Bali Immigration Rejects 566 Foreigners to Enter Indonesia in Semester I 2023, Most Are Russian

I Gusti Ngurah Rai Bali Airport/ANTARA DOC.

DENPASAR - The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Bali, refused as many as 566 foreign nationals (WNA) to enter Indonesian territory during the first semester of 2023 due to a number of legal issues and incomplete travel documents.

"There are at most 15 people from Russia," said Head of Immigration Information and Communication Technology at the Ngurah Rai Bali Immigration Office Shandro Bobby Raymon in Nusa Dua, Badung Regency, Bali, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 5.

However, he said, his party did not detail comparative data for the same period the previous year because the international gate in Bali had been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Certainly the number has increased compared to last year because arrivals at international doors were small due to the pandemic," he added.

He detailed the reasons for the refusal of foreign nationals to enter Indonesia through Bali, including 219 people because they did not have travel documents or Indonesian visas, and as many as 45 people whose passport validity was less than six months.

In addition, five foreigners who were banned from the list, 16 were wanted by Interpol, four people were related to pedophilia cases, and 277 people for other reasons.

Shandro said that apart from Russia, the foreign origins that were rejected included 12 from the United States, France (11), Australia (8), and Timor Leste (7).

According to him, many Russian citizens were refused entry to Indonesia through Bali because they were suspected of carrying out activities that were not in accordance with their residence permits.

"We see from the history of his travels, suddenly going back and forth to Bali in one month from Russia, it's far away, that should be suspected. Immigration will investigate the foreigner including the data and activities stored on the cell phone," he said.

As long as the foreigner's activities are inappropriate and suspicious, he said, as long as Immigration can refuse entry, even though it has arrived at the international arrival area of Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali.

The refusal of foreigners to enter the Republic of Indonesia, said Syndrome, could also result from damaged passports, one of which is biodata that cannot be read.

He said that if the foreigner fails to pass the Immigration examination, it will be the responsibility of the airline carrying the foreigner.