Indonesia is strengthening cooperation between government institutions to improve consular access and immigration notifications for foreign nationals. The Directorate General of Immigration under the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections has officially signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Directorate General of Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agreement aims to streamline notification procedures and consular access for foreign missions when handling immigration matters involving foreign citizens in Indonesia.
The cross-agency collaboration covers several key areas, including the fast, accurate, and effective exchange of information related to actual cases involving Foreign Nationals. It also includes the use of immigration crime data and administrative actions as a basis for implementing the principle of reciprocity with partner countries. Officials noted that this Cooperation Agreement comes at a crucial time, as Indonesia faces growing diversity and complexity in immigration-related issues.
Strengthening coordination between the two ministries is essential to ensure that immigration law enforcement remains aligned with Indonesia’s commitments to international conventions, particularly the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. These conventions outline the rights and protections of foreign diplomatic and consular personnel, making collaboration especially important when managing sensitive or urgent cases involving foreign nationals.
Acting Director General of Protocol and Consular Affairs, Andy Rachmianto, expressed appreciation for the ongoing cooperation between the two ministries and stressed its significance.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs values ongoing cooperation in handling foreign nationals, emphasizing that immigration enforcement must respect the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations.” he said, as quoted from imigrasi.go.id.
One of the primary follow-up steps of the Cooperation Agreement is the establishment of a Joint Working Team tasked with formulating Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and an effective communication mechanism. The agreement also serves as the foundation for governance guidelines incorporated into the Director General of Immigration’s SOP known as SILINDSI (Information, Data, and Notification Collaboration). This system will guide all Immigration Offices and Immigration Detention Centers in communicating with foreign missions in Indonesia.
Acting Director General of Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, emphasized the institution’s commitment to improving coordination.
“Through the SILINDSI platform (Information, Data, and Notification Service Collaboration), the Directorate General of Immigration is committed to ensuring smooth consular access and notifications, as well as improving the governance of technical cooperation and immigration correspondence with foreign missions in Indonesia” he stated.
He added that the Cooperation Agreement is expected to strengthen interagency coordination between Immigration, Corrections, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“With this Cooperation Agreement and guidelines in place, interagency coordination is expected to become more effective, transparent, and to make a tangible contribution to national interests on the international stage,” he concluded.
Through this agreement, Indonesia aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and international cooperation in managing immigration matters affecting foreign nationals.
Source: imigrasi.go.id
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
