Major Changes To Bali Immigration Laws Could See Naughty Tourists Hit With Huge Sanctions

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Major changes have been brought into effect for foreigners and tourists in Indonesia who are found to be in breach of immigration law.

Whether breaking the conditions of a visa, overstaying, or breaking the law more broadly, foreigners could soon be hit with life behind bars and prison sentences. 

The news comes as Indonesia’s Department of Immigration looks to double down on its zero-tolerance approach to foreigners violating the law in the country.

The issue has become such a focal point due to the rapid number of unruly forgeries in popular destinations like Bali. In 2024 to date, Bali has already deported over 400 people for violating a range of immigration laws.

As part of a commitment to better handle the number of foreigners breaking the law, Indonesia’s Immigration department is taking both a proactive and reactive approach.

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Part of the proactive approach Directorate General of Immigration for Indonesia, Silmy Karim, has confirmed the official enactment of the Draft Law (RUU) on the Third Amendment to Law No. 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration.

The updated policy creates significant changes in the official supervision of foreigners in Indonesia, especially related to sanctions for those who violate immigration law. 

As outlined by NusaBali, “With the implementation of this new rule, the [immigration] sanctions that were previously only valid for six months to one year have now increased to 10 years, plus an additional up to 10 years, which means a maximum of 20 years or a lifetime. In fact, for foreigners who commit serious offenses such as being a criminal suspect with a prison sentence of more than five years, detainment sanctions can be applied for life.”

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The policy has been updated to help tackle the rising number of foreigners who have been found to be overstaying their visas by months on end and, in some cases, even years. 

The next crackdown expected to impact foreigners wishing to stay long-term in provinces like Bali is the readjustment of the investment and pre-investment visa policies.

These visa categories have been noted to have been exploited by many foreigners who have been unable to meet the criteria for KITAS and KITAP visas, which will soon be more difficult to obtain. 

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During the launch of the next phase of the immigration mission Operation Jakarta in Bali’s Benoa Habrr this week, Karim explained, “Investor visa is considered cheaper because there is no need to pay ITAS every year. After we went into it, the deposited capital turned out to be only Rp 1 billion…only IDR 1 billion is micro entry [point].”

“That’s why we will regulate, we even give a limited opportunity until the end of December to increase the paid capital to IDR 10 billion. This is what I think we need to uphold.”

Karim has also given Bali Immigration Offices access to even more patrol vehicles to help improve the mobility of officers across the province.

In a grand ceremony held at Benoa Harbour, Karim deployed 20 patrol jeeps and 20 patrol motorcycles to help support the 125 officers who have been deployed across Bali as part of Operation Jagratara. 

Karim and the central government have also introduced a new policy that permits high-level and highly trained immigration officers to carry firearms while deployed.

While many immigration offenses are straightforward overstay offenses or cases of visa abuse, there have been cases in the last two years whereby immigration officials have apprehended dangerous international criminals. 

Karim explained to reporters, “High work risks also lurk for immigration officers who guard the country’s borders, especially in conflict-prone areas. Officers often secure dangerous transnational criminals, so the use of firearms is needed as self-protection and to ensure officers can catch the perpetrators.”