Highlights
- Indonesian government suspends visa-free and Visa On Arrival for foreigners starting Monday.
- Foreigners can still visit Indonesia using a visiting visa.
- Visiting visa must be submitted in the country of departure, enclosing a health certificate.
Indonesian government has introduced several new foreign policies in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, by tightening supervision of the movement of people in and out of the country.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney held a teleconference nn Friday afternoon to explain the matter, including about the development of COVID-19 in Australia and Indonesia.
Consul General Heru Subolo said that there was a wrong perception developed in the community through social media.
"There are some [news in] social media which assume that Indonesia is closed, Bali is closed. That's not true," Mr Subolo said via teleconference.
But he acknowledged there are a number of new policies implemented by the Indonesian government starting Monday, related to international arrivals.
"For foreigners who want to go to Indonesia at this time, a new policy is imposed that Visa on Arrival and free visa and diplomatic visa are temporarily suspended," said Mr Subolo.
"But they can still visit Indonesia by requesting a visa through the nearest Indonesian representative, where they live in."
As a complement to visa requirements through local representatives, the foreign national must also provide a health certificate.
Mr Subolo promised that the time-processing for this application would not take long, no later than four days.
This visiting visa is not a new type of visa.
Indonesian government suspends free visa and Visa On Arrival into the country in the midst of COVID-19 outbreak. Source: AAP Image/AP Photo/Mohammad Noval
Consul of Immigration Made Tony Nuryana told SBS Indonesian that the visa is only one in addition to two other types of visas that could be used by foreigners from eligible countries, including Australia, to visit Indonesia.
Previously, foreigners could visit Indonesia visa-free and stay for up to 30 days. Or, use a Visa on Arrival that can be obtained at Indonesia's international ports which is valid for 30 days and can be extended once.
But starting Monday, only a visiting visa can be used at a cost of $80 for a stay of 60 days. This visa can be extended to a total visit time of 180 days.
Mr Nuryana said it is the local Indonesian representative offices that have the authority to grant the visa, taking into account the urgency of the visit and the attached health certificate.
Consul General Heru Subolo said that as of Thursday night, Indonesia had 309 confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which 15 had recovered and 25 had died.
Health Officers use thermal scanners to monitor the body temperature of passengers at Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, March 5, 2020. Source: AAP Image/Devi Rahman/INA Photo Agency/Sipa USA
He also said that the government is preparing a relatively mass examination of the coronavirus, such as the COVID-19 rapid test using immunoglobulin blood screening, in addition to WHO standard tests.
As of Tuesday afternoon, only people who have recently travelled from overseas or have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case and experienced symptoms within 14 days are advised to be tested.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor, don’t visit, or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
