Jakarta Immigration Office Introduces Visa-Free Visits for Singaporean Residents.
The Immigration Office has launched a Visa-Free Visit (BVK) policy for permanent residents (PR) of Singapore, enabling them to visit Indonesia’s Riau Islands (Kepri). This initiative aims to support Indonesia’s goal of attracting 14.3 million international tourists by 2024.
“Singapore is our closest neighbor,” stated Nia Niscaya, a senior official at the Tourism Ministry, during a press conference in Jakarta.
Under this policy, Singaporean PR holders can visit Batam, Bintan, and Karimun for up to four days without a visa, with no possibility of extension.
Anggit Suhandono from the Immigration Traffic Directorate explained that this status applies to specific permit holders from Singapore, thanks to their accreditation by the Singaporean government, which streamlines the process. “This makes it easier for them to visit Indonesia and benefits our tourism and creative economy,” he noted.
To qualify for the Specific Stay Permit in Kepri, applicants must be permanent residents of Singapore, possess a blue National Registration Identity Card (NRIC), and come from countries that do not require a visa.
In August, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo enacted a regulation allowing Visa-Free Visits for citizens from several countries, including Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, and Vietnam, along with certain permit holders from Singapore.
Silmy Karim, Director General of Immigration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, shared plans for visa-free travel for tourists wanting to visit Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), a popular destination often called “the new Bali.”
“We’re considering this, but I need to assess the supporting airlines first. Without flights, we can’t promote effectively,” he said at The Ritz Carlton SCBD in South Jakarta.
“This could greatly stimulate growth in destinations like Labuan Bajo or Manado. However, we need solid proposals; simply having a visa-free policy isn’t enough without proper preparations,” he added.
As of August 2024, Indonesia has welcomed over 9 million foreign travelers, though this figure remains below pre-COVID levels. The majority of visitors in August were Malaysians (188,800), followed by Australians (153,700) and Chinese nationals (126,100).
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