Atambua Immigration Implements A Visit Visa Free For Timorese Leste Residents

Head of the Class IIA Immigration Office Atambua KA Halim. (ANTARA)

ATAMBUA - The Atambua Immigration Office in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, has begun implementing a visit visa-free (BVK) policy for foreign nationals from Timor Leste who enter Indonesia via NTT. "The visa-free implementation of this visit will take effect on Monday, February 13, 2023 and further evaluation will still be carried out," said Head of the Class IIA Immigration Office, Atambua KA Halim, when confirmed from Kupang, Antara, Monday, February 13. The policy determination is based on a circular letter from the Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights regarding immigration policies regarding visit visa services upon electronic arrival (E-VOA), visit visas upon arrival (VOA), and free visit visas (BVK) to support sustainable tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Halim explained that the Indonesian government has officially increased the number of countries provided with Visit Visa Free (BVK) facilities, which were previously 9 countries to 10 countries. These countries include Timor Leste, Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Thus, he said, citizens from Timor Leste who entered Indonesian territory through NTT also received BVK facilities. Halim said BVK facilities were used to carry out activities, including tourist visits, government duties, business talks, purchasing goods, meeting visits, and transits. "Bebas visa kunjungan ini memiliki jangka paling lama 30 hari dan tidak dapat diperpanjang," katanya. Halim said the application of BVK facilities to foreign nationals also takes into account requirements such as valid national passports and is still valid for a minimum of 6 months. In addition, ticket return or forward ticket to continue the trip to other countries. Residents of Timor Leste who will enter Indonesian territory, he said, can go through the Immigration Checkpoint located in the working area of the Atambua Class Immigration Office, namely the Mota’ain Cross-Border Post (PLBN) in Belu Regency, PLBN Wini in North Central Timor Regency, and PLBN Motamasin in Malacca Regency. Halim added, this policy is expected to increase foreign tourist visits to Indonesia so that it can stimulate the economy of the regions, including in the Indonesia-Timor Leste border area.