Indonesia Issues Latest COVID-19 Immigration Measures

• On October 1, 2020, Indonesia issued Reg 26/2020, which relaxes certain criteria for foreign visitors to be able to enter Indonesia.
• Under Reg 26/2020, visit visa holders and limited stay visa holders are now allowed to enter Indonesia, provided they adhere to strict health measures such as presenting a negative COVID-19 certificate.
• Foreign visitors must also have sufficient health insurance coverage as well as funding (at least US$10,000) to stay in the country.

On October 1, 2020, Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights (MOLHR) issued Regulation No. 26 of 2020 (Reg 26/2020) on the issuance of visit visas and stay permits for foreigners during the pandemic.

Reg 26/2020 has expanded the criteria to enable foreign visitors to enter the country, which was previously limited to essential workers, permanent residents, and diplomatic visa holders.

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Who is allowed to enter Indonesia?

Foreign visitors who hold the following immigration documents will be permitted to enter Indonesia:

• Service visas;
• Diplomatic visas;
• Visit visas, which will be issued for one trip, undertaken for the following purposes;
  • Attending business meetings;
  • Conducting a purchase of goods;
  • Conducting emergency or urgent work;
  • Performing probationary work by a foreign worker;
  • Staff members of medical or food-related organizations; and
  • A transportation crew member joining a vessel in Indonesia.
• Limited stay visas (VITAS);
• Service stay permits;
• Diplomatic stay permits;
• Temporary stay permits (ITAS); and
• Permanent stay permits (ITAP).

Limited stay visas

Under Reg 26/2020, holders of limited stay visas are those undertaking the following working and non-working activities:

Working activities:

• Installing or repairing machines;
• Performing construction-related temporary work;
• Provision of after-sales services;
• Working as a professional or expert;
• Auditing or inspecting a branch office in Indonesia;
• Operating on a vessel in Indonesian waters;
• Performing quality control on goods or production; and
• A job candidate performing probationary work.

Non-working activities:

• Family reunification; and
• Conducting investment

Extra measures when applying for visitor visas and limited stay visas

It is the responsibility of the visitor’s guarantor in Indonesia to submit the electronic application on the visitor’s behalf to the Director-General of Immigration. Under Reg 26/2020, applicants will need to submit extra documents for the visa process, which include the following:

• A certificate stating that the applicant is free of COVID-19, issued by the health authority of their respective country no more than 72 hours before arrival;
• An English-written statement that the visitor is willing to be placed in quarantine/undergo treatment at their own expense if the results of the PCR test conducted upon arrival is positive for COVID-19;
• A written statement that the visitor is willing to be medically monitored if they are obligated to self-quarantine per the relevant health protocols;
• The foreign visitor must show evidence that they have sufficient health insurance to cover possible healthcare expenses or show evidence they have the necessary funding to do so; and
• The sponsor or foreign visitor has access to at least US$10,000 to cover the visitor’s living costs in Indonesia.

Extension of stay permits

Foreign visitors who are currently staying in Indonesia under an expired stay permit in the form of visa-on-arrival, a single or multiple-entry visit visa, or an Asia Pacific Business Travel Card, can apply for a permit extension at a local immigration office.

The extensions are granted for a maximum of 30 days.

Holders of expired ITAS and ITAP permits who are currently in Indonesia can apply for a renewal of these permits. The renewed ITAS can be converted to an ITAP.

Holders of expired ITAS and ITAP permits who are outside of Indonesia will need to apply for a new visa to enter the country. This is also the same for expired VITAS permits who are outside of Indonesia.

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