May 21, 2026 | 02:07 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Directorate General of Immigration stated that the Golden Visa program is now a solution for global talents and diaspora who want to contribute to the Indonesian economy but have been hampered by inadequate immigration channels."Therefore, in 2024, we launched the Golden Visa program," said Hendarsam Marantoko, Director General of Immigration at the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (Kemenimipas), when met after the Golden Visa Socialization event in the context of Increasing Investment and National Economic Growth, in Jakarta, Thursday, as quoted by ANTARA.However, he emphasized that the Golden Visa is issued based on a selective policy, so obtaining it requires meeting several criteria. For the global talent category (stay period of 5 to 10 years), Golden Visa applicants must meet one of the academic or skills criteria and have a valid passport for at least 6 months. They must also provide proof of living expenses or proof of placement of security funds.Hendarsam explained that the principle of selective policy means not just any foreign citizen can obtain the Golden Visa and stay in the country long-term, to avoid undesirable outcomes."The point is that Indonesia is friendly but firm," he said.One of the global talents who received the Golden Visa facility is singer Anggun Cipta Sasmi. This international singer from Indonesia, who now has French citizenship, said he was relieved and grateful for the Golden Visa.She believes the Golden Visa is essential for Indonesia's global talent to return to Indonesia and contribute significantly to the national economy."So, the saying goes, no matter how far you travel, you always want to come home. Many of our friends in the diaspora feel the same way, and with the Golden Visa, that's now possible," Anggun said.However, the woman, who has lived in Paris for 30 years, believes that many in the Indonesian diaspora are unaware of the Indonesian Golden Visa program. Thus, he hopes the government can continue to conduct massive outreach regarding the Golden Visa.Indonesia recorded the issuance of 1,274 Golden Visas as of May 18, 2026, with a realized investment value of Rp52.1 trillion. The Golden Visa was first launched in July 2024.Read: 2026 Global Ranking of the Most Powerful PassportsClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
