BALI, Indonesia – Bali immigration authorities have deported three foreign nationals after concluding they were carrying out work activities while staying in Indonesia on visas that did not permit employment, underscoring the island’s increasingly strict enforcement of immigration rules.
The three individuals, identified only by their initials, include a 48-year-old Indian national (AKG), a 44-year-old Singaporean (RN), and a 34-year-old Chinese national (ST). All were removed from Indonesia after separate investigations by the Singaraja Immigration Office in northern Bali.
According to Anak Agung Gde Kusuma Putra, head of the Class II Special Immigration Office in Singaraja, the deportations followed routine immigration monitoring across the agency’s jurisdiction.
Investigators found that the Indian and Singaporean nationals had been organizing and teaching yoga classes at a private villa in Buleleng Regency. Meanwhile, the Chinese national was accused of installing industrial production equipment and providing operational training to employees at a company in Karangasem, eastern Bali.
Authorities said none of those activities were permitted under the visas they used to enter Indonesia.
The Indian and Chinese nationals had entered Bali using Visa on Arrival (VOA) permits, while the Singaporean citizen entered under Indonesia’s Visa-Free Entry scheme. Both immigration facilities are designed for tourism, family visits, business meetings, and other limited purposes, but they do not authorize foreigners to work or earn income in Indonesia.
“Every foreign national must use a visa and residence permit that matches the purpose of their visit,” Kusuma Putra said in a statement released Wednesday. “Any violation will be dealt with in accordance with Indonesian immigration law.”
The three foreigners were deported through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on July 10 and have also been proposed for inclusion on Indonesia’s immigration blacklist, potentially preventing them from re-entering the country for a specified period.
Bali Tightens Immigration Oversight
The case is the latest in a series of immigration enforcement actions targeting foreign nationals accused of misusing tourist visas on the resort island.
Since Bali reopened to international tourism after the pandemic, Indonesian authorities have stepped up inspections of foreigners suspected of conducting business, teaching classes, offering professional services, or working remotely in ways that may violate their immigration status.
Officials have repeatedly reminded visitors that holding a tourist visa or Visa on Arrival does not automatically allow employment, even if the work is temporary, freelance, or conducted for overseas clients in certain circumstances. Immigration officers continue to assess cases individually based on the nature of the activity and the applicable regulations.
The latest deportations also send a broader message to Bali’s large community of expatriates, digital nomads, wellness practitioners, and business operators: Indonesia is placing greater emphasis on ensuring that foreign visitors hold the correct visas for the activities they undertake while on the island.
For travelers planning extended stays in Bali, immigration experts recommend confirming that the visa category matches the intended purpose of the visit before arriving, particularly for activities involving paid work, training, instruction, or commercial operations.
As Bali continues to attract millions of international visitors each year, authorities have signaled that immigration compliance will remain a central part of efforts to regulate the island’s rapidly growing international community.