Foreign Residents in Bali Welcome the New Bridging Visa Policy

In the last week of April, the Directorate General of Immigration, Ministry of Law and Human Rights, finally introduced a new bridging visa for foreigners in Indonesia. This new visa acts as a ‘bridge’ or transitional visa for Indonesia’s foreign residents while residence permits are being renewed, without requiring them to leave the Indonesian territory.

In the press release, the Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, covers the bridging visa’s requirements and validity period. This Transitional Residence Permit is introduced in accordance with and regulated by the Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation Number 11 of 2024, which was ratified on April 1, 2024. Read on to learn more about this visa and how it benefits foreigners in Bali.

How Did the Visa Process in Indonesia Function Before the Bridging Visa Was Implemented?

Previously, foreigners had to leave the Indonesian territory if they wished to renew their visa, whether for limited stay permits (ITAS), permanent stay permits (ITAP), or visit visas (VOA). The new bridging visa, however, will allow foreigners to obtain new residence permits without having to leave Indonesian soil.

The introduction of this new transitional residence permit policy is surely a breath of fresh air. The policy shift makes it easier for foreigners residing in Indonesia to renew their visas comfortably.

How Impactful Will This 2024 Bridging Visa Be for Expats or Foreigners in Bali?

Indonesia has approximately 355,000 expats or foreign nationals holding residence permits – according to a 2020 report. In Bali, less than 4% foreign residents reside when compared to those in Jakarta, West Java, Riau, and Banten. The implementation of the new visa certainly benefits holders of limited stay permits in Bali. Moreover, the visa also applies to foreigners visiting Bali as tourists.

Bali had over five million visitors in 2023 and the implementation of this visa, without a doubt, marks a significant step in providing legal certainty for foreign nationals seeking to extend their stay without having to leave the island, should they want to.

Bridging Visa Key Details

There are a few factors to pay attention to before you decide to apply for a new transitional visa. The main purpose of this visa is to create legal certainty for foreigners who are already in Indonesia to ease the process of extending their stay in the country.

• The bridging visa only applies to foreign nationals in Indonesian territory who are the holders of the visit visas, limited stay permits, and permanent stay permits
• The visa can only be obtained if you are already in Indonesian territory, which means that you cannot apply if you’re outside of Indonesia
• The visa can be obtained without leaving Indonesia, unlike the previous visa regulation
• The visa is no longer valid if the foreigner leaves Indonesian territory
• This visa is valid for 60 days
• You can apply for the visa before your previous residence permit has expired
• The holders of this transitional residence permit are not going to be penalised for overstaying even when the application is approved after the validity period of the previous permit has expired
• You must submit your application via the Indonesian Immigration website and make the payment no later than three days before the validity period of your old residence permit expires

The Aim of The New Visa Implementation

The government hopes that this new regulation is going to attract more investors to Indonesia, aligning with its target to issue 1,000 Golden Visas in 2024.

A Golden Visa is a special visa intended for foreign nationals to reside in Indonesia for a period of 5 to 10 years based on their value of investments in the country.

The implementation of this bridging visa policy is certainly beneficial for foreigners. Silmy Karim also confirmed that obtaining a limited stay permit without having to leave Indonesia means that foreign citizens can save time, energy, and accommodation costs while waiting for their permit application to be approved. Consequently, they can spend their money to support local businesses. The introduction of this visa is a step forward in providing foreign nationals in Indonesia with a smoother transitional process for a residence permit.