In this article we will talk about what can and cannot be imported to Indonesia, rules, restrictions, customs fees, etc.
Importing personal goods into Indonesia is an important topic to understand before traveling, as there are prohibitions and restrictions in place that, if violated, can lead to trouble for passengers crossing the border.
We recommend thoroughly familiarizing yourself with this information.
IMPORT TO INDONESIA
PROHIBITED ITEMS FOR IMPORT INTO INDONESIA ACCORDING TO LEGISLATION:
1. Narcotics are strictly prohibited!
Any narcotics: heavy drugs, marijuana, psychotropics, opioids, as well as substances containing cannabis such as hemp oils, seeds, various drops, "happy" brownies and chocolates, all of which in some countries are souvenir products.
Please take this point extremely seriously. Importing narcotics into Indonesia is punishable by the death penalty or long-term imprisonment (if it can be proven in court that the narcotics were for personal use, not for sale).
Indonesia is one of the destinations for international drug trafficking, so to avoid becoming a victim, all passengers are advised not to accept items from strangers, to personally pack their luggage to know its contents. Items received from acquaintances should be checked more thoroughly, including the packaging used. Remember, passengers are fully responsible for the items they are carrying!
2. Pornographic films, images, or items containing elements of pornography.
3. Chinese literature: books, publications, newspapers, manuscripts.
4. Chinese films, CD-ROMs, audio cassettes, video recordings.
5. Chinese medicines and medical products, including traditional ones.
6. Communist literature, symbols, and attributes (Chinese, Soviet, etc.).
7. Goods intended for sale.
Bulk goods will attract the attention of customs, and the passenger will be required to pay from 100 to 500% customs duty and fines, or they will be confiscated.
8. Items in cardboard boxes (items inside them will be considered as goods for sale).
9. Cosmetics, except those for personal use.
If you have a batch of cosmetic products, any trade samples, you can obtain an Importer Identification Number (SKI) from the Ministry of Trade and permission from BPOM (the National Agency for Drug and Food Control).
10. Traditional medicines, dietary supplements, vitamins, except those necessary for the treatment of the passenger's illness. For these, a medical certificate in English is required.
Specific medical drugs and medications also require prescriptions and doctor's orders in English.
11. Processed food products, as well as certain types of food products:
- Fresh fruits,
- Poultry meat,
- Several types of sugar, crystalline sugar or raw sugar, refined and white crystalline sugar,
- Certain types of rice.
12. Radiotelephones, not cellular but wireless ones, those used at home (state protection against the production of homemade radios).
13. Firearms, their imitation, including toy firearms (if the passenger belongs to a security company, a special permit from the Indonesian police is required). All other types of weapons: pneumatic, hunting, sports, also require licenses and special permits from the police.
14. Ammunition (except for law enforcement agencies with special permission from the Indonesian authorities).
15. Materials depleting the ozone layer.
16. Others. Also, plastic bags in large quantities, in addition to packaging, antique products, folk craft items, and other items of various specificities are prohibited.
Permitted, but limited for import
1. Tobacco and Alcohol:
In your personal luggage, you can bring with you: 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 100 grams of tobacco or other tobacco products, as well as 1 liter of strong alcoholic beverages. Anything exceeding this quantity will be confiscated during inspection.
2. Electronics:
The import of electronics, such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and drones, is allowed up to a maximum of two items per person, as stipulated by the Ministry of Trade. Anything beyond this limit should be declared, which can be done through the electronic customs declaration (E-CD), which all passengers arriving in the country are required to complete.
3. Clothing:
Items of new clothing are allowed to be imported in quantities of up to 10 pieces per person, as specified by the Ministry of Trade.
Note: In customs legislation, there are restrictions on the import of new clothing. However, in practice, customs officers at the airport do not confiscate passengers' personal belongings. These legal provisions are used to restrict the activities of internet shops, which customs officials monitor. This is because Indonesia is a major textile producer, with many clothing manufacturing facilities located on Java, and the government supports these industries by encouraging the population to purchase their products.
4. Large Amounts of Cash:
The established limit for importing and exporting cash is 100,000,000 Indonesian Rupiah (approximately 7,000 USD) or the equivalent in another foreign currency. If you have this amount or exceed it, you are required to fill out a customs declaration and pass through the red channel. If you plan to bring more than 100 million Rupiah in cash, you must obtain prior permission from the Bank of Indonesia (BI: Bank Indonesia), and all banknotes will undergo authenticity checks.
5. Luxury Items (Bags, Jewelry):
Luxury items may be classified by customs officials as items for sale, so they should be limited in quantity and intended for personal use only.
Limits on Import Duties for Personal Items:
If the value of a passenger's personal items exceeds 500 US dollars, customs duties and taxes may be imposed (the import duty rate is 10%, and Value Added Tax (VAT) at 11% may also apply, along with income tax in accordance with the legislation for that specific item). To prove the value, it's necessary to keep receipts for new items
Limited Imports
This means that items can be brought into the country, but various conditions apply. For example, items such as video cameras, binoculars, tape recorders, and sports equipment can be imported with the condition that tourists will take them out of the country when they leave. A customs officer may offer to hold a monetary deposit until departure, and the amount will be calculated based on the item.
In carry-on luggage, you can bring on the plane:
- 50 ml of perfume or 250 ml of eau de toilette.
- 500 grams of coffee or 100 grams of tea.
Quantities exceeding these limits will be subject to import duties.
Animals
One of the common concerns for people planning to move to Indonesia is how to bring their pets with them.
While it may seem complicated, expensive, and potentially risky for the animals, there are logistics companies and specialized agencies that handle the import and export of pets from the country.
For cats or dogs (for other types of animals, you should check the possibility of import), the following requirements must be met:
- The pet should be at least 4 months old.
- It must receive a rabies vaccination (administered no later than 30 days and no earlier than 12 months before the trip).
- It should have a health certificate issued by a state veterinarian (a fully filled-out passport with all vaccinations).
- A health certificate from a veterinarian.
- Additional blood tests for rabies antibodies
- Obtain permission for import issued by the Directorate General of Livestock Services of Indonesia.
Upon arrival in the country, all animals must spend 14 days in quarantine in Jakarta, although some carriers offer shorter quarantine periods. After this period, you can retrieve your pet or have it delivered to you. Carriers take special care of their passengers' pets, sending photos to their owners every few hours. Of course, there is a risk associated with such transportation (due to the stress of long flights and separation from owners), so to minimize this risk, you can also fly through Jakarta, checking in advance with the carrier about their conditions. Many cases are known where owners have successfully imported and exported their beloved pets.
Two days before the arrival of the animal, it is necessary to contact the animal quarantine department at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
For additional information, you should contact the Directorate General of Livestock Services and the Animal Health Department.
Food Products:
Animal, plant, and fish products require permission from the Agricultural Quarantine Agency (Badan Karantina Pertanian).
Food products, beverages, medicines, and other items must obtain approval from the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM).
Parcels:
All shipments go through customs in Jakarta, where they are inspected, and most are opened. All the restrictions mentioned above apply, but we will focus on used personal items, especially clothing.
Since expats who have been living in the country for a long time send their own belongings, and second-hand items are either prohibited for import or subject to additional taxes, such a parcel may be detained at customs, opened, and damaged.
Alternatively, it may arrive, but at the post office, you may be asked to pay a tax that could be several times the value of the items themselves. The maximum weight for a parcel is 30 kg, and the final calculation, which may include customs duty, VAT, and income tax, will depend on the declared value of the parcel and a separate calculation known only to these agencies. Parcels with a declared value below three US dollars are exempt from import duty.
There are several hacks that can minimize the costs of shipping and make it easier for your items to reach you.
First, if the recipient (the name to which the parcel is addressed) is an Indonesian, the tax amount will be much lower, so try to arrange for assistance from acquaintances.
Second, you can pack your clothing and other items in separate bags, seal them, include tags and receipts. If the item is a brand-name product, customs officials may check its actual price on the website.
Third, it's not mandatory to specify the exact quantity in the postal description, and you can put any price according to logic, preferably a minimum one.
Information
Indonesia Customs Website:
Legal Basis:
The legal framework for customs regulation in Indonesia is based on the following:
- Minister of Finance Decree 188/PMK.04/2010: This decree deals with the import of goods carried by passengers, vehicle crews, individuals crossing borders, and cargo.
- Government Regulation No. 29 of 2021 (GR 29/2021): This regulation likely contains updated provisions related to customs and imports.
- Rules of the Ministry of Trade No. 18 (MoT Reg 18/2021): These rules provide a list of prohibited imported goods. You can find more details on the official website of the Ministry of Trade of Indonesia.
- Official Website of the Indonesian Tax Service: The official website of the tax service provides information related to customs and import duties.
For more specific information or clarification, such as regarding medicines, you can contact the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate, seek advice from acquaintances in Indonesia, get in touch with customs authorities, or reach out to national agencies responsible for regulating medicines and food products like the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and other relevant authorities.
EXPORT FROM INDONESIA
List of Prohibited and Allowed Items:
Here's a summary of what is prohibited and allowed for export from Indonesia:
Prohibited for Export:
- Animals and plants, including their by-products. There are specific rules for exporting domestic pets (as mentioned earlier).
- Products made from animals, their by-products, or plants.
- Export of python skins is prohibited.
- For the export of marine biota, you need veterinary certificates from the seller and confirmation of a quarantine base registered with the local agricultural quarantine authorities in the destination country.
- Durian fruit is not allowed for export.
Items That May Require Special Documentation or Consideration:
- Wood carvings and certain cultural items may be prohibited for export, so it's essential to check each item separately and potentially obtain export documents.
For assistance with exports, you can consider cargo companies. For sending cargo from Indonesia, it's recommended to use the services of "Cargo Indonesia Group." They handle sea and air shipments, create consolidated containers, and take care of customs clearance in both Indonesia and Russia.
Please note that regulations can change, so it's crucial to check with relevant authorities or consult the cargo company for the most up-to-date information and guidance on exporting specific items.
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