Why Indonesia Blocks Nearly 9,000 Departures Abroad This Year

August 4, 2026 | 04:28 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia, through the Immigration DG under the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, has blocked the overseas departure of 8,287 citizens between January and July 2026. Authorities flagged these individuals as at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking.

"Immigration authorities also rejected 9,394 passport applications flagged for potential misuse," said Immigration DG Hendarsam Marantoko in an official statement on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

Hendarsam noted the number of attempts of unlawful departure of Indonesian migrant workers has dropped compared to the previous year. Passport application rejections have been reduced by 63.97 percent—from 2,470 cases in 2024 to 890 cases in 2025. Meanwhile, the number of deferred departures fell by 67.85 percent, decreasing from 20,291 to 6,524 individuals.

According to him, this decline reflects efforts to address past human trafficking cases. Hendarsam attributed the improvement to strengthened early detection systems, enhanced supervision, and cross-sector collaboration aimed at protecting Indonesian citizens from the risk of exploitation abroad.

He explained that the Immigration DG employs a multi-layered prevention strategy, ranging from the passport issuance process to departure checks at immigration checkpoints (TPI), all conducted in accordance with immigration laws. During the passport application process, officers perform document verification, interviews, and profiling to ensure consistency between the stated travel purpose and supporting documentation.

"If indications of misuse for irregular employment or potential human trafficking are detected, the application may be deferred or rejected pending further investigation," he said. "This is not done to create difficulties for the public, but rather serves as a form of state protection for its citizens."

Read: Immigration Probes Dutch Nationals over Bali Running Event 

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