BANDUNG, BALINEWS — Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration recorded 17,597 Immigration Administrative Actions between January and September 2026, as authorities move to strengthen oversight of foreign nationals and refugees through digital monitoring systems.
The measures include optimizing the Foreigner Reporting Application (Aplikasi Pelaporan Orang Asing, or APOA), the Subject of Interest (SOI) system, and developing the Immigration Law Enforcement Application for Refugees (APGAKUM Pengungsi).
The initiative was discussed during the Immigration Supervision and Enforcement Coordination Meeting, held in Bandung from October 13 to 16, 2026.
Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko emphasized that digital technology plays a crucial role in improving data accuracy, strengthening early detection, and enabling more targeted immigration supervision.
“Digitalization of immigration supervision ensures that the data we hold is accurate, up to date, and actionable. With the support of technology and the integrity of our officers, supervision can be carried out in a more targeted manner,” Hendarsam said.
According to the Directorate General of Immigration, the 17,597 administrative actions recorded during the first nine months of 2026 consisted of 5,310 residence permit cancellations, 5,310 deportations, 3,950 proposed entry bans, 3,022 detentions, and five orders prohibiting individuals from being present at specific locations.
In addition to administrative enforcement, immigration authorities recorded 30 notifications of the commencement of criminal investigations (Surat Pemberitahuan Dimulainya Penyidikan, or SPDP), involving 89 suspects in immigration-related criminal cases during the same period.
Of the 89 suspects, 62 remained under investigation, 20 had reached the P21 stage—meaning their case files had been declared complete by prosecutors—or had proceeded to trial, while seven had received legally binding court judgments.
Malaysian Nationals Account for the Largest Number of Suspects
According to nationality-based data, Malaysian nationals accounted for the largest number of suspects in immigration-related criminal cases, with 34 individuals.
They were followed by 20 Chinese nationals from the People's Republic of China (PRC), 10 Pakistani nationals, nine Bangladeshi nationals, and five Filipino nationals.
These figures reflect the number of suspects recorded in immigration-related criminal cases handled during the January–September 2026 period. They do not, by themselves, indicate the overall rate of immigration violations among nationals of those countries.
APOA and SOI Strengthen Early Detection
To improve immigration supervision, the Directorate General of Immigration is optimizing APOA and SOI, which are integrated with the Immigration Management Information System (Sistem Informasi Manajemen Keimigrasian, or SIMKIM).
APOA enables accommodation providers to report the presence of foreign nationals staying at their establishments. The system helps authorities maintain information on foreign nationals in specific areas and supports monitoring in accordance with applicable regulations.
Meanwhile, SOI helps identify individuals who require special attention during immigration checks.
Integrated SOI data can automatically appear in immigration service systems, including during inspections at Immigration Checkpoints (Tempat Pemeriksaan Imigrasi, or TPI).
These systems support checks on foreign nationals suspected of violating immigration regulations, as well as individuals listed as wanted persons, including international fugitives.
By integrating relevant information into immigration services, authorities aim to make inspections more targeted and improve their ability to detect potential violations at an early stage.
Refugee Monitoring Application Introduced Nationwide
In addition to monitoring foreign nationals, the Directorate General of Immigration is developing APGAKUM Pengungsi to strengthen the registration, reporting, and monitoring of refugees from abroad.
The application supports identity registration, document verification, photographic records, and the monitoring of refugee locations through geotagging technology.
The system enables immigration officers to verify information independently while continuing to use preliminary data provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Following a pilot program in the operational area of the Semarang Immigration Detention Center (Rumah Detensi Imigrasi, or Rudenim), the application has begun nationwide implementation.
The initiative is intended to improve data accuracy and facilitate the monitoring of refugee locations. Through more structured records, immigration authorities aim to improve coordination and accountability in refugee management.
Immigration Chief Stresses Professionalism and Integrity
Hendarsam stressed that the use of technology must go hand in hand with the professionalism and integrity of immigration officers.
According to him, digital systems should not merely accelerate information collection but also support appropriate decision-making and ensure that enforcement measures can be properly accounted for.
Through the optimization of APOA, SOI, and APGAKUM Pengungsi, the Directorate General of Immigration aims to establish a more integrated, data-driven, and accountable supervision framework.
The initiative is also intended to improve the effectiveness of immigration enforcement while maintaining security and public order throughout Indonesia.
Immigration authorities emphasized that stricter enforcement would continue to be balanced with a humane approach in carrying out their responsibilities.
The digitalization initiative forms part of Indonesia’s broader efforts to strengthen oversight of foreign nationals and refugees, alongside the handling of thousands of administrative actions and dozens of immigration-related criminal cases recorded between January and September 2026.
