Indonesia Deports 25 Foreign Photographers for Visa Violations

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesia's government has taken action against foreign photographers operating illegally in the country. To date, 25 foreign photographers have been deported after being found misusing visitor visas to conduct business activities without proper work permits.

The Ministry of Creative Economy commended the swift response of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections in addressing the issue. The deportations followed reports that foreign nationals had been running photography businesses in Indonesia while entering the country on visitor visas.

Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya expressed his appreciation during a meeting with Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto in Jakarta on Tuesday, June, 9, 2026. The meeting focused on follow-up measures in response to complaints raised by photography industry players and professional associations.

According to Riefky, the reports came from various stakeholders within Indonesia’s photography ecosystem. They highlighted the growing number of foreign photographers establishing businesses in Indonesia by taking advantage of visa-on-arrival facilities.

“Today, we came to express our appreciation and gratitude for the swift response of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections regarding reports of illegal foreign photographers who were misusing visa-on-arrival permits to conduct business activities in various regions of Indonesia without authorization,” Riefky said.

He noted that the presence of these illegal operators has created concern among local creative industry professionals. Many offered low-cost photography packages that included makeup services, lighting equipment, and photo retouching, creating unfair competition for Indonesian photographers.

Cases have been identified in several cities, including Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bali, as well as other regions across the country. Following these reports, the Ministry of Creative Economy coordinated with the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections to ensure appropriate enforcement measures were taken.

“Thankfully, the response was swift, and as of today, 25 illegal foreign photographers have been deported. This is positive news and reflects the responsiveness of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections through the Directorate General of Immigration,” Riefky said.

While supporting strict enforcement of immigration regulations, Riefky emphasized that Indonesia remains open to international collaboration in the creative economy sector. However, he stressed that foreign professionals must comply with Indonesian laws and regulations and should not take opportunities that rightfully belong to local creative workers.