Jakarta, June 9, 2026 – To strengthen cross-sector coordination in monitoring cross-border creative economy activities and safeguard the sustainability of Indonesia’s creative industry ecosystem, the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency held a strategic meeting with the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections.
Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, held a strategic meeting with the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections at the Ministry’s Office in Jakarta on Tuesday (9/6/2026).
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections Office in Jakarta on Tuesday (June 9), also reaffirmed the government’s concrete action in officially deporting 25 illegal foreign photographers who had misused their stay permits and Visa on Arrival (VOA) facilities in Indonesia.
“We highly appreciate the swift response and firm action taken by the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, particularly the Directorate of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement, in addressing the case of 25 illegal foreign photographers who abused their stay permits and Visa on Arrival (VOA). Global collaboration must continue to thrive, but within the framework of orderly, fair, and healthy national regulations to protect local creative economy players,” said Minister Teuku Riefky.
The Minister discussed the growing mobility of global talent amid the rapid development of the digital economy. The discussion focused specifically on the handling of reports submitted by various professional associations regarding the misuse of stay permits by several foreign nationals. Some were found to be operating illegally within Indonesia’s domestic photography and videography subsectors and were consequently subjected to deportation.
“Non-compliance with immigration regulations by foreign individuals has a significant direct impact on the local creative market. This situation not only affects fair business competition due to imbalanced service pricing, but also threatens the sustainability of local creative professionals who are already facing global competition. Therefore, this issue deserves collective attention to prevent its recurrence and further harm to Indonesia’s creative ecosystem,” the Minister explained.
Documentation by the Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
The Ministry of Immigration and Corrections has committed to strengthening oversight and taking firm action against any misuse of stay permits by foreign nationals operating within the creative economy sector. This strategic synergy is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Creative Economy through the Foreign Nationals Monitoring Team (PORA) to maintain a fair and healthy business environment for local industry players.
“Foreign photographers are permitted to engage in commercial activities in Indonesia as long as they comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including licensing requirements, appropriate work visas, and labor regulations,” stated Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Agus Andrianto.
Through this meeting, both ministries agreed on a strategic framework for establishing an integrated monitoring mechanism for creative economy activities involving foreign workers to prevent similar violations in the future. The Ministry of Creative Economy is also expanding its coordination with associations from other subsectors, including music and film-animation-video. In addition to law enforcement efforts, both institutions will promote educational programs and immigration regulatory literacy initiatives for creative economy players and MSMEs to foster a shared understanding of the applicable rules.
The Ministry of Creative Economy also submitted supporting documents containing concrete evidence from reports filed by the Indonesian Photography Professional Association (APFI), the Indonesian Documentation Entrepreneurs Association (HIPDI), and the Indonesia Professional Photographer Association (IPPA), as well as representatives of the national photography industry—including dr. Tompi and Jerry Aurum—which served as the basis for the enforcement actions against the foreign photographers.
Documentation by the Public Communication Division, Ministry of Immigration and Corrections.
In addition to collaborating on the upcoming World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) scheduled for October 2026, the Ministry of Creative Economy and the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections also committed to continuing empowerment programs for correctional facility inmates in the creative sector. These include music video production and music monetization training programs, which have been successfully implemented with the Elpama Prison group in Merauke, equipping participants with skills to support their reintegration into society.
Through these joint efforts, both ministries are optimistic about maintaining a healthy, orderly, and sustainable national creative economy ecosystem. The Ministry of Creative Economy expressed its highest appreciation for the support and cooperation that have been established and hopes that this cross-sectoral synergy will continue to be strengthened in order to advance Indonesia’s creative economy and enhance its competitiveness.
During the meeting, Minister Teuku Riefky was accompanied by Deputy for Media Creativity, Cecep Rukendi; Director of Publishing and Photography, Iman Santosa; Head of the Bureau for Communication, Kiagoos Irvan Faisal; as well as the Minister’s Expert Staff for Strategic and Inter-Institutional Affairs, Gemintang K. Mallarangeng and Hasbil Mustaqim Lubis.
Meanwhile, Minister Agus Andrianto was accompanied by Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko; Director General of Corrections, Mashudi; Special Staff for Strategic Issues, Heru Dwi Pratondo; Head of the Bureau of Legal Affairs and Cooperation, Sigit Setyawan; Director of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement, Yuldi Yusman; Director of Inmate and Juvenile Development, Yan Rusmanto; and Director of Information Technology and Cooperation, Kadiyono.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of the Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
