Indonesia ends fast-track residency permit processing

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said there is no longer a fast-track process for obtaining Limited Stay Permits (ITAS) and Permanent Stay Permits (ITAP) for foreign nationals.

He said Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto had introduced a series of reforms since taking office to improve services in the immigration sector.

"Regulatory measures have actually been implemented since the new cabinet was formed, since the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections was established, and since Mr. Prabowo Subianto took office as President," Yusril said in a video statement on Friday.

He expressed hope that the reforms would further improve immigration services.

Yusril acknowledged that irregularities had previously occurred within the immigration system through the acceleration of ITAS and ITAP processing for foreign nationals, particularly those working in Indonesia.

He explained that applications for the permits require time because they also involve procedures at the Ministry of Manpower.

"Ultimately, this manipulation occurs. It should be completed within four or five days according to procedure, but can be expedited to one, two, or three days with special payments," he said.

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According to Yusril, those payments were not deposited into the state treasury and therefore constituted extortion or gratification.

Regarding the alleged corruption case involving Deputy Immigration and Corrections Minister for the 2024-2026 period Silmy Karim and several immigration officials, Yusril said such practices fall under the category of extortion under Indonesia's anti-corruption law.

Therefore, he added, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has the authority to take firm legal action against those involved.

Yusril said the case involving Silmy dated back to 2023 when he served as director general of immigration.

He added that under Minister Andrianto's leadership, various illegal levies in the immigration sector had been gradually eliminated, including special payments to speed up ITAS and ITAP processing to one to three days.

"Now everything is running normally. All applications are processed within a specified timeframe, completed within four or five days, and all payments are deposited into the state treasury," he said.

Earlier, KPK revealed that Silmy and seven other suspects had allegedly obtained Rp145.5 billion (around US$8 million) through extortion practices at the Directorate General of Immigration between 2022 and 2026.

According to KPK Chair Setyo Budiyanto, the money was allegedly collected from foreign nationals, service agencies, and sponsors processing residence permit applications for foreigners.

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Translator: Agatha Olivia, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Anton Santoso

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