A 24-year-old Syrian national, BD, was apprehended by immigration officers in Ponorogo for allegedly overstaying and working as a photo model, which violates his visa conditions.
The foreign national, who entered Indonesia on a visitor visa, was found residing without valid authorization and engaging in activities beyond the scope of his visa. BD was detained by immigration authorities on Friday, June 13th.
Happy Reza Dipayuda, Head of the Ponorogo Immigration Office, explained that the arrest followed a tip-off from local residents about a foreigner living in Kelurahan Kadipaten, Babadan district.
“Based on community reports, our Immigration Intelligence and Enforcement team launched an investigation,” Happy told reporters on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
The team quickly verified BD’s details through the immigration database and discovered his stay had expired since September 21, 2024. Coordinating with the local military intelligence unit, officers visited the specified location and detained BD around 3:45 PM at a residence on Jalan Brigjen Katamso, Babadan.
At the time, BD was staying at the home of his friend’s parent, an Indonesian citizen identified as NPL. NPL stated BD had arrived the previous night around 9 PM.
BD arrived in Indonesia via Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport on July 24, 2024, holding a visitor visa valid for 60 days, which expired on September 21, 2024. BD did not renew his permit but instead applied for refugee status through the UNHCR. His refugee status was only granted on December 17, 2024, valid until June 4, 2025, leaving a gap where his stay was unauthorized.
Further inspection of BD’s phone revealed evidence that he had worked as a photo model at a wedding exhibition held at a hotel in Batu City, East Java—activities clearly prohibited under his visitor visa.
“Visitor visas do not permit any form of employment or commercial activity,” emphasized Happy.
Currently, BD is held in the Ponorogo Immigration detention facility pending further investigation, suspected of violating immigration laws under Article 122(a) of Law Number 6 of 2011.
“We will strictly enforce regulations against any foreign nationals who abuse their stay permits in Indonesia,” Happy concluded, referencing directives from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. “Foreign residents must contribute positively to the country, not cause problems.”
