KABAR BANGGAI – The Directorate General (Ditjen) of Immigration under the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections has introduced a new regulation for foreign nationals (FNs) residing in Indonesia. According to Circular Letter Number IMI-417.GR.01.01 of 2025, which takes effect on May 29, 2025, foreign nationals applying for a stay permit extension will be required to undergo photo capture and an interview at the immigration office.
Prior to this step, applicants must first register their stay permit extension request and upload the required documents online via the evisa.imigrasi.go.id website. This procedure also applies to holders of Visa on Arrival (VoA).
Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman explained that this policy serves as a form of damage control aimed at minimizing the potential misuse of stay permits, maintaining administrative order in immigration processes, and monitoring the role of sponsors responsible for the FNs.
“This procedural adjustment follows a comprehensive evaluation conducted by the Directorate General. We discovered that the rate of stay permit abuse and sponsors neglecting their responsibilities remains high,” Yuldi stated.
As an example, he cited the Foreign Investment Operation (OPS PMA) carried out jointly with the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) during the first quarter of 2025. The operation led to the identification of 546 foreign nationals suspected of stay permit violations and 215 companies suspected of being fictitious or problematic, which have since had their business licenses revoked by the BKPM.
According to immigration administrative statistics, the number of foreign nationals subject to immigration measures increased from 1,610 cases (January–April 2024) to 2,201 cases (January–April 2025). The enforcement performance in 2025 has seen a significant 36.71% increase in administrative actions.
In accordance with Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration, Article 63 paragraph (2) stipulates that sponsors are responsible for the presence and activities of the foreigners they support while in Indonesia and are obligated to report any changes in civil status, immigration status, or address.
Special provisions are in place for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and those in emergency situations. For these individuals, the entire process—from registration, document submission, and payment to the photo and interview stages—can be conducted directly at the immigration office (walk-in), with assistance from staff.
Yuldi also urged all foreign nationals who are currently applying for a stay permit extension or data update to provide truthful information during interviews.
“We emphasize the importance of providing accurate information to avoid complications later on,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Agus Andrianto, stated, “With this new policy in place, the Directorate General of Immigration aims to strengthen oversight over the presence and activities of foreign nationals in Indonesia and ensure that all immigration procedures comply with existing legal provisions.”(Public Communications Bureau, Directorate General of Immigration)**
