Indonesia: New Law Introduces Longer Validity of Re-Entry Permits but Stricter Regulatory Enforcement

The Indonesian government has enacted a new law introducing several changes to Indonesia’s immigration regulations to strengthen regulatory enforcement and provide clearer guidelines on stay and travel permissions for foreign nationals. These changes include:

• re-entry permits for holders of Limited Stay Permits (ITAS) and Permanent Stay Permits (ITAP) are now granted with the same validity period as their permit – one year for ITAS holders, and five years for ITAP holders. Previously, re-entry permits were issued for two years, extendable every two years;
• immigration officers now have the authority to prevent foreign nationals from leaving Indonesia if they have unresolved legal or regulatory obligations, such as ongoing criminal cases. Those with pending criminal cases in Indonesia can be banned from exiting the country for up to six months, extendable for an additional six months; 
• foreign nationals (for example, those with an ongoing criminal case) can now be subject to re-entry bans to Indonesia for up to 10 years, with the possibility of an extension for an additional 10 years. Previously, re-entry bans were limited to six-month increments without a defined maximum duration; and 
• the new law grants the Indonesian National Police wider authority to oversee foreign national compliance, such as the power to request information from lodging facility owners or managers about foreign guests. Previously, only immigration officers had this authority. Specific details are expected when the law is implemented.