Meulaboh Immigration Issues 7,369 E-Passports Since 2023

JAKARTA - The need for travel documents such as passports is increasing along with the increasing activity of Indonesian citizens abroad, both for worship, education, work, and tourism purposes.

Responding to these needs, the Class II Immigration Office of Non Immigration Checkpoints (TPI) Meulaboh, West Aceh Regency, has issued 7,369 electronic passports from September 2023 to early May 2025 for people in the southern west coast of Aceh Province.

The head of the Meulaboh Immigration Office, Jamaluddin, stated that this e-passor service was presented as a form of convenience for people who want to travel abroad. "With an electronic passport, the immigration inspection process is more efficient and the level of security is higher," he said, as quoted by ANTARA.

The E-passor is equipped with a chip that stores owner biometric data, such as faces and fingerprints, which makes it more difficult to falsify. It also helps accelerate inspection in various countries that have implemented an immigration autogate system.

In addition, e-passor holders also have the opportunity to enjoy visa-free facilities to certain countries, after going through the necessary initial registration process.

Jamaluddin also added that e-passports provide longer visa durations in several countries for Indonesian citizens, compared to ordinary passports.

As a form of service update, since May 1, 2025, the Meulaboh Immigration Office has implemented a new policy that only serves passport applications in electronic form. This means that people can no longer apply for regular passports in the office.

"As of May 1 to 9, 2025, we have issued 140 e-passports for the community," said Jamaluddin, closing his explanation.