Indonesian Lawmaker Urges Immigration to Strengthen Oversight of Foreign Nationals
A member of Indonesia's House Commission XIII has called on the Directorate General of Immigration to strengthen monitoring of foreign nationals, urging an integrated system covering arrival through ongoing activities in the country. The lawmaker also called for better coordination with police, the labor ministry, and local governments, with Bali and Batam cited as areas needing risk-based oversight.
On October 20, Mafirion Syamsuddin Rogo, a member of Indonesia's House of Representatives Commission XIII, called on the Directorate General of Immigration in Jakarta to strengthen oversight of foreign nationals (WNA) in the country.
Mafirion said monitoring should not rely solely on enforcement raids conducted after violations occur. Instead, immigration authorities need a comprehensive surveillance system covering foreign nationals from arrival through their activities while in Indonesia. "This reform must continue so that oversight becomes more effective and does not only depend on raids or handling cases that have already surfaced," he said.
While acknowledging improvements made under President Prabowo Subianto's administrationāincluding online passport services and the use of autogates at airportsāMafirion argued that integration of foreign national crossing data needs to be strengthened so that arrival and departure information can be linked with on-the-ground activity. He warned that non-integrated monitoring creates potential loopholes for immigration violations, including overstaying and illegal work practices.
Mafirion also stressed that enforcement should not target only foreign nationals who commit violations; companies or other parties proven to have deliberately employed foreigners illegally or facilitated misuse of stay permits must also be held accountable. He called for stronger coordination between immigration, police, the Ministry of Manpower, and local governments to map concentrations of foreign nationals, naming Bali and Batam as areas requiring risk-based oversight.
At the same time, he cautioned that strengthened oversight should not hinder investment and national tourism, saying the immigration system must balance security with legal certainty and good service for compliant foreign visitors. He further urged greater use of technology, including autogates and artificial intelligence, to improve early detection of potential violations.
Things to Consider
This is currently a legislative proposal, not a new enacted rule, but it signals potential future increases in visa and work permit checks in tourist areas including Bali. Foreign residents and long-term visitors should regularly verify their visa/stay permit (e.g., KITAS) validity and ensure proper work authorization if employed. Those on employer-sponsored permits should confirm their company has completed all required legal procedures to avoid being caught up in future crackdowns.
Source: ValidNews