Immigration teams recorded a sharp rise in the number of immigration violations between January and April 2025. In the first four months of the year, 1,620 immigration violations were recorded, representing a more than 36% increase from the same period in 2024. 

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Tourists and foreigners in Bali have been issued with immigration violation orders for a range of issues. The most common of which were overstays, illegal working, and misuse of visa categories.

With the new Hybrid Application System, Indonesian Immigration is hopeful that it will not only discourage illegal behaviour from foreigners but also make it easier for officers to catch those who are breaking the rules.

The new Hybrid Application System now requires visa extension applicants to visit an Immigration Office in person for biometrics and travel documentation checks, and in some cases, interviews. 

In recent weeks, the efforts of the Indonesian Immigration to crack down on culturally disrespectful and illegal behaviour by foreigners in Bali have become more overt.

In early August, the Indonesian Minister for Immigration, Agus Andrianto, ordered the deployment of the Bali Regional Immigration Patrol Task Force, known as Satgas, onto the streets of the island’s most popular resort areas. 

Minister Andrianto told reporters, “The establishment of this Immigration Patrol Task Force is a follow-up from the President’s direction to ensure stability and security in Bali as one of Indonesia’s main tourist destinations.”

The team of 100 on the ground officers will be out on patrol on a regular basis. Identifiable by their black and navy Immigration Agency uniforms, officers will also be wearing safety vests and body cams.

In North Kuta, teams will be deployed in Canggu, Seminyak, and Kerobokan. In Denpasar, teams will be deployed around Sanur’s Matahari Terbit Beach and Benoa.

Tourists on vacation along the Bukit Peninsula may see officers out on patrols on Uluwatu Beach and in Bingin Beach, as well as Mertasari Beach. Patrols will be conducted in the resort area of Kuta, Nusa Dua, and throughout Ubud.