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Exa: kalteng.antaranews.com
Exa: kalteng.antaranews.com
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Chat with Bali Zero on WhatsAppIndonesia's immigration authority has issued a public reminder that original documents are mandatory at the passport interview stage. The announcement
Indonesia's immigration authority has issued a public reminder that original documents are mandatory at the passport interview stage. The announcement, distributed via ANTARA News, underscores an existing and longstanding legal obligation rather than introducing new policy — but the reminder signals that compliance lapses remain common enough to warrant renewed public communication.
The legal basis for this requirement is firmly established. Under Peraturan Pemerintah (Government Regulation) No. 31 of 2013, Article 52(1)(a) and (d), the passport issuance procedure mandates both a formal interview — known as wawancara — and a physical inspection to verify the completeness and authenticity of all submitted requirements. This cross-check between original documents and system-entered data is not optional; it is a statutory step in the process.
Article 49 of the same regulation defines the exhaustive list of original documents required at the interview. These include: a valid National Identity Card (KTP), a Family Registration Certificate (Kartu Keluarga), a birth certificate, a marriage certificate or educational diploma (depending on applicant profile), and — for renewal applicants — the existing passport. Copies alone are insufficient for the verification and adjudication phases prescribed under Article 52(2).
The requirement applies uniformly across all Immigration Offices in Indonesia. There are no regional exceptions, local Bali ordinances (Perda), or circulars that modify or waive this obligation. Whether applying in Denpasar, Singaraja, Jakarta, or Surabaya, the same national standards govern the process.
The immigration authority's decision to re-publicise this rule suggests ongoing operational friction at interview counters, likely caused by applicants who arrive with only photocopies — possibly after completing the digital pre-registration steps on the M-Paspor app, which may give the impression that physical documents are secondary. The reminder clarifies that digital pre-registration does not replace the physical verification stage.
This is a process reminder, not a policy shift — but it carries practical weight for anyone in our network supporting Indonesian family members or employees through passport applications or renewals.
The M-Paspor app has streamlined the scheduling and data-entry phases considerably, yet it appears many applicants are arriving at interviews without their original documents, likely under the mistake
n assumption that digital uploads suffice.
For Bali-based foreign business owners and investors with Indonesian staff or local directors on their PT PMA, this is a moment to brief your team. Passport delays can cascade into KITAS renewals and company compliance timelines, since a valid passport is the root document for nearly every immigration and corporate filing in Indonesia.
The broader takeaway: Indonesia's immigration framework is increasingly digital on the front end, but the back end — the interview and adjudication — remains firmly analogue and document-centric. Plan accordingly.
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