Bali tourists face 20 years in prison for visa violation

Skift hold

The intent of Bali’s crackdown on visa violations appears clear. However, its success will depend on how the government manages to maintain order while ensuring not to alienate the tourists and investors it seeks to attract.

Peden Doma Bhutie

Foreign tourists who overstay their visa in Indonesia or engage in illegal activities now face prison sentences of up to 20 years.

Tourists who overstayed their visas in Indonesia previously faced a maximum prison sentence of one year. Following an amendment to immigration laws, the prison sentence is now increased to 10 years, plus an additional 10 years, meaning a maximum of 20 years or life imprisonment. Silmy Karim, Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration, confirmed the update to immigration laws.

Operation Jagratara launched by Indonesia’s immigration department aims to preserve the country’s reputation as a safe destination while ensuring foreign tourists do not violate the law.

However, it has also raised concerns about its impact on the country’s tourism in general and the tourist destination of Bali in particular.

What is Operation Jagratara?

Operation Jagratara is a national initiative with Bali as the focal point. The operation includes increased surveillance, immigration checkpoints and a “zero tolerance approach” to offenders. Patrol teams, equipped with new vehicles, are carrying out checks in various regions of Bali, focusing on high tourism areas such as Seminyak, Canggu and Ubud.

In a statement on social media, Indonesia’s immigration department called Operation Jagratara an effort to ensure that all foreigners in Indonesia comply with applicable immigration regulations. “By involving hundreds of personnel and being supported by new patrol vehicles, this operation is expected to create a safe and conducive environment, as well as prevent the occurrence of violations of the law by foreign nationals. The operation also aims to maintain Indonesia’s positive image as an attractive tourism and investment destination.

Operation Jagratara, led by the Directorate General of Immigration, deployed more than 125 officers, equipped with 20 patrol jeeps and motorbikes, to carry out spot checks across Bali.

The third phase of the operation saw an intensification of intelligence cooperation and information exchange with other countries to identify and combat visa abuse. Authorities also urged local residents to report suspicious foreign activity via a dedicated hotline.

Why focus on Bali?

Between January and the end of August, Bali Immigration says it deported 417 foreigners, far more than last year’s total of 335 deportations.

A large proportion of these expulsions involved violations of visa conditions. Some tourists had overstayed their visas, while others were caught working in the country illegally or involved in criminal activities.

In June, authorities arrested 103 foreigners in a raid on a villa in Tabanan regency for running a cybercrime ring.

Earlier this year, Bali began charging foreign tourists a “tourist tax” of 150,000 Indonesian rupiahs ($10) to combat problems of overtourism. Indonesian Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said southern Bali, in particular, was at risk of suffering from overtourism.

Tourists must pay the tax upon arrival at the airport. The government said the money would be aimed at the government’s efforts in cultural and environmental preservation, public services and infrastructure.

Struggling with overtourism, Bali is also considering a two-year ban on the construction of new hotels and clubs. The proposal aims to slow the influx of tourists and preserve Bali’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, which is currently struggling with increasing visitor numbers.

Foreign tourist arrivals in Bali increased by almost 23% in the first eight months of 2024, compared to the same period last year, according to the Immigration Ministry. A total of 4.4 million visitors arrived in Bali between January and August 2024, compared to 3.6 million last year.