Indonesia has recently announced that permanent residents (PR) in Singapore can now travel visa-free to Bintan, Batam, and the Karimun Islands. This move is aimed at boosting tourism and investment in the regional economic zones. Foreigners with PR status will be able to stay for up to four days under the new rules. The director-general of immigration in Indonesia, Silmy Karim, stated that this initiative will make it easier for Singapore PR holders to visit for a short escape, enjoy nature, culinary tourism, or shopping.
The new rules allow BVK holders to enter via certain crossing points in the Riau region, including Batam Island, Bintan Island, and the Karimun Regency area. Several port points in the region will serve as entry points for Singapore PR holders, including Nongsa Terminal Bahari, Marina Teluk Senimba, and others. Mr. Silmy highlighted the tourism potential of the Riau Islands and the various exclusive economic zones in the area, emphasizing their focus on digital business, creative economy, and tourism. The BVK facility aims to not only boost tourism but also facilitate business and investment opportunities for Singapore PR holders in the special economic zones.
While the relaxed visa requirements for Singapore PRs aim to promote tourism and investment, Mr. Silmy cautioned that there will still be a careful selection process for incoming visitors. The policy seeks to reduce potential disturbances to security and order by properly selecting visitors. Details of the selection process were not provided in Mr. Silmy’s statement. Unlike the existing visa-free entry for ASEAN member states, the new policy specifically targets Singapore PRs, offering a streamlined visa-free option with a focus on specific regions.
Singapore has around 545,000 PRs according to its statistics department. These are foreigners who have been granted permanent residence in the country, allowing them to reside there on a permanent basis. Indonesia, as Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has introduced various initiatives to attract wealthy global citizens and foreign investors, such as “second home” and golden visas. Bintan and Batam have previously introduced initiatives like the travel bubble zone during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate travel in the area. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo also announced visa-free entry for 13 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, outside ASEAN and Timor-Leste, as part of the latest list of exemptions.
The new visa-free travel for Singapore PRs to Bintan, Batam, and the Karimun Islands is part of Indonesia’s efforts to promote tourism and investment in the region. By allowing PR holders to stay for up to four days without a visa, the initiative aims to attract visitors interested in short escapes, nature, culinary tourism, and shopping. The focus on specific regions and careful selection of visitors underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining security and order while encouraging tourism and business activities in the area. These measures, along with other initiatives like “second home” programs and golden visas, demonstrate Indonesia’s commitment to attracting wealthy investors and global citizens to the country.
