Dili, 17 September 2026 (Media Democracia) – The Executive Director of the Immigration Service, Police Assistant Commissioner Jorge Monteiro, said that a total of 282,304 foreign citizens entered the territory of Timor-Leste during the period from January to August 2026, and the majority used tourist visas.
“There are some foreign citizens who use tourist visas with the objective of carrying out tourist activities, but in practice they carry out other activities, including business and work activities, which do not comply with the conditions of the visa they obtained,” the Executive Director of the Immigration Service told journalists at his workplace, the Ministry of Interior, Thursday (17/09).
Jorge Monteiro said, in relation to these cases, the Immigration Service continues to carry out inspections and apply procedures according to the Immigration Law, including administrative sanctions for violation of visa conditions.
He informed that from January to August 2026, the Immigration Service registered a total of 311 foreign citizens who violated visa conditions, especially those who entered with a tourist visa but carried out work or business activities.
“For these violations, the immigration authority can apply fines according to the severity and conditions of the case. The fine amount for visa violation varies between US$200 to US$540, according to the provisions of the Immigration Law,” he informed.
For foreign citizens who have the capacity to pay the fine, they must comply with the administrative obligations determined by the competent authority.
While for those who do not have the capacity or possibility to pay the fine, the Immigration Service can apply the measure of voluntarily abandoning the national territory of Timor-Leste, according to the legal procedure in force.
He said, for foreign citizens who violate visa conditions, the Immigration Service applies sanctions not only to individuals, but also to companies or entities that bring or transport foreign citizens into Timor-Leste to carry out work activities using a tourist visa.
“For foreign citizens who use a tourist visa but carry out work activities, the fine applied to individuals varies between US$200 to US$540, according to the provisions of the Immigration Law and the severity of the violation,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, individuals or companies that transport or bring foreign citizens to Timor-Leste to carry out work activities with a tourist visa will be sanctioned with a fine between US$750 to US$1,500.
This measure can be applied to various entities or businesses, including karaoke, construction companies or other entities that bring foreign citizens to Timor-Leste to carry out work activities, but the foreign citizen in question uses a tourist visa.
Monteiro stressed that this sanction is applied to foreign citizens who violate visa conditions, and also to individuals or companies that bring or transport them into Timor-Leste to carry out work activities.
In addition, the Immigration Service also applies sanctions to local companies and foreign companies that bring foreign workers from abroad into the national territory of Timor-Leste with tourist visas, but then employ them to carry out work activities.
“From January to August this year, the Immigration Service has already applied sanctions to a total of 9 companies, including entities that carry out business activities such as karaoke, bars and construction activities,” he said.
This sanction is applied to foreign workers who violate visa conditions, and also to companies or entities that bring or transport foreign workers into Timor-Leste with tourist visas, but employ them to carry out work activities.
The Executive Director of the Immigration Service said, this measure is applied not only to foreign workers, but also to employers or entities that facilitate the entry and employment of foreign workers not in accordance with legal conditions.
Journalists: Estefània Cardoso
Photo: Estefània Cardoso