Authorities in Indonesia will review the tourist visa on arrival policy and pre-investment and investment visa policies that have been misused by internationals who want to stay for a longer period in this country.
In this regard, the Minister of Law and Human, Supratman Andi Agtas, unfolded plans for an investigation and review of the ways in which internationals are misusing visas on arrival, pre-investment visas and investment visas, VisaGuide.World reports.
Once the 60-day tourist visa on arrival has expired, passengers can take a visa run to Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and return a few days later for a further 30-60 days.
Living by visa-run has attracted a large number of digital nomads and long-term travelers who earn a modest income online or who are living off savings, according to the Bali Sun.
Concerns Over Visa-On-Arrival System Abuses
However, concerns have been raised that internationals are not only abusing the visa-on-arrival system when more appropriate long-stay socio-cultural and digital nomad visas are available, but that internationals are also engaging in income-generating activities in Indonesia when they are only allowed to engage in tourism and social visits.
The pre-investment visa, which is valid for 12 months, is also subject to abuses by an increasing number of internationals. This kind of visa permits staying longer than the visa on arrival, however, it only permits very specific activities, such as setting up investment opportunities, holding meetings and market research.
It does not allow internationals to engage in income-generating work, run businesses or operate above Indonesian law.
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.
In addition, Minister Agtas mentioned the example of Romanian nationals who had been caught by the Singaraja Immigration Office working as a dive instructor on a visa on arrival.
The person was caught following the immigration crackdown operation on hundreds of internationals over a two-day period.
Internationals have been caught offering tour guiding services as well as yoga, wellness retreats, and photography services without obtaining the necessary visas or business permits in Indonesia.
Before the spread of COVID-19, most frequent international arrivals were eligible to enter Bali with a 30-day free visa on arrival.
At present, tourists from 97 countries are required to pay a total of IDR 500,000 for their first 30-day stay. The visa can then be extended for a further 30 days for a further fee.
The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economies, Sandiaga Uno, last month said that changes to the visa-on-arrival policy could be introduced from next month.