On 10 March 2025, the Indonesian National Police enacted Regulation No. 3 of 2025 on Police Functional Oversight of Foreign Nationals (“Police Regulation No. 3/2025”). This regulation introduces significant changes to one of the long-standing administrative obligations applicable to foreign nationals, including Foreign Workers, residing and working in Indonesia, namely the obligation to obtain a Report Certificate (Surat Tanda Melapor – STM) from the local police.
Under this new legal framework, the obligation to obtain an STM is no longer general in scope and has been restricted only to foreign nationals engaging in specific activities. The purpose of this legal update is to analyze these changes, compare them with the previous regulations and practices, and outline the implications for employers of foreign workers in Indonesia.
Prior to the enactment of Police Regulation No. 3/2025, the obligation for foreigners to report to the police was a standard procedure in immigration oversight and public order.
In practice, every foreigner who had obtained a Limited Stay Permit (Izin Tinggal Terbatas – ITAS) or a Permanent Stay Permit (Izin Tinggal Tetap – ITAP) was required to report their presence and residence to the nearest Resort Police Office (Polres) or Sector Police Office (Polsek), no later than 14 (fourteen) days after the issuance of the stay permit. This obligation applied to all foreign nationals, regardless of the type of work or purpose of their stay in Indonesia.
For foreign workers, compliance with the STM requirement was a crucial part of the overall regulatory process. Employers (sponsors) were responsible for ensuring that their foreign employees had obtained the STM. The document was often a prerequisite for processing other local administrative documents, such as the Certificate of Domicile (Surat Keterangan Tempat Tinggal – SKTT) or other population reporting requirements. Failure to obtain an STM could be considered an administrative violation, potentially causing difficulties for both the foreign worker and the employer.
Police Regulation No. 3/2025 fundamentally changes the landscape of reporting obligations for foreign nationals. This regulation specifically limits the categories of foreigners required to obtain documentation from the police. Article 5 of the Police Regulation essentially states that the issuance of such documentation is now restricted only to foreigners engaged in journalistic or research activities in designated zones, with the application submitted through their guarantor (sponsor).
Accordingly, Police Regulation No. 3/2025 effectively eliminates the obligation for all other foreigners outside these two categories, including all foreign workers employed in formal sectors such as industry, services, and trade, to obtain an STM from the police. Based on current field practice, police offices in various regions have ceased accepting or processing STM applications for foreign workers not engaged in journalism or research.
The enactment of Police Regulation No. 3/2025 represents a positive step toward deregulation, simplifying administrative procedures for foreign workers and their employers in Indonesia. By restricting the STM requirement only to activities deemed to require special oversight, the government has reduced unnecessary administrative burdens.
Employers are advised to promptly understand these changes and adjust their internal company policies to align with the new legal framework.
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