Jakarta, MINA – Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration has clarified the mechanism allowing Israeli citizens to reside and operate businesses in Bali, following public attention on their presence on the island.
Director of Visas and Travel Documents at the Directorate General of Immigration, Eko Budianto, explained that Israeli nationals can enter Indonesia through two possible channels: the “calling visa” mechanism, which requires approval from multiple government agencies.
Under the calling visa system, visa issuance for nationals of designated countries, including Israel requires verification and approval from several government institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Police, the Attorney General’s Office, the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), and the Military Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS).
“The verification and approval do not come from Immigration alone,” Budianto stated at a press briefing in Jakarta.
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The second possibility is that Israeli nationals enter Indonesia using passports from other countries because they hold multiple citizenships.
Budianto noted that many Israeli citizens possess dual or multiple citizenships from European countries, such as Portugal, Germany, and Greece.
Indonesian immigration authorities conducting checks in Bali found that some Israeli nationals had used Portuguese, German, or Greek passports to enter Indonesia rather than Israeli travel documents.
This is possible because Indonesia adheres to a single citizenship principle, whereas many countries recognize dual or multiple citizenships. Immigration officers verify nationality based on the travel document used upon entry. “When we verify visas, it must be based on nationality. What is checked is their citizenship, not their place of birth,” Eko explained.
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The clarification comes after social media posts highlighted the presence of Israeli nationals in Bali and questioned how they were able to live and operate businesses there despite Indonesia’s restrictions on Israeli passport holders.
Indonesia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and has long maintained restrictions on Israeli passport holders entering the country. The calling visa mechanism allows authorities to conduct additional screening for nationals of countries considered to pose particular security or other risks.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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