Indonesia’s KPK Reveals Illegal Fees for Expedited Foreign Residency Permits

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered a scheme involving illegal fees charged to expedite residency permit processing for foreign nationals (WNA), as part of a corruption case implicating former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections (Imipas) Silmy Karim. The unofficial fees reportedly ranged between Rp1 million and Rp1.5 million per applicant.

As previously reported, Silmy Karim and seven others have been named suspects on allegations of extortion and gratification. Investigators have also seized various pieces of evidence, including foreign currency in US dollars and Singapore dollars, as well as precious metals and several vehicles.

The eight suspects in the case are:

1. Silmy Karim (SK), Deputy Minister of Imipas (2025–2026) and Director General of Immigration (2023–2024)

2. Saffar Muhammad Godam (SMG), Acting Director General of Immigration (2024–2025)

3. Jaya Saputra (JS), Director of Stay Permits and Immigration Status

4. Tessar Bayu Setyaji (TBS), Head of Subdirectorate for Status Adjustment

5. Bagus Bramantyo (BGS), Subdirectorate official at the Directorate of Stay Permits

6. Ronald Arman Abdullah (RAA), former Head of Central Jakarta Immigration Office and West Jakarta Immigration Office

7. Juniadi Sri Priambudi (JSP), Head of ITAS Status Adjustment Team

8. Gusti Benardiansyah (GST), staff member at the Stay Permit Subdirectorate

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the illegal “expedited service” fees varied depending on the processing pathway requested.

“The unofficial acceleration fees were set at around Rp1 million to Rp1.5 million per person,” Budi said on Sunday (June 7, 2026).

Under official procedures, residency permit processing typically takes between three and seven days. However, some foreign applicants opted to pay additional fees to shorten the waiting time.

Silmy Karim’s Alleged Role

The alleged misconduct took place between 2022 and 2026. During his tenure as Director General of Immigration (2023–2024), Silmy Karim is suspected of orchestrating the scheme by demanding a share of the proceeds from residency permit processing.

According to KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto, Silmy channeled these demands through Jaya Saputra, then Director of Stay Permits, who currently serves as Head of the West Java Immigration Office.

“SK, while serving as Deputy Minister and previously as Director General of Immigration, is suspected of extorting funds by requesting a share from residency permit processing through JS,” Setyo said during a press conference on Thursday (June 4).

Following these instructions, Jaya allegedly ordered subordinates Bagus Bramantyo and Tessar Bayu Setyaji to collect additional fees from foreign applicants.

To facilitate the scheme, both officials granted access to staff members Juniadi Sri Priambudi and Gusti Benardiansyah, enabling the systematic collection of illegal payments.

“Between 2022 and 2026, individuals within the Directorate General of Immigration and the ministry received funds directly—either in cash, bank transfers, or through intermediaries—amounting to at least Rp145.5 billion,” Setyo revealed.

Distribution of Funds

The illicit proceeds were reportedly distributed among involved officials on a weekly basis. Each recipient, including Silmy Karim, is estimated to have received around Rp100 million per week.

“The funds were distributed among certain officials every Friday, with one of the recipients, including SK, allegedly receiving approximately Rp100 million weekly,” Setyo added.

Official Fee Structure

According to the Directorate General of Immigration’s official website, the legal fees for residency permits are clearly regulated.

For limited stay permits (ITAS), the fees are as follows:
a. Up to 30 days: Rp500,000
b. Up to 1 year: Rp3,000,000
c. Up to 10 years: Rp7,000,000
d. Up to 2 years: Rp5,000,000
e. Up to 5 years: Rp7,000,000
f. Up to 6 months: Rp2,000,000
g. Up to 60 days: Rp1,000,000
h. Up to 90 days: Rp1,500,000

For permanent stay permits (ITAP), the fees include:
a. Up to 10 years: Rp12,000,000
b. Indefinite duration: Rp15,000,000
c. Up to 5 years: Rp7,000,000

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