Indonesian citizens are free to enter Timor-Leste

DILI, 28 march 2022 (TATOLI) – The Government has issued a decision regarding the opening of land borders whereby starting on 21 fist of march 2022 that, Indonesian Citizens are free to enter Timor–Leste in every day, revealed General Director of Migration Services of the Ministry of Interior of Timor-Leste (TL), Luis S. Barreto,

“Based on Decision Letter of decree law number 26/2021 has been revised and decree law number 12/2022, decided that, border functions are running normally again,” said Luis S. Barreto at Timor Plaza after attending an evaluation meeting on PNTL performance in the 2022 presidential election, this monday.

He explained, in Decision Letter number 26/2021 the Timor – Leste ‘s border is only opened on monday and wednesday of the week but after the new decree, Timor- Leste ‘s border can be crossed every day with new rules such as showing passports and third certificate of vaccination only.

“From monday to sunday the border is not closed anymore, they only need to bring their passport and third certificate of vaccination, if all these criteria, are not fulfilled, they will not be allowed to cross the border,” he said.

The General Director of Migration also deeply regrets the criteria from the Indonesian Government which provides rules where Timor-Leste ‘s citizens who want to enter Indonesia are required in addition to a passport and third vaccine certificates, as for a PCR test certificate and a visa that must be processed at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Dili.

The visa processing process can be done through the Online Visa Approval Application and directly at the Indonesian Embassy in Dili with the type of Visit Visa or Limited Stay Visa.

“For the Citizens of Timor – Leste who want to go to Indonesia, they must issue a Visa at the Indonesian Embassy, a vaccine certificate and a PCR Test, but those who want to come here have been given freely and for commercial transportation it also runs normally,” he explained.

Since it was opened on march 21, 2022, the number of Timor–Leste‘s citizens and Indonesian citizens crossing the Batugade and Bobonaro land borders has increased from 50 persons to 100 persons every day.

In addition, land trips from the TL via Indonesia to Oecusse itself can be done by obtaining a letter of approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEK) of the TL and also the Indonesian Embassy in Dili.

In other side, TATOLI has also tried to contact the Indonesian Embassy in Dili regarding the application of the visa, but until now there is still no answer.

Journalist: Camilio de Sousa

Editor : Rafy Belo