The island's immigration service continues its efforts to track down negligent visitors. Authorities are actively cracking down on violations of visa and passport regulations. From entry bans for minor passport damage to deportations for overstaying or illegal work, enforcement remains strict. Currently, the focus is on the misuse of legal "gray areas" by digital nomads. The government's approach to visa violations is becoming increasingly intolerant.
The new target for the immigration service is holders of pre-investor visas (D12). This visa category, valid for one or two years, allows foreigners to stay in the country for up to 180 days at a time. It is designed for those who intend to invest in Indonesia.
The visa permits specific, well-defined activities related to setting up businesses, including, among other things, field research, feasibility studies, making deals, and preparing business premises. However, since this visa allows foreigners to stay in the country for 180 days over two years, authorities have found that some are using it to move to Bali for an extended period.
We previously reported that the immigration service plans to tighten the conditions under which foreigners can obtain pre-investor and investor visas. Current holders of these documents are being reminded that tourists and remote workers have their own visa categories.
This month, dozens of foreigners holding investment visas have already been deported. Bali's Regional Secretary, Dewa Made Indra, stated: “Yes, colleagues from the immigration service must evaluate how often investment visas are misused and take measures to tighten control. Of course, it’s best to address this issue at the visa application stage.”
Following a series of deportations of foreigners from Bali in the past two weeks, the head of Denpasar's Immigration Office, Gede Dewita, announced that a "zero tolerance" approach will be applied throughout the province. With approximately 200,000 foreigners residing on Bali under long-term visas, the immigration service aims to ensure that all abide by the law.
Dewita stated, "We want to emphasize that Indonesia is a country that upholds the rule of law, and anyone who violates it will face the appropriate consequences. Deportation is our way of maintaining order and safety in Indonesia."
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