Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham) Yasonna H Laoly expanded restrictions on foreigners allowed to enter Indonesian territory. This expansion is stated in Permenkumham Number 27 of 2021 concerning Restrictions on Foreigners Entering Indonesian Territory during the Enforcement Period of Restrictions on Emergency Community Activities.
In the regulations that officially took effect on Wednesday (21/7/2021), the entry ban to Indonesia also includes foreign workers (TKA) who previously came to Indonesia as part of a national strategic project.
Yasonna stated, in Permenkumham 27/2021, foreigners who may enter Indonesian territory are only holders of diplomatic visas and service visas, holders of diplomatic residence permits and official residence permits, holders of limited stay permits and permanent residence permits, foreigners with health and humanitarian purposes. As well as the crew of the means of transportation that come with the means of transportation.
Thus, foreign workers who previously came as part of a national strategic project or for reasons of family union can no longer enter Indonesia as regulated in this regulation. This expansion of restrictions on foreigners entering Indonesia is carried out in order to suppress the spread of Covid-19," Yasonna said in a press statement on Wednesday (21/7/2021).
It is said, this Permenkumham at the same time replaces Permenkumham 26/2020 concerning Visas and Stay Permits in the Adaptation Period of New Habits. Yasonna said that Permenkumham 27/2021 could not be separated from the coordination between him and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi and other related institutions.
Crew of the means of transportation here refers to airline cabin crew, crew of cargo ships etc and DOES NOT INCLUDE yachters on their private boats. Yachters sailing on their own boat/delivering a boat does not count as crew, but as passengers.
PRESS CONFERENCE (Official Government Release) – 4th July 2021
No. SP-397/HUM/ROKOM/SET.MARVES/VII/2021
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister Luhut emphasized that as of 6 (six) July 2021, all foreign nationals (WNA) entering Indonesia must have a vaccine card/proof.
"All foreigners who go to Indonesia, starting July 6, 2021, must show a vaccine card (fully vaccinated) and a negative PCR result for Covid-19 before entering Indonesia. Vaccine certificates are exempted from being granted to diplomats and visiting foreign officials at the ministerial level in accordance with diplomatic relations practices that are also applied by other countries," said Spokesman Jodi.
Coordinating Minister Luhut explained, while for Indonesian citizens who will enter Indonesia but have not yet obtained a vaccine card, they must first show a negative PCR for Covid-19 before arrival, and after being quarantined and proven PCR negative, the vaccine will be given/implemented immediately.
"Quarantine rules, both for foreigners and Indonesian citizens, will undergo quarantine for 8 days with 2 PCR tests, namely upon arrival and on day 7," explained Spokesman Jodi.
As for the quarantine limit for 8 (eight) days, this is in accordance with the direction of the Ministry of Health with the following considerations:
1. It is necessary to tighten the quarantine period for international travellers as a form of increasing awareness in dealing with variants of concern.
2. The median incubation of the SARS-CoV-2 variants Delta and Alpha is 4 days. Thus, the 8-day quarantine period covers twice the median incubation period of the virus.
3. The 8-day quarantine is carried out with a combination of entry & exit RT-PCR testing which is carried out at the time of arrival of the traveler (first day) and repeated on the 7th day.
4. Entry testing is carried out to detect as early as possible the potential for transmission from travellers.
5. Exit testing is carried out on the 7th day to wait for the virus incubation period, in anticipation of the virus not being detected in the first test.
6. The combination of quarantine and entry-exit testing (days 1 and 7) can prevent post-quarantine transmission, with a probability of transmission < 0.25%.
7. The implementation of quarantine for travellers needs to be carried out with discipline and strictness, in order to avoid transmission during the quarantine period.