In a significant development for Indonesia’s public administration, the Chairman of the Open Selection Committee for High-Ranking Intermediate Positions (JPT Madya) within the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, Silmy Karim, has officially announced the final candidates for the prestigious Director General of Immigration post. The three distinguished individuals who have successfully passed the rigorous selection process are Yuldi Yusman, Ibnu Ismoyo, and Ahmad Purbaja. This pivotal announcement marks the culmination of the open selection for these crucial intermediate high-ranking positions, as detailed in the Selection Committee Team’s Announcement Number PANSEL JPT/09/2025-11, issued on September 12, 2025. Further details regarding this announcement are publicly accessible via the official link: https://pansel.kemenimipas.go.id/pengumuman.
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This extensive open selection process was initiated as a direct follow-up to critical directives from the State Secretary Minister. Specifically, it aligns with Letter Number B-1/Seskab/D-6/04/2025 dated April 23, 2025, which mandated the formation of open selection committees for filling both Principal (JPT Utama) and Intermediate (JPT Madya) high-ranking positions across various Ministries, Provinces, and Institutions. Additionally, it adheres to Letter Number R-230/M/SDK/PA.01.03/07/2025 dated July 3, 2025, which specifically addressed the appointment of Intermediate High-Ranking Positions within the esteemed Ministry of Immigration and Corrections.
The Selection Committee for the candidates of the Director General of Immigration was robustly structured, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Silmy Karim. Its distinguished members brought a wealth of expertise from various governmental and academic sectors. These included Asep Kurnia, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections; Yan Sultra Indrajaya, the Inspector General of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections; Purnomo Sucipto, Deputy for Political, Legal, Security, and Human Rights Affairs at the Cabinet Secretariat of the State Secretariat Ministry; Otok Kuswandaru, Deputy for Public Service at the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform; Riyatno, Deputy for Investment Climate Development at the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/Investment Coordinating Board; and the respected academician, Harkistuti Harkrisnowo.
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Reflecting on the thoroughness of the process, Silmy Karim affirmed in a press release on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, that “this selection process was founded upon principles of transparency, executed with stringent standards, merit-based, open, and highly competitive. Its ultimate goal was to identify and select leadership figures possessing impeccable integrity, proven competence, and an outstanding track record.”
Spanning a dedicated period of two months, the rigorous selection for the prospective Director General of Immigration commenced on July 22, 2025, and concluded on September 23, 2025. This comprehensive assessment involved multiple crucial stages: an initial administrative selection, a technical competency test, a managerial and socio-cultural competency test, in-depth interviews, a health examination, and a thorough evaluation of each candidate’s professional track record.
Karim further emphasized the quality of the selected individuals, stating, “The three chosen individuals are those participants who achieved the highest cumulative scores across every stage of the selection process. Therefore, it is truly the best candidates who have emerged successfully.” The position of Director General of Immigration is undeniably strategic and profoundly crucial for the nation, which is precisely why the Selection Committee meticulously ensured that the entire screening and selection process was conducted with utmost openness and transparency.
The paramount importance of this role is further underscored by its historical legacy, having been held by national figures renowned for their exceptional integrity. Notably, former National Police Chief General Hoegeng Iman Santoso, a revered figure, once served as the Director General of Immigration during his distinguished career.
The Immigration Directorate plays a fundamental role in regulating and supervising the entry and exit of individuals across Indonesia’s borders. This responsibility has become increasingly significant, given the consistent and substantial upward trend in border crossings over recent years. In 2022, a total of 19,439,983 individuals were recorded entering and exiting Indonesia. This figure saw a dramatic increase to 41,666,999 crossings in 2023, and further to 46 million crossings in 2024. For the period between January 1 and September 30, 2025, the number of crossings reached 39.5 million. When compared to the same period in the previous year (35.6 million crossings), Indonesia witnessed a notable increase of 10.79% in border traffic by the third quarter of 2025.
Beyond its pivotal role in border management, Immigration also stands as a significant generator of Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP), consistently demonstrating an impressive year-on-year increase. In 2021, the total PNBP collected by Immigration amounted to IDR 1.4 trillion, surging to IDR 4.6 trillion in 2022, IDR 7.6 trillion in 2023, and an impressive IDR 9 trillion in 2024. Furthermore, for the period from January 1 to September 30, 2025, the Directorate General of Immigration’s PNBP collection reached IDR 7.7 trillion. This represents a substantial increase of IDR 1.17 trillion, or approximately 17.8%, compared to the revenue generated during the same period in 2024.
Emphasizing the broader objectives, Silmy Karim articulated, “The selection process for the Director General of Immigration is an integral part of our unwavering commitment to realizing professional, transparent, and accountable governance. We sincerely hope that the chosen leader will further enhance the Directorate General of Immigration, thereby optimizing both foreign national oversight and crucial public services.”
As the final step in this meticulous process, the names of these three prospective candidates for Director General of Immigration will now be formally submitted to the President of the Republic of Indonesia for ultimate approval.
Summary
Silmy Karim, Chairman of the Open Selection Committee, announced Yuldi Yusman, Ibnu Ismoyo, and Ahmad Purbaja as the three final candidates for the prestigious Director General of Immigration post on September 12, 2025. This rigorous and transparent two-month selection process, which concluded on September 23, 2025, aimed to identify leaders with impeccable integrity and competence, following directives from the State Secretary Minister. The comprehensive assessment included multiple crucial stages, such as administrative selection, various competency tests, interviews, health examinations, and track record evaluations.
The Director General of Immigration position is strategic and profoundly crucial for Indonesia, playing a fundamental role in regulating border crossings and consistently generating substantial Non-Tax State Revenue. The selection committee meticulously ensured an open process, emphasizing the role’s paramount importance and its historical legacy. The chosen leader is expected to further enhance foreign national oversight and optimize crucial public services. The names of these three prospective candidates will now be formally submitted to the President of the Republic of Indonesia for ultimate approval.