Golden Visa Applicants Reach 300 Foreigners, Jokowi: I Was Shocked, There Were So Many

President Joko Widodo gave a press statement after attending the Golden Visa launch event in Jakarta, Thursday (25/7/2024). ANTARA/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) admitted that he was surprised that the visa gold facility registrant had reached 300 foreign nationals (WNA) after the launch in Jakarta, Thursday. "Until today, I asked the immigration registered 300 foreigners. I was also surprised... there were a lot of them," said President Jokowi when giving a statement after attending the Golden Visa Grand Launching in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, July 25. President Jokowi said that the golden visa facility is to facilitate residence permit services for investors and global talents who want to work in Indonesia. Previously, the Government had provided opportunities for individual foreigners who wanted to get a gold visa to save USD 350,000 in investment funds and get a residence permit for 5 years. Foreigners who are investors or want to establish a company must deposit USD 2.5 million in investment funds to obtain a residence permit for 5 years. President Jokowi explained that this gold visa for investors and global talent aims to increase the circulation of money into the country. The President admitted that he did not set a target for the Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. However, the Head of State emphasized that the provision of visa golden facilities to foreigners must be selective by considering how much benefit is to the State. "I emphasize that people who do not benefit our country do not enter. No. We must be selected as strictly as possible," said the President. It was also said that the granting of this visa golden facility would be evaluated for three months from launch. The Golden visa is a new form of a second home visa targeting international investors and business people, global talents, and foreign tourists who meet the criteria. Foreign investors holding a gold visa can have a residence permit in Indonesia for 5 to 10 years with certain investment requirements.

The basis for the implementation of the golden visa policy refers to the Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights Number 22 of 2023 concerning visas and residence permits as well as Regulation of the Minister of Finance Number 82 of 2023 concerning Types and Tariffs on Types of Non-Tax State Revenue of Urgent Needs for Golden Visa Services Applicable to the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.