Over the past two weeks, Bali has deported dozens of foreigners posing as “digital nomads” and “investors” who have been exploiting loopholes in the pre-investment, investment and other types of visas.
While Indonesia, and Bali in particular, remain open to welcoming foreign investments, the country is now taking steps to ensure that only those who genuinely can bring economic development to the region are allowed to stay.
“We have requested stricter supervision regarding foreign citizens with problematic immigration documents. On the one hand, we need investment, but on the other, we hope that these permits do not create something that ultimately harms our economy, especially here in Bali,” said the Minister of Law, Andi Agtas, in a statement last week.
As a result, the local provincial government plans to tighten the requirements for granting pre-investment and investment visas.
“Yes, our officials at Immigration must conduct an evaluation, meaning they will be more cautious and selective, and [applicants] must be thoroughly checked first,” stated Bali Regional Secretary, Dewa Made Indra.
“We always suggest stricter verification of passports and visiting visas to prevent this issue, because that is the first filter. If that is done correctly, then the implementation process becomes smoother,” Indra added.
Currently, these visa holders can engage in specific business activities such as conducting feasibility studies and preparing business premises for trading, among others.
The violation occurs when foreigners who are not real investors apply for these visas, often because they cannot meet the requirements for other options like the KITAS and KITAP, which fall under the second home and golden visa categories.
As of today, around 200,000 immigrants reside in Bali on long-term visas, and the government is determined to ensure that each one of them is in the territory for the right reasons.
The Head of the Denpasar Immigration Detention Center, Gede Duty Duwita, informed reporters that authorities are now implementing a “zero-tolerance approach” toward those attempting to misuse visas that don’t apply to them.
Additionally, foreigners holding other types of visas have also been deported in record numbers over the last few days.
Those who can pay for their own outbound flights should do it at once. Those who lack the funds or refuse to pay are held in custody at the Denpasar Immigration Detention Center until they can obtain consular or external financial support.
Most foreigners deported in September include individuals who have overstayed their visas or violated their visa restrictions by engaging in illegal activities, such as working in activities not listed on their visas or gambling, which is both culturally frowned upon and illegal in Indonesia.
In early September, two Russian women were sent home by local police for offering ‘spa’ services in Seminyak.
“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 effort to maintain order and security within the territory of Indonesia,” said Duwita.
According to senior officials, Bali has already submitted formal complaints to the Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, and the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, requesting stricter actions be taken at a higher level.
The government firmly believes that the arrival of foreign workers is beneficial to the country’s economy, but when foreigners abuse their visa conditions, it “pollutes tourism.”