The immigration authorities are also investigating how these foreigners were employed, and action will be taken against salon owners if it is found that they hired staff illegally.
Please be reminded that an Investor KITAS does not grant you the right to work in Indonesia. Foreigners can legally work in Indonesia only with a work permit issued under a Work KITAS or Entertainment KITAS.
The inspections did not end with salons and nightclubs. Furthermore, according to social media reports, Bali’s authorities have now been joined by officers from the Directorate General of Immigration in Jakarta.
Recently, inspectors visited an expatriate school where lessons in mathematics, science, and Indonesian language were being conducted. The school was located in a villa in the Tibubeneng area (Berawa), and although it appeared to be an ordinary residence, neighbors found it suspicious and filed a complaint with the immigration office.
“It is known that the villa was rented by a Swiss couple, and one of the managers was a Turkish national,” said Suhendra, head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office.
During the inspection, it was revealed that the Swiss citizens arrived in Bali on July 19, 2024, with Investor KITAS, while the Turkish citizen had been on the island since June 25, 2024, on a tourist visa. The inspection concluded that these foreign nationals were providing educational services without the necessary permits.
In Ubud, a Ukrainian citizen with the initials D.L. was apprehended while instructing his employees in a store on how to input barcodes for pricing items, without having the appropriate authorization.
“D.L. is suspected of engaging in activities that do not align with his residence permit. Moreover, he was unable to present his documents during the inspection,” stated Rida Sach Putra, head of the Class I TPI Immigration Office in Denpasar.
Additionally, an Indian national was detained for renting out Balinese villas to other foreigners through his social media channels. During the operations, four more African nationals were detained for residing with expired documents.
Pramella Yunidar Pasaribu, head of the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, reported that the operation conducted by the intelligence and immigration control division also led to the arrest of sex workers: two Ugandan women and one Russian woman with the initials I.T. Their whereabouts were traced through social media, and subsequent investigative actions confirmed the suspicions.
The inspections extended even to remote areas like Gili and Singaraja. In Singaraja, Buleleng Regency, a task force was formed to inspect foreigners suspected of violating visa regulations. Within the first two days, nine individuals from Australia, China, Germany, Japan, and Romania were detained. The details of their activities have not yet been disclosed.
Regarding the Gili operation, a detailed report on the arrests has not yet been released. It is only known that seven individuals suspected of immigration violations were identified.
If you want to ensure that you are complying with Indonesia’s immigration regulations and that your residence permit aligns with the purpose of your visit and activities, feel free to contact us for a free consultation.
