The 2025 guide contains details about deportation from Indonesia of foreigners as well as restrictions for foreign visitors entering the country. In 2025 the Indonesian immigration enforcement system is becoming increasingly rigid. The nation has announced plans to send back foreign visitors who stay beyond their visa period and those who break immigration laws by working illegally or misusing their visas. The deportation process often includes a ban that prevents foreigners from returning to Indonesia for specified time periods. This re-entry ban is often only lifted after request for such lift by the foreigner.
Multinational organizations face additional risks when their expatriate workers get deported from Indonesia. The failure of a sponsor to follow immigration regulations leads to financial penalties and prevents them from hiring foreign staff. In addition it could damage their corporate reputation.
Legal Framework for deportation and re-entry ban
The Directorate General of Immigration derives its authority to deport foreigners from Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration. This law allows the removal of foreign nationals who break Indonesian laws.
Employment of expatriates is restricted under Law No. 13 of 2003 on Manpower. Foreigners may only take skilled positions that cannot be filled by local workers.
Presidential Regulation No. 20 of 2018 simplified immigration procedures but also raised compliance requirements. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights, together with other government agencies, issues further guidance through regulations.
More information can be found at the official sites of the Directorate General of Immigration and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
Common Reasons for Deportation from Indonesia
Foreign workers in Indonesia face deportation because of various reasons. Businesses need to give immigration compliance their full attention since it requires exact handling of all details. Below is an overview for common reasons of deportation and re-entry bans.
Overstaying permits Can result in deportation from Indonesia
Foreign nationals who remain in the country after their visa or permit expires face deportation as the primary reason for this action. The immigration service charges IDR 1,000,000 for each day of overstaying in the country. Immigration will move to deportation procedures and blacklist the foreigner in case the foreigner has a prolonged period of overstay.
Working without the correct authorization
Working without proper authorization is a common reason for deportation among foreign workers. Business visa holders who do manual work at their jobs will face legal penalties because they break both manpower and immigration regulations. The corporate sponsors of the foreign workers may face penalties from manpower or immigration authorities.
For further information on work and stay permits, see our Work Permit Indonesia 2025 guide and Long-Term ITAS Indonesia.
Use of incorrect visa categories
E31 dependents’ visas and E33 retirees’ visas result in deportation when used for unauthorized employment. The visa categories do not permit any form of work including informal employment.
steps deportation from Indonesia
The deportation process begins after Immigration identifies a violation through the creation of an official deportation order for the foreign national. In certain cases a foreigner can be detained during the deportation process. In such case, the person will remain in detention until the deportation process finishes.
The deportation process requires the sponsor or employer to pay all related expenses which include flight tickets and administrative fees.
Immigration personnel will remove the expatriate from Indonesia as soon as the departure date is scheduled.In certain cases immigration will also issue an entry ban for the foreign individual involved.This ban becomes active after deportation.
Immigration Re-Entry Bans
A deportation order from Indonesia will in most cases result in a prohibition for the person to re-enter Indonesia.The length of entry ban restrictions depends on the specific reason that caused deportation. Foreigners who stay in the country beyond their visa period will face a six-month ban from entering the country. The duration of the ban for work visa and business visa misuse ranges between one to five years.The most serious cases involving criminal conduct or multiple offenses will result in permanent entry ban.
The immigration system will detect individuals who received an entry ban when they attempt to get new visas or travel to Indonesia by plane. This will in all cases lead to a rejection to enter Indonesia.
Consequences for sponsor companies (employers)
The sponsors of foreign workers bear full responsibility for their expatriate employees. The deportation of a foreign worker because of visa violations or unauthorized work, may in certain cases also result in penalties for the sponsor. These type of penalties include monetary fines together with suspended sponsorship privileges and restrictions of the sponsor company to submit future application.
We therefore recommend companies to choose professional immigration advisors to manage their compliance requirements.
If foreign companies don’t yet have a local entity in Indonesia, our partner PNB Law Firm can assist with sponsorship through their Employer of Record (EOR) services.
Prevention of deportation from indonesia and re-entry ban
The process of staying in Indonesia requires particular steps to prevent deportation.The process of staying in the country requires both strategic planning and full adherence to existing rules and regulations. We suggest the following measures:
- First, choose the correct visa category. The right visa depends on your activities in Indonesia. A business visa allows meetings, surveys, and monitoring but not actual work. A work permit and ITAS are essential for assignments, as they allow you to work and manage operations on-site.
- Second, track validity dates closely. The system requires HR alerts, manager notifications, and backup in the immigration counsel’s database. Start renewals well before deadlines. Waiting is costly, but overstaying is far riskier.
- Third, meet manpower requirements. Appoint an Indonesian counterpart, keep job descriptions consistent with approvals, and prevent foreigners from taking extra tasks. Expansion projects require updated approvals, not informal adjustments.
- Lastly, seek assistance when needed. Rules change often, and their interpretations shift. A short consultation now can save weeks of rework later.
Appealing or Resolving a Ban
Foreign nationals who get deportation orders can use administrative procedures at the Immigration department to challenge their deportation status. The chances of winning these appeals remain low unless the offense was minor or there was an administrative mistake. Legal representation throughout deportation proceedings leads to better results for deportation cases.
Foreigners have the ability to postpone their entry until the ban period becomes inactive. Foreigners who have served their ban period can reapply for visas when they present complete and correct documentation.
How PNB Immigration Law Firm Can Assist
PNB Immigration Law Firm provides deportation risk prevention services and complex case solutions to multinational companies and expatriates.Our team provides immediate support for deportation matters and blacklisting cases and compliance needs in Indonesia.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens to me when I stay beyond my authorized period in Indonesia? The law requires you to pay IDR 1,000,000 for each day of overstaying in Indonesia.Overstay for prolonged periods of time will result in deportation and blacklisting from the country.
- How long does a deportation ban stay active after deportation occurs? The length of deportation ban periods after deportation varies between six months for small offenses and one to five years for major offenses and extends to permanent ban for criminal offenses.
- Do payment of fines protect me from deportation? The payment of fines serves as an adequate solution for small infractions.The violation of illegal work or fraud will always result in deportation from the country.
- What will happen to my employer because of my situation?Employers face multiple consequences which include monetary penalties and permit restrictions and damage to their business reputation.
- Can I challenge the deportation decision that has been made against me? The process of filing an appeal requires immediate action and requires legal assistance for success.
- When I become blacklisted will my family members face any consequences? Dependents lose their permits when the main sponsor receives deportation but they will not become blacklisted themselves.
- How to extend my ITAS? You need to file your application for renewal before your current permit expires. The new online ITAS extension process in Indonesia applies to specific categories but does not help individuals who have overstayed their visas.