Types of Immigration Laws in Indonesia
Reasons for wanting to immigrate to Indonesia can include its tropical climate, idyllic beaches and friendly locals. However, there are only a certain number of avenues to legal immigration, so if you plan on moving to Indonesia, it is essential to bear these in mind. The Indonesian government is strict and decisive in dealing with violations of its laws---regularly imposing fines and jail time.
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Entry into Indonesia
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In April 2010, the Indonesian government introduced a state-of-the-art border protection system. Equipped with sophisticated fingerprint readers and biometric full-body scanners, the new measures are designed to limit the entry of criminals into the country. Unfortunately, this can result in inconvenient delays for legitimate travelers and immigrants, who can now face waits of up to 90 minutes and increased scrutiny throughout the process. Indonesia is the first Southeast Asian country to employ this technology---an illustration of how seriously it intends to protects its borders.
Doing Business in Indonesia
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It is important to understand the distinction the Indonesian government makes between work and business. Business activities as defined by the government include journalistic endeavors, meetings with Indonesian companies and the discussion of trade terms in import-export situations. In general terms, a single or multiple-entry business visa permits its holder to conduct business in Indonesia, but not to be employed by an Indonesian company. For this, foreigners must obtain a work permit and, subsequently, a residence permit. Expatriate website Living in Indonesia notes that "The amount of red tape and bureaucracy in involved in obtaining certain types of these visas can be quite extraordinary."
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Foreigner Registration
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Every several years, the Indonesian government sounds a call for foreigner registration. If this happens when you are in the country, it is critical that you follow suit---registration is mandatory and non-negotiable.Those found to be in violation can face extreme penalties. Indonesian Law No. 9, Article 51 allows for the imposition of a one-year jail sentence and a fine of 5 million rupiahs (about $550).
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References
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- Photo Credit Fishing Kelong and Boardwalk, Indonesia image by alstealth from Fotolia.com
