Jakarta, INTI - The Directorate General of Immigration is strengthening its use of digital technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), to enhance the monitoring and supervision of foreign nationals in Indonesia.
Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said technology will become the backbone of Indonesia’s immigration system in the future.
“Technology will account for around 70 percent of the backbone of immigration in the future,” Hendarsam said on Thursday during the inauguration of an Immigration Lounge at Discovery Kuta shopping center in Badung, Bali.
Drones and Digital Fences Strengthen Border Surveillance
In addition to AI, the Immigration Directorate General is deploying other digital technologies, including drones, to support surveillance and map conditions in border areas.
The technology is considered essential given Indonesia’s 3,111-kilometer land border with neighboring countries.
Immigration has also introduced a program known as the Digital Fence, which uses drones in selected areas, particularly to monitor unofficial border routes and so-called “rat routes” commonly used for unauthorized crossings.
“We have a program called the Digital Fence, which uses drones in certain areas, especially along unofficial routes. This allows the movement of people in and out of these areas to be monitored,” Hendarsam said.
Technology-driven surveillance is also being implemented for foreign nationals arriving in Bali through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Immigration services at the airport are equipped with facial recognition technology capable of recording and identifying every foreign national entering the country.
The Directorate General of Immigration has also begun designing a long-term technology architecture for Indonesia’s immigration system through 2045.
As an initial step, Hendarsam plans to establish a dedicated task force to discuss and prepare the long-term immigration technology architecture.
Immigration Lounge Brings Services Closer to the Public in Bali
Alongside strengthening surveillance of foreign nationals, the Directorate General of Immigration is expanding access to immigration services for both Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals.
Service development is being tailored to the specific characteristics and needs of each region.
In Bali, one of Indonesia’s major tourist destinations, Immigration is expanding services to locations with high concentrations of international visitors.
One such initiative is the Immigration Lounge at Discovery Kuta shopping center in Badung, Bali.
The non-technical implementation unit (non-UPT) immigration service has been operating since July 2026.
Since its launch, the Immigration Lounge has handled an average of around 100 to 120 foreign-national residence permit applications per day.
The inauguration of Bali’s first immigration service located inside a shopping center was attended by Bali Governor Wayan Koster, as well as Bali representatives in the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI), Ni Luh Djelantik and I Gusti Ngurah Arya Weda Karna.
Conclusion
Indonesia is accelerating the digital transformation of its immigration system by leveraging AI, drones, facial recognition, and digital surveillance. These technologies are expected to strengthen border security while improving immigration services and supporting a more integrated, technology-driven system toward 2045.
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