Visas and Documentation

Overstaying your Visa in Indonesia

A discussion in February 2003 on the Expat Forum in response to the following posting set off a flurry of advice from people who had overstayed their visas in the past, giving tips on the variety of ways that this serious issue can be dealt with.

Initial posting:

I have been in Indonesia with a tourist visa and I'm 15 months too late (expired visa) ... I want to leave the country and go back to Europe. I'm only afraid to go to jail. Does anyone know what I can do? Can I pay an amount to the immigration to stay out of jail? Please inform me what I should do know.

Various responses:

I once overstayed too, but only by a several days. So I could clear it up I gave uang kopi directly to the immigration officer at the airport. But for you I think it will be a big problem with a 15 month overstay!

I see only one way to solve the problem - you have to lose your passport (and airline ticket of course) and ask for a new one from your embassy in Jakarta. For this you may have to make a report to the police.

If I was 15 months over I'd lose my passport as well! They fine you by the day, and it's a large amount! ... to which another forum visitor said ... When we come in the country now in Jakarta and most big cities we are put in the system via their computers. If they track you down to when you actually came in 15 months ago then they are not stupid, the scam is up and they will milk you dry just to stay out of jail. Better try a slow boat out of Medan or one of the smaller nearby cities. If memory serves Argus P. and Young Bule (YB) have suggested these trips and knew a lot more about these than I do.

Fishermen out of Dumai, Bengkalis or Selat Panjang in Riau can take you on a one-way trip to Malaysia - that's the main smuggling route for Indonesians wanting to work in West Malaysia - but they will want plenty of the folding stuff for taking the risk of helping a bule. You can then try for a new passport in KL. However, a police report will be needed, and Malaysian Immigration is a bit better organised than here, and will want to know why they have no record of you entering the country.

Dude...the same thing happen to me also. Indonesian immigration wanted to charge me US$2,000.00 for overstaying 6 months. I told them I did not have the cash and they were going to put me in jail. However once they discovered I really did not have the money they escorted me to the airport and sent me on my way. The immigration dude blacklisted me forever from coming back to indonesia. BUT, no problem, I went back home, changed my last name and got a new passport and am now back in Indonesia. You can be sure that immigration will have you in their computer system. I think your best bet is to go to your embassy and let them know you are going to turn yourself into Indonesian immigration and once immigration figures out you don't have any money, they will let you go.

Hello. I never tried to run away from Indonesia, but if you have no money to pay the $9,000 fine ( $20 a day for 15 months), try to go to Pontianak. Then to Putussibau. Then to Nangabadauh. This a town in the jungle for workers. Malaysia is very near. And local people are used to crossing the line for a few hours each Saturday morning to sell vegetables. Maybe you can pretend to be a tourist and follow them, or try to ask the Iban people how do they cross the border to enter Malaysia illegally. A lot of young jobless men do it in walking over the border at night. But I'm not sure you won't have problems in Malaysia??? And you need to speak a fluent Indonesian and to be “sabar” (patient). But try to phone the Embassy first... you don't need to say them your name...

In 1999 I overstayed my visa for 11 months. Sh*t myself senseless at the airport, but immigration were ok. Cost me Rp 6 million, but I didn't try to bargain down. Go to immigration at the airport, NOT in town. The less people you have to pay the better. Funny thing was 1st time I tried to leave I didn't have Rp 6 million on me, so I had to wait for the money to be transferred from Australia. Immigration at the airport had no problem with me going home and coming back a few days later.

Was told not to come back for 1 year. I've been back a number of times since with no problems. Met an Aussie who overstayed 2 years and reckoned he got out through North Sulawesi to Philippines with no problems.

I think if you ever want to go back though it's best to try immigration at the Jakarta airport. They come across this all the time. Don't stress out too much and let us know how you got on.

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