On March 2, 2020, the Indonesian Government announced the first confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (officially named Covid-19) in Indonesia. Since then, hundreds of patients have been observed and the total number of confirmed positive cases has continued to rise.

Due to the continued Covid-19 outbreak, the Government has decided to instill new immigration policies in an attempt to contain the Covid-19 spread within the Indonesian territory. These policies are implemented through the issuance of the Minister of Law and Human Rights (the “MOLHR”) Regulation No. 11 of 2020 dated March 31, 2020 on Temporary Restriction for Foreigners in Entering the Territory of the Republic of Indonesia (the “Regulation”).

This Regulation revokes the two previous regulations which stipulates the same regarding the immigration related policies due to the outbreak of Covid-19, namely:

• The MOLHR Regulation No. 7 of 2020 dated February 28, 2020, on the Granting of Visas and Stay Permits to Prevent the Corona Virus Outbreak; and
• The MOLHR Regulation Number 8 of 2020 on the Temporary Suspension of the Visit Visa and Visa-on-Arrival as well as Emergency Stay Permits.

We set out below key points of the implemented policies based on the Regulation which may significant for foreign nationals who will visit Indonesia or are in Indonesia.

• Travel Restrictions

1. As of 12.00 a.m. on April 2, 2020, the Government temporary travel restrictions came into force. Any foreign national is preventing from entering or transiting through, Indonesia unless he or she is otherwise exempt.
2. The exemptions are for foreign nationals who meet the following criteria:
   • A holder of a Limited Stay Permit (Izin Tinggal Terbatas) and a Permanent Stay Permit (Izin Tinggal Tetap);
   • A holder of a Diplomatic Visa and an Official Visa;
   • A holder of Diplomatic Stay Permit (Izin Tinggal Diplomatik) and an Official Stay Permit (Izin Tinggal Dinas);
   • A humanitarian aid worker;
   • A flight, sea, or land transportation crew member; or
   • An employee in a national strategy project.

In addition, the exempted foreign nationals who wish to visit Indonesia shall fulfill the following requirements:

• • they have to provide a health certificate issued by relevant health authorities from their respective countries in English;
  • they have stayed for 14 (fourteen) days in a country declared free from the coronavirus; and
  • they have to provide a statement of willingness to be quarantined for 14 (fourteen) days by the Indonesian Government.

• Emergency Stay Permits

The Government will automatically issue an Emergency Stay Permit (Izin Tinggal Keadaan Terpaksa) to any foreign nationals currently in Indonesia who hold (i) a Visit Stay Permit (including those who entered Indonesia with Visa Exemption, Visa on Arrival, or Visit Visa); or (ii) a Limited or Permanent Stay Permit that expires and can no longer be extended. This issuance will be conducted without any requirement for any application to the immigration office and it is free of charge.

There are currently no established timeframes for the travel restriction under the Regulation and the policies above are subject to the future changes regulated by the Government.

 

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April 2, 2020

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