Unauthorized businesses and investor permits
The office oversees Badung Regency and southern Bali. Russians and Nigerians made up the largest groups penalized, at 25 people each; Malaysia and France each accounted for 14.
Office chief Muhammad Novyandri outlined the violations in an October 31 written statement to Tempo. They included property transactions and villa rentals without the necessary permits, unauthorized paid activities and misuse of permits to work as tour guides.
"Some were also involved in scams, illegal online loans, and prostitution," Novyandri said.
The office described financial needs as a common motivation. Foreign nationals typically used permits that did not authorize their actual activities and promoted their businesses on social media. Officers also identified Foreign Investment Limited Liability Companies (PTPMA) that had not supplied required documents or had submitted false information.
Investor permits were also a focus of a crackdown reported in October 2026. According to PerthNow, Novyandri said misuse of investor limited-stay permits accounted for 30 percent of deportations in that crackdown.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster praised the authorities' enforcement efforts. "Supervision and law enforcement are essential parts of the efforts to maintain security, order, and the image of Bali as a quality and dignified cultural tourism destination," he said.
Earlier enforcement across Bali
Separate island-wide figures from Bali's Immigration Regional Office showed that 342 foreign nationals were deported between January and June 2026. Authorities attributed most of those cases to overstaying or residence-permit misuse, PerthNow reported.
Later, a week-long patrol called "Dharma Dewata," reported by ANTARA News on August 11, brought inspections of 66 foreign nationals representing 27 countries. Bali's Regional Directorate General of Immigration suspected 24 of misusing residence permits. Another 20 had overstayed their visas, while 22 were apprehended in connection with disturbances to security and public order.
September operation led to deportations
A joint operation in Canggu, Seminyak and Umalas on the night of September 17, 2026, resulted in Ngurah Rai Immigration detaining 12 women and one man on suspicion of prostitution. Officials said the 13 foreign nationals faced deportation and a five-year ban on entering Indonesia, Tempo reported.
Between September 21 and 27, the office deported 18 foreign nationals for stay-permit violations, according to the Indonesian National Police. That group included 10 people detained in the September 17 operation; five of those 10 had also overstayed.
PerthNow reported that deported foreign nationals are added to Indonesia's immigration deterrence list, barring their return for a specified period. For overstays and similar infractions, entry bans often range from six months to several years.
