Indonesia Severely Restricts Foreign Arrivals on July 23

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport as of Friday, July 23, will soon impose a beefier travel restriction and restrict foreign arrivals that fail to meet the official visitation requirements.

“As of tomorrow, foreign nationals that fail to meet the requirements will be immediately sent home back to their country,” said the airport’s immigration office head, Romi Yudianto, on July 22. “This is the government’s attempt to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission and suppress the number of cases.”

This latest regulation refers to the Law and Human Rights Ministry Regulation No.27/2021 on restricting foreign nationals entering Indonesia under the emergency public activity restriction. 

The regulation oversees the restriction of foreigners with the exception of people holding the following visas: diplomatic visa and work visa; diplomatic residence permits and official residence permits holders; limited stay permits and permanent residence permits; humanitarian and health-related visits that have obtained official recommendation from state institutions; and conveyance crews. 

Foreign nationals who do not fall under either category above will not be permitted to enter Indonesia and be subjected to a thorough check at the airport’s international arrival area by an immigration officer. 

Unlike past instances, foreign arrivals of workers involved in national or Indonesian strategic projects will no longer be able to enter Indonesia during this period. 

Read: Soekarno-Hatta Airport to See More Foreign Arrivals from China Today

JONIANSYAH (CONTRIBUTOR)