Bali Immigration Launch Investigation Into Misuse Of Tourist Visas

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Leaders in Indonesia have announced plans to review the tourist visa on arrival policy and pre-investment and investment visa policies that have been regularly misused by foreigners who want to stay long-term on the island. 

The Minister of Law and Human, Supratman Andi Agtas, has announced an investigation and review into the ways in which foreigners are misusing visas on arrival, pre-investment visas, and investment visas.

These three categories come with a strict set of rules as to what activities are and are not permitted.

As Bali battled against foreigners conducting illegal businesses, abusing the grey areas of digital nomadism, and holidaymakers breaking the law and engaging in antisocial behavior, visa crackdowns could be on the horizon. 

In theory, there is nothing policy-wise stopping a foreigner who wishes to stay in Indonesia on a long-term basis using back-to-back visas on arrival.

Once the current 60-day tourist visa on arrival has expired, travelers can simply take a visa run to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or Bangkok and return a few days later for a further 30-60 days.

Indeed, ‘living by visa-run’ has been the approach taken by many digital nomads and long-term travelers who earn a modest income online or who are living off savings.

However, leaders are now concerned that foreigners are not only abusing the visa-on-arrival system when more appropriate long-stay socio-cultural and digital nomad visas are now available, but that foreigners are also engaging in income-generating activities in Indonesia when they are only permitted to engage in tourism and social visits.

The pre-investment visa, which is typically valid for 12 months, is also believed to be being abused by an increasing number of foreigners.

The visa category appeals to many as it permits staying longer than the visa on arrival; however, it also only permits very specific activities, such as setting up investment opportunities, holding meetings, and market research.

It does not permit foreigners to engage in income-generating work, run businesses, or operate above Indonesian law. 

Minister Agtas told reporters, “We have asked for supervision regarding the existence of foreign citizens whose immigration documents are problematic. On the one hand, we need investment. On the other hand, we hope for an investment that does not create something that actually harms our economy and Bali in particular.”

Minister Agtas used the example of a Romanian citizen who had been caught by the Singaraja Immigration Office working as a dive instructor on a visa on arrival.

The man, known by his initials BSS, was caught as part of the immigration crackdown operation known as Jagratara, whereby immigration conducted surprise spot checks on hundreds of foreigners over a two-day period.

BSS has subsequently been deported and is just one of dozens of foreigners who have been caught working illegally in Bali.

Immigration is acutely aware that there are likely hundreds more doing the same in one way or another.

Foreigners have been caught offering tour guiding services, photography services, yoga and wellness retreats, operating real estate agencies, and business consulting services without the correct visas or business permits in Indonesia. 

Plans are already underway to review the visa-on-arrival policy in the context of its cost.

While immigration officials want to see the policy tightened or more strictly enforced to ensure it is used only by tourists, social visitors, and a specific set of business visitors, tourism leaders and business owners want to see the visa fee waived. 

Before the pandemic, the 30-day visa on arrival was free for the majority of Bali’s most frequent international arrivals.

Now tourists from 97 countries must pay IDR 500,000 for their first 30-day day, and the visa is extendable by a further 30 days for a further fee.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economies, Sandiaga Uno, told reporters last month that amendments to the visa-on-arrival policy could be implemented as early as October 2024.