An English tourist was arrested by Denpasar Immigration officers for violating his stay permit by operating a motorbike rental business in Nusa Penida.
The foreign national only held a Visitor Stay Permit which does not allow him to work or start a business in Indonesia.
According to Ridha Sah Putra, Head of Denpasar Immigration Office, in an interview on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, the British man, identified as KSM, had been running the motorbike rental business for about 6 months to a year.
The business operated in Nusa Penida, where he rented 3 to 4 motorbikes daily. He charged IDR150,000 per day for each unit. KSM promoted his business on social media, attracting foreign tourists vacationing in the area.
KSM was caught during a routine immigration surveillance on January 25, 2025. His stay permit was valid until February 11, 2025, but the permit only allowed him to visit, not to work or operate a business. KSM was also found to be married to an Indonesian citizen (WNI).
Comply with Indonesia’s Law and Regulation
According to existing regulations under Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration, article 50 states that a Visitor Stay Permit is only given to foreign nationals entering Indonesia for visitation purposes, such as tourism, family visits, or other activities that do not involve employment or business operations.
If a foreign national wishes to work or run a business in Indonesia, they must apply for an appropriate stay permit, such as the Investor Limited Stay Permit (Investor KITAS) or Working KITAS.
Article 61 of the Immigration Law further explains that foreign nationals may work or operate a business only if they possess a Limited Stay Permit, which can be granted to foreign nationals married to Indonesian citizens as in the case of KSM.
Therefore, to operate a business or work in Bali or any other part of Indonesia, foreign nationals need to obtain the proper stay and business permits in accordance with the regulations.
It is crucial for foreign nationals planning to do business or work in Bali to understand and adhere to the regulations.
They must ensure that they have the appropriate stay permit and apply for a valid business permit in line with Indonesian law. Without the proper permits, they may face legal actions from authorities, as KSM experienced.
Sources: Liputan6.com, Detiknews
Image: via Rental Bike Bali Community
