jstar
Mr. 10,000
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Indonesia's immigration law has been revised and the new law has been in force since 19 September 2024. A total of nine changes have been made. The following three changes relate to foreign passport holders.
Immigration officers are allowed to carry a weapon
Before the immigration law was amended, immigration officers did not wear weapons. However, the work of immigration officers - supervision and enforcement - involves major risks, according to Director-General for Immigration Affairs Silmy Karim.
For example, a tragic incident occurred last year, in which an immigration officer was killed by a foreign terror suspect who tried to escape from a detention cell.
Risks lurk in particular for immigration workers working in border areas and conflict-sensitive areas. Employees may face threats, aggression and violence. According to Karim, a weapon can serve as protection and as a deterrent.
Longer denial of access to Indonesia
Another signal that the Indonesian immigration service wants to use to alert foreigners to comply with Indonesian regulations is a longer denial of entry to Indonesia.
A 10-year denied access can be imposed on problem makers. Karim also mentions the possibility of a lifetime deprivation of access to Indonesia.
Longer validity period MERP
This is for many of us the cherry on the cake: As we know to be allowed to travel freely in and out of Indonesia, foreign passport holders who are in possession of a temporary residence permit (ITAS) or permanent residence permit (ITAP) must have a MERP (Multiple Entry Re-entry Permit). This entry and exit permit was valid for a maximum of two years before the amendment to the law.
As a result, a holder of an ITAP, which has a ‘validity period’ of five years, had to renew the MERP after two years. 'That is no longer necessary', says Director General of Immigration Affairs Silmy Karim. The MERP now has the same validity period as the ITAS/ITAP Which obviously will lead to a lot of questions and unclarity.