DFAT has released a fresh warning regarding sex for Australians travelling to Indonesia. There are penalties for cohabitation and sex outside of marriage, which will affect those who plan on traveling to Indonesia with a partner.
Penalties for cohabitation and sex outside of marriage
Those who live or visit Indonesia should be aware of the upcoming changes in the country’s laws on cohabitation and sex outside of marriage. These new laws will affect both tourists and citizens.
The new laws will penalise anyone who lives or travels to Indonesia and cohabitates with an unmarried partner. If caught, an unmarried person could face up to a year in prison.
The new law also bans sex outside of marriage. If you have sex with someone outside of your marriage, you can be jailed for up to a year.
The new laws are part of an overhaul of Indonesia’s criminal code. The government has been revising the code for years. But some of the revisions have been criticized by rights groups as vague. They could be used to restrict freedoms, like freedom of expression, and privacy rights.
The Indonesian parliament has approved the controversial law, which will also penalise spreading views that go against the state’s ideology. It is expected to take several years before it will be fully implemented. The law will also penalise insulting the president or the country’s institutions.
The new laws are expected to be challenged in court. However, they have received widespread support from political parties. The new blasphemy laws have also been expanded from one to six provisions.
Consulate-General information for Australians travelling to Indonesia
Generally, Australians do not need a visa to enter Indonesia. However, there are some exceptions.
There are two types of visas. The first type, a visa on arrival, is valid for 30 days and allows you to stay in Indonesia for no more than one year. You can apply for this at the airport or the consulate. If you are staying in Indonesia for a longer period, you can also apply for a social or cultural visa.
The other visa is a multiple-entry visa, which allows you to stay in Indonesia for up to 60 days. A round-trip airline ticket is required.
Vaccinations are recommended. You should get a booster shot if you will be travelling to a malaria area.
It’s also a good idea to get a typhoid vaccination. You should also consider shots for hepatitis A and B.
A polio vaccine is also a good idea. Visit a clinic at least a month before your trip.
While you’re in Indonesia, make sure to watch out for unsolicited emails and messages on your phone. These may be aimed at swindling you out of money.
You should be aware of the potential for violence in Indonesia. A number of attacks against civilians have occurred. It’s also possible that a tourist destination you visit may be the target of a terrorist attack.
Frequently asked questions
DFAT, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has announced it will be updating its travel advice pages to include a plethora of new recommendations and tidbits. This will not only help Australians avoid the headaches associated with travel but will also give the nation’s premier travel and tourism agency a leg up on competitors. A new guide on smartravellers will be available for download online and on paper. The site will also be featuring an interactive travel and tourism toolbox, where travellers can find out more about the country’s top tourist destinations and learn about local culture. It will also be a hub for travellers to find out more about Australia’s burgeoning tourism industry. The new travel guide has a slew of travel and tourism tips that will be rolled out in phases, starting with an introductory guide this week and ending with a series of destination guides in the coming months. The guide is the first of its kind in Australia and the country’s first travel and tourism guide to be issued online. The website features a searchable database of over 1.5 million entries and a travel planner that is available on demand. It is an easy to use site where travellers can research the latest travel tips, find out more about the country’s hottest tourism destinations, and download free travel and tourism tools.
