TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s immigration authorities have identified several nationalities whose citizens account for the highest number of residence permit violations, as the government continues to tighten enforcement against foreign nationals.
The latest data was presented by the Directorate General of Immigration during a press briefing on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
Eko Budianto, Director of Visas and Travel Documents at the Directorate General of Immigration, said five nationalities topped the list of foreigners involved in residence permit violations.
He said Chinese nationals ranked first, followed by nationals of Vietnam, Nigeria, Malaysia and Afghanistan.
“By number, Chinese nationals remain in first place for criminal offenses involving the misuse of residence permits,” Eko said.
He did not provide a breakdown of the number of violations recorded for each nationality.
Immigration Violations Under Scrutiny
The figures come as Indonesian immigration authorities continue to crack down on foreigners accused of violating immigration regulations, including misusing residence permits, failing to report changes in personal data and working without valid authorization.
Earlier this year, the Directorate General of Immigration detained 346 foreign nationals during Operation Wirawaspada, a weeklong enforcement operation conducted from April 7 to 11, 2026.
Then-Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said the foreigners were suspected of various immigration violations, including using residence permits for purposes other than those authorized and working without proper permits.
Of those detained, 183 were Chinese nationals, followed by 21 Pakistani nationals, 20 Nigerians and 13 Japanese nationals.
Residence Permit Misuse Most Common
Hendarsam said authorities recorded 214 cases of residence permit misuse, accounting for about 61 percent of all violations found during the operation.
Other violations included 48 cases of failing to report changes of address or personal data, 31 cases involving a lack of valid documents, 24 overstaying cases and 17 cases involving alleged fictitious investors.
Authorities also recorded other violations, including conduct allegedly disrupting public order.
The latest figures underline the immigration authorities’ continued focus on ensuring that foreign nationals comply with the conditions attached to their residence permits while staying in Indonesia.
