Tourists in Bali’s Canggu are reminded that Immigration Task Force Officers will be conducting regular spot checks in the area.
Officers have been deployed across Bali’s top tourism resorts, including Canggu, Seminyak, Legian, and Ubud, to ensure tourists do not violate their visa conditions or engage in criminal activity.
Canggu is one of Bali’s busiest and most in-demand tourism areas. It is also an area deemed to be rife with foreigners who are breaking the conditions of their visas and, in some rarer cases, engaging in illegal activity.
Illegal activity from foreigners detected in Canggu over the years has included full-scale international drug rings, stealing, illegal property investment and development, and working on a tourist visa.
In August, following a steep rise in the number of foreigners found to be violating immigration laws, the Acting Director General of Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, confirmed that he would be deploying a specialist team of 100 officers to patrol Bali’s top tourism resorts and attractions.
Since August, patrol teams have been sighted in Sanur, Legian, Smeinyak, Ubud, and Canggu, as outlined in the announcement. Officers are also expected to conduct periodic patrols in areas like Nusa Dua, Benoa, Kuta, and throughout the Uluwatu-Ungasan area.
Speaking at the time of the formation of the new Immigration Task Force, Yusman told reporters, “Patrol Officers will patrol the predetermined route, especially in areas prone to immigration violations or areas where [international tourist] activities are concentrated. The patrol movement schedule is carried out periodically and randomly to avoid predictable patterns.”
The most recent round of spot checks was conducted in Canggu. Tourists were stopped in the street by uniformed officers, who asked a series of questions and requested that they present their passports, visas, or residency permits.
Immigration teams noted that spot checks are random and that they are verifying the identities of foreigners in the area, as well as ensuring their activities align with what is permitted under their visa and residency status.
In an Instagram post, Indonesia Immigration shared, “Regular Immigration patrols take place in key areas across Bali, including Canggu. Officers perform random checks to ensure activities follow stay permits. Together we keep Bali safe for all.”
The check in Canggu came just days after the team from the Denpasar Immigration Office was spotted patrolling Sayan Village. Sayan is a community popular with long-staying foreigners in Bali, and neighbors Ubud.
Officials from the Denpasar Immigration Office explained, “Denpasar Immigration together with the village authorities inspected the accommodation in the Desa Sayan area, Ubud.”
Adding “This activity is a follow-up of the cooperation program between Desa Binaan and Immigration, in an effort to maintain order and surveillance of the movements of foreigners.”
Following the most recent round of patrols, Immigration teams have not shared any announcements regarding violations or findings. However, the Indonesian Immigration has recently shared updates explaining the most common reasons why foreigners end up in an Immigration Detention Center, known as ‘Rudenim’.
According to the Indonesian Immigration, the number one reason foreigners are taken to an Immigration Detention Center is that they were found in the country without a valid residence permit. The second most common reason is that foreigners have been found staying in Indonesia without valid travel documents, such as a passport.
The third reason a foreigner may be in an Immigration Detention Center is because they are awaiting deportation, having been found guilty of breaking the law.
Foreigners can also be held in Immigration Detention Centers while awaiting departure from Indonesia after being refused entry clearance. A surprisingly common reason is a result of being subject to residence permit cancellation due to disturbing public order and security.
Tourists traveling to Bali, and foreigners who are moving anywhere in the country long term, are recommended to follow the official Immigration Indonesia Instagram account, where regular updates are shared and top tips on how to navigate the immigration system legally and easily.
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