In the first half of October 2026, Ngurah Rai Immigration in Bali deported five Investor ITAS holders in two separate batches. None of them were caught at a border. They were found during routine patrols in which officers compare a foreigner’s permit with what they are actually doing. If you hold an Investor ITAS (E28A) through a PT PMA, this is a good moment to check that your paperwork and your day-to-day reality tell the same story.
Last reviewed: 16 October 2026. Based on public statements by Ngurah Rai Immigration and Gianyar Regency officials, 5–14 October 2026.
What happened: two weeks, five Investor ITAS holders deported
Batch one (29 September–4 October). Ngurah Rai Immigration deported nine foreigners after patrols in Badung. Two held Investor ITAS permits: a German national who, according to the office, ran no business and had paid in no capital, and a French national working as a host at a private villa. A third person, on a visit permit, had set up a PT PMA and was managing assets without a suitable residence permit (Apa Kabar Bali, 6 Oct; Radar Bali).
The office head, Muhamad Novyandri, put it plainly: the investor permit exists so genuine investors can do business, and “if that permit is used only as a cover for living in Bali without investing, that is abuse and we will act firmly.”
Batch two (5–9 October, announced 14 October). Ten more foreigners were deported. Three were Investor ITAS holders (Media Indonesia, 14 Oct; detikBali):
- a US national whose activity did not match the permitted location, and who was promoting villas;
- an Australian national who gave false information about the investment;
- an Australian national who kept operating after BKPM had revoked the company’s business licence.
The office said everyone deported has been placed on the entry-ban (penangkalan) list (Media Indonesia). How long a ban lasts depends on the case and the applicable rules.
The pattern: permit versus real activity
Read together, the five cases point to the same four questions officers are asking:
- Is there a real investment? No business and no paid-in capital was the first reason given. An Investor ITAS is sponsored by your PT PMA because you are a shareholder or director of a company that is meant to invest and operate.
- Is the holder doing the company’s business, or a different job? Working as a villa host, or doing work outside the company’s licensed activities, is treated as misuse of the permit.
- Is the activity where the licence says it is? A PT PMA’s licence is tied to its business activities (KBLI) and locations, so activity elsewhere can fall outside it.
- Is the company still licensed and reporting? One holder was deported for operating after the licence was revoked. Under BKPM rules, revocation can follow a sanction ladder that starts with missed LKPM reports, and an Investor ITAS depends on the sponsoring company remaining valid.
None of this is new law. What has changed is how actively it is being checked on the ground.
Gianyar: villa permits are under the spotlight too
On 13 October, Gianyar’s DPRD Commission I announced coordinated oversight of villa and tourist-accommodation permits with the regency’s investment and licensing office (DPMPTSP) and Satpol PP, focusing on Tegallalang, Payangan and Tampaksiring. The stated aim is to prevent spatial-planning violations and illegal conversion of protected rice fields. No new deadline or penalty was announced (The Bali Observer, 14 Oct).
For an investor whose PT PMA runs or develops a villa, this adds a second layer: Immigration checks the person, the regency checks the property. Building approval (PBG/SLF), spatial zoning and the KBLI on your licence must all fit what the villa is actually used for. Bali has also closed several business lines to new foreign-investment applications this year, so check your KBLI status too (our article on the Bali PMA restrictions).
Your Investor ITAS self-check
Take 30 minutes with your documents and answer honestly:
- Company status. Is your NIB active in OSS, with no warning, suspension or revocation notice?
- Capital. Does the paid-in capital in your deed and bank records match what the company declared, and what your Investor ITAS application relied on? Your notary and accountant should be able to show this on paper.
- LKPM. Have the quarterly investment reports been filed and approved, including the Q3 2026 report that was due on 15 October? A PT PMA reports even before it starts operating. See our LKPM reporting guide.
- Activity and location. Does what you do each day match your company’s KBLI codes and registered business locations? If you promote, manage or host at a villa, is that villa owned or operated by your PT PMA under the right licence?
- Your role. Are you named as a shareholder or director in the current deed and Ministry of Law records, matching your ITAS sponsorship?
- Personal paperwork. Are your ITAS dates, address registration and any change of address up to date? See our SKTT registration guide.
- Family members. If your spouse or children hold dependent permits, those follow your status, so any problem with yours affects theirs.
If one answer is “no” or “not sure”, fix it before an officer asks. In many cases the remedy is administrative: an overdue report, an updated deed or a KBLI amendment. The cases above escalated because there was nothing real behind the permit.
What about the Ministry of Investment taking over KITAS?
On 6 October the government announced that the Ministry of Investment/BKPM would begin issuing stay permits for foreign workers and investors, with the system expected within about two months (ANTARA). As of today it is not yet live. Until it is, the current Immigration process applies, and we don’t quote processing times for either route. A change of issuing office will not change the basic test: a real company, real investment and activity that matches the permit.
How ILA can help
We review Investor ITAS holders’ company files against their permits: OSS status, deed and capital records, LKPM history, KBLI and locations, and villa licensing where relevant. Then we tell you plainly what needs fixing. We can’t promise any permit outcome, but we can make sure your file is consistent and your obligations are up to date.
Start with our Investor KITAS page, compare options in Investor KITAS vs Working KITAS, and keep your company on track with our PT PMA compliance guide. Villa owners can also read about villa licensing in Bali.
FAQ
Why were Investor ITAS holders deported from Bali in October 2026?
According to Ngurah Rai Immigration, the five holders had no real business or paid-in capital, worked as a villa host, promoted villas outside the permitted location, gave false investment information, or kept operating after BKPM revoked the business licence.
Can I work at my own villa on an Investor ITAS?
It depends on whether the villa business belongs to your PT PMA, is properly licensed, and on what “work” means in your case. Hands-on hosting was one of the deportation grounds. Get advice on your specific structure.
My PT PMA missed an LKPM report. Is my Investor ITAS at risk?
A single missed report is a compliance issue to fix quickly. Repeated non-filing can lead to warnings, suspension and ultimately licence revocation, and an Investor ITAS depends on a valid sponsoring company.
Does the Gianyar oversight affect me if my villa is elsewhere in Bali?
The announced focus is Tegallalang, Payangan and Tampaksiring, but permit and land-use rules apply across Bali. Any villa owner should check that permits, zoning and KBLI match actual use.
Will the Ministry of Investment make Investor KITAS faster?
The new system has been announced but is not yet operating. We don’t quote processing times.
