BVK Policy Makes It Easy To Visit Singapore PR Holders To Riau Islands

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno (Doc. Kemenparekraf)

JAKARTA - The Visa Visit Free Policy (BVK) issued by the Immigration Office provides easy access for Permanent Residence (PR) Singapore to visit the Riau Islands (Kepri) area which is expected to encourage the achievement of the target limit for foreign tourist visits (tourists) to Indonesia by 14.3 visits in 2024.

The Adyatama of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Main Expert of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Nia Niscaya, in "The Weekly Brief With Sandi Uno" at the Sapta Pesona Building, Central Jakarta, Monday (14/10/2024) appreciated the relaxation of policies issued by Immigration which showed partiality to the tourism sector and the creative economy (parekraf).

"Because Singapore is the closest neighbor. And in a destination, access is one of the main components," said Nia Niscaya.

The potential of foreign tourists needs to be maximized with supporting policies. The policy refers to Presidential Regulation Number 95 of 2024 concerning Visa-Free Visits for Citizens from Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor Leste, Suriname, Colombia, Hong Kong, as well as holders of Certain Stay Permits from Singapore.

For Singapore PR holders, the Riau Islands area that can be visited includes Batam, Bintan, and Karimun with a residence permit without a maximum visa of four days from arrival and cannot be extended.

This has been regulated in the Decree of the Minister of Law and Human Rights Number M.HH-1.GR.01.07 concerning the List of Specific Immigration Checkpoints for Entrance to Indonesian Territory for Visit Visa-Free Subjects.

The entrances for tourists through various ports include Nongsa Terminal Bahari, Marina Teluk Senica, Batam Center, Citra Tri Tunas, Sekupang, Sri Bintan Pura, Bandar Bentan Telani Lagoi, and Tanjung Balai Karimun.

The Directorate of Immigration Traffic, Anggit Suhandono explained that certain Singaporean Stay Permit holders were given because basically they had received accreditation from the Singapore Government so they did not need further checking.

"So that they can come to Indonesia easily and of course have a lot of benefits for the tourism sector and the creative economy," said Anggit.

Anggita also shared certain Stay Permit requirements and conditions in Riau Islands such as having a permanent population status (PR) in Singapore, then a blue Singapore National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) holder, and not a citizen of a visa calling country.

This policy only applies in the Riau Islands region, so tourists who want to travel domestically must first return to Singapore. After that, make a visit visa according to his national passport.

"To control the entry and exit of tourists, we provide the latest crossing system. So when the person is first in then when he is going to leave Riau Islands, what is detected is his PR (Permanent Residence), not his passport," said Anggit.