Bali Immigration Tells Hotels and Villas to Report Foreign Guests via APOA

Denpasar — — Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration is asking accommodation operators in Bali to actively report foreign guests through the Aplikasi Pelaporan Orang Asing (APOA) as part of intensified patrols and supervision of foreigners on the island.

The APOA system is used to record the presence of foreign nationals staying in hotels, villas and other lodging, with data integrated into the immigration information system to support monitoring and enforcement, according to the Directorate General of Immigration.

Immigration officials say the reporting obligation is placed on accommodation owners and managers rather than on visitors themselves. During recent Dharma Dewata patrol activities, officers have visited tourist businesses and accommodation managers to provide direct education on the requirement to report foreigners through APOA.

What APOA means for visitors

For foreign guests, the practical implication is that their hotel or villa may ask for passport and visa details so these can be entered into APOA by the accommodation provider. The Directorate General of Immigration describes APOA as a tool to validate accurate data on the presence of foreign nationals and to educate accommodation managers on their reporting duties.

Current public information from immigration authorities and local media does not require travellers to download APOA or create their own accounts. The obligation highlighted in official statements is for accommodation operators to report the presence of foreign nationals lawfully staying at their premises.

Visitors are advised to follow normal check-in procedures and ensure their travel documents are available when requested by the accommodation or immigration officers. Immigration officials have framed APOA as an administrative and supervisory instrument designed to support early detection of immigration violations and improve a sense of security for residents and tourists.

Dharma Dewata patrols and outreach

The APOA outreach is part of Operasi Patroli Dharma Dewata, a dedicated immigration patrol task force established in Bali on 15 April 2026. The task force is mandated to conduct routine monitoring and early detection of potential immigration violations across areas with high concentrations of foreign nationals, including Canggu, Ubud, Singaraja, Tabanan and Nusa Penida.

The Directorate General of Immigration reports that the first period of Patroli Dharma Dewata ran from 17 to 30 July 2026, involving 104 immigration officers supported by military, police, municipal public order officers and traditional security personnel. In that period, officers apprehended 62 foreigners described as having immigration problems and conducted APOA socialisation with 50 accommodation managers.

A second operational period was reported from 15 July to 16 August 2026, during which authorities detained 66 foreign nationals for alleged immigration-related violations. According to the Immigration Director General Hendarsam Marantoko, common violations included disturbance of public order, failure to report to immigration offices, misuse of residence permits and overstaying.

Separate statements from immigration and police information services emphasise a “zero tolerance” approach to foreigners who breach Indonesian laws and immigration rules, noting that offenders may face detention, deportation and blacklisting.

Recent patrols and examination of foreigners

In late August 2026, immigration personnel conducted a Dharma Dewata supervision patrol in Canggu, Badung. Several foreign nationals were taken to the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office for examination of their stay permits, according to an English-language summary of the Directorate General’s 28 August press release and local media reports.

Authorities say the patrols combine enforcement with education for business and accommodation operators, with APOA highlighted as a supporting application for validating guest data and strengthening foreigner supervision across Bali.

Sources

• Kementerian Imigrasi dan Pemasyarakatan / Dirjen Imigrasi press release on Dharma Dewata and APOA
• Kumparan – Imigrasi Tangkap 6 WNA di Canggu Bali karena Langgar Izin Tinggal
• detik.com – Patroli Dharma Dewata, Imigrasi Ajak Warga Lokal Laporkan WNA Ganggu-Langgar Hukum
• RoyalVisa – Bali Immigration Checks: Dharma Dewata And APOA
• Indonesia Expat – Bali Immigration Deploys 104 Officers for Dharma Dewata Patrols
• Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi – Imigrasi Kukuhkan Satgas Patroli Dharma Dewata untuk Perkuat Pengawasan Orang Asing di Bali
• Indonesian National Police information portal – Zero Tolerance for Foreigners Violating Indonesian Laws