As of April 2024, the immigration office has launched a new system for tracking visas and extensions. This system mandates that foreigners cannot apply for a new visa while they are still in Indonesia. If a person tries to apply before leaving the country, the system will display the error “Already Had Stay Permit Active.” Consequently, one can only begin the visa application process after departing from the island, meaning that visa runs will now take a minimum of several business days.
Issues with the System
Debugging Process: Currently, the transition to the new system is still in its early stages, and not all passports encounter the error when attempting to apply for a visa. The vast majority of applicants can still initiate the visa application process while in Indonesia. The transition is expected to be completed by May.
System Errors: Some applicants experience the “Already Had Stay Permit Active” error even after leaving Indonesia, which is a system glitch. In such cases, you need to contact the immigration office via email, explain the situation, send photos of your stamps and previous visas, and request a manual correction. Response times can vary from a few days to several weeks.
Current Solutions
Currently, it is possible to remove the Stay Permit Active restriction for applicants who want to start the new visa application without leaving Indonesia and spend only 1-2 days on a visa run. This option is also available for citizens who have encountered system errors and are already outside Indonesia.
Contact us, and we will help you start your visa application without needing to leave the island for an extended period. Even if you are not our client, we will gladly assist you in initiating the process quickly and comfortably.