Jakarta. The Directorate General of Immigration reduced the issuance of visa-free entry permits by 87.9% during the first half of 2026 as part of a stricter immigration policy aimed at screening foreign nationals while maximizing economic benefits and safeguarding national security.

"We are prioritizing digital transformation and a selective immigration policy to ensure that every foreign national entering Indonesia contributes added value to the national economy without compromising national security," Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said in a statement on Sunday.

The tighter policy reduced the number of visa-free entry permits issued from 438,423 in the first half of 2025 to just 52,999 during the same period this year.

Despite the sharp decline, government revenue from visa services rose 6.4% year-on-year to approximately Rp 2.81 trillion (about $155.5 million).

Hendarsam said Indonesia's immigration policy is no longer focused on attracting the highest possible number of visitors but instead emphasizes service quality and more effective immigration oversight amid evolving global challenges.

Between January and June 2026, the Directorate General of Immigration issued 3.9 million visas, down 6.8% from 4.2 million during the same period a year earlier.

The most common visa category was the Visa on Arrival, with 3,481,490 issued, followed by the single-entry visitor visa (C1) with 113,323 approvals. The C20 visa, designated for foreign technicians performing machinery installation, repair, and maintenance, accounted for 83,852 issuances.

Indonesia also granted 143 Golden Visas during the first half of the year under its investment-based residency program.

Australia remained the largest source of foreign visitors with 848,802 arrivals, followed by China with 668,432, India with 334,107, South Korea with 202,101, and the United States with 186,463.

Alongside stricter visa issuance, immigration authorities intensified enforcement against foreigners already in Indonesia.

During the first six months of 2026, the agency imposed 10,911 administrative immigration sanctions. Of those, 3,260 involved residence permit revocations and deportations of foreign nationals found violating immigration regulations or posing security risks.

Authorities also initiated criminal proceedings against 23 foreign nationals. Seventeen cases remain under investigation, four are on trial, and one individual has already been convicted.

"Every administrative measure, from entry bans to deportation, is part of our effort to improve the quality of foreign nationals entering Indonesia and minimize risks to national security and public order," Hendarsam said.

Immigration authorities also barred 2,102 foreign nationals from entering Indonesia during the first half of 2026 after their names appeared on the country's blacklist, most due to previous immigration violations.

Travel Restrictions and Domestic Services
Immigration officers at airports and seaports delayed the departures of 1,704 high-risk travelers. They also prevented 401 Indonesian citizens and 36 foreign nationals from leaving the country at the request of law enforcement agencies.

For domestic immigration services, the Directorate General of Immigration issued 1.67 million passports while rejecting 9,017 passport applications that failed to meet administrative requirements.

The agency also issued 23,082 temporary residence permits, 3,330 permanent residence permits, and processed 54 applications under the Global Citizenship of Indonesia program.

National border-crossing data recorded 12.89 million arrivals and 12.87 million departures during the first half of 2026.