Joniansyah Hardjono, Jakarta – The Soekarno-Hatta airport immigration office as of Thursday, December 30, denied the visas of 782 foreign nationals with various considerations throughout 2021. Head of immigrations and intelligence Andika Kurniawan revealed that it was due to Covid-19 restrictions consideration.

"Among the many reasons is the restrictions of Indoneians to prevent the spread of Covid-19," said Kurniawan in a media briefing on December 30.

Of the 782 people who were denied the entry, 100 of them came from Pakistan, Nigeria (87), India (79), China (56), and the United States (50).

Moreover, he said most of the visa denials were happened from November 29 to December 24, 2021, with a total of 142 people. This coincides with the circular issued by the Covid-19 task force on visitors' visas and stay permit restrictions.

Head of the Soekarno-Hatta immigration checkpoint Verico Sandy said that the denials include the applicant's destinations, documentation, and visas. It also comes as the government is attempting to suppress the spread of the new Omicron variant.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1544852/soekarno-hatta-immigration-denies-entry-of-782-foreigner