Jakarta. Immigration Minister Agus Andrianto announced plans to require Indonesians applying for travel documents to submit a one-year bank statement, aiming to prevent human trafficking and smuggling.

“We’ll add this requirement to immigration applications. If possible, applicants should attach a one-year bank statement. We’ll assess whether their account activity appears normal or unusual,” Agus said after a working meeting with Parliament’s Commission XIII in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Agus explained that by reviewing transaction histories, authorities can better evaluate whether travelers are genuinely heading abroad for tourism or if there are signs of involvement in human trafficking.

“If someone claims they’re going on vacation but their account balance is only Rp 100,000 or Rp 500,000, it’s unlikely they’re truly going for leisure,” he said.

Agus also announced the deployment of 146 “Village Immigration Supervisors” (Pimpasa) to regions with a high risk of human trafficking or smuggling. These officers, chosen from 133 immigration offices and 13 immigration detention centers across Indonesia, will educate the public about traffickers' deceptive tactics.

“Their priority is in high-risk areas where human trafficking or smuggling crimes are more common. They’ll inform communities about the methods used by criminals to exploit victims,” Agus explained.

The supervisors will work to identify vulnerable regions while providing the public with information on legal immigration processes to reduce illegal migration.

Agus mentioned the possibility of expanding the number of village immigration supervisors based on ongoing evaluations.

“We’ll continuously assess whether we need more officers. As the ministry grows following its separation from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, we hope to expand our personnel and reinforce these responsibilities,” Agus concluded.

According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), 6.65 million Indonesians traveled abroad from January to September 2024, a 20.61 percent increase compared to the same period last year. In September, ASEAN countries continued to lead the top 10 destinations for Indonesian travelers, with Malaysia as the primary destination, accounting for 30 percent of 661,000 total trips that month.

Other popular destinations included Saudi Arabia, Singapore, China, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Japan, Australia, and South Korea. Saudi Arabia ranked as the second-most visited destination after Malaysia, with 18 percent of trips, while Singapore was third, making up 14 percent of total outbound trips in September.