In April 2024, the Indonesian government introduced Trade Minister’s Regulation No. 3 of 2024, which imposed new restrictions on personal belongings carried by passengers entering Indonesia through airports. The regulation sparked widespread criticism from travelers and business groups, citing concerns about its impracticality and potential negative impact on tourism. While the regulation was officially canceled in May 2024, we think this article to helo tourists and investors about custom declarations in Indonesia particularly Bali can be helpful.
Indonesian custom declarations, in other words, bringing goods into the country might result in customs charges. Certain items are even completely banned for import, even for personal use. To avoid any hassles upon arrival at Denpasar Airport or any airport in Indonesia, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with Indonesian customs regulations. This guide will explain your obligations and how to complete the customs declaration forms electronically, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free journey.
What do i need to declare at Indonesia customs?
There is a full listof all the items that you can into Bali and must declare on arrival in Bali, however this list will be visible to you once you completed the ECD registration first. This list is also included on the customs declaration form that every single entrant to Bali must complete on arrival.
The details you provide on your customs declaration form determine which channel your luggage goes through for inspection: the green channel for low-risk items or the red channel for further scrutiny. Be truthful and specific about the items you’re bringing into Indonesia. This includes everything from clothes and electronics to souvenirs and any food items.
Our main tip for you in filling out the Indonesian custom declaration is to “Declare everything“. Don’t try to sneak anything past customs. Declare all items exceeding duty-free allowances or those that might raise questions (like expensive electronics or large quantities of goods).
But we will give you general list of items you are not allowed to bring into Bali below:
- Animals, plants, and their products: This includes everything from live animals and fresh food to souvenirs made from animal parts (like a tortoise shell). These will be confiscated, and attempting to sneak them in could lead to arrest, fines, and deportation.
- Drugs and Weapons: This is a big no-no in Indonesia. Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, explosives, and even sharp objects are strictly prohibited, even for personal use. Penalties can be severe, including the death penalty for drug offenses.
- Large amounts of cash: Importing more than one billion rupiah (around $70,000 USD) in foreign currency without declaring it will result in a fine.
- Tobacco: Passengers can bring up to 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 100 grams of sliced tobacco without paying duty. Crew members have a lower limit – 40 cigarettes, 10 cigars, or 40 grams of tobacco. Tip: Since Indonesian cigarettes are inexpensive, it might not be worth paying duty on extras. Just buy them locally!
- Alcohol: Passengers can bring in 1 liter of alcoholic beverages duty-free. Crew members have a smaller allowance of 350 milliliters. Important: Exceeding this limit will likely result in confiscation.
- Personal Belongings: You can bring in personal belongings like laptops and cameras without declaring them, as long as they are for your personal use and won’t be left behind in Indonesia. The total value of these items should be under USD $500 per person (passengers) or USD $50 per person (crew).
How to Declare Custom in Indonesia?
Indonesia has switched to an electronic customs declaration system for incoming travelers. This means you can fill out the declaration online before you arrive, saving you time at the airport. You need to go to the Indonesian custom declaration website here https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/
After that here are the stages of Indonesia Electronic Customs Declaration (e-Customs Declaration) Filling:
- Registration can be done a maximum of 3 days before arrival in Indonesia;
- Visit the website https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/;
- Fill out the registration form consisting of:
- Passenger information (filled based on passport and boarding pass data),
- additional data (data on the number of carried baggage),
- goods information (completing the information on the list of goods, if not available, can be selected as ‘not/no’),
- IMEI registration (if necessary),
- agreement (tick in the specified column);
- Obtain the QR Code after registration:
- download or screenshot the QR Code,
- check email and save the QR code,
- Show the QR code to the Customs officers at the arrival airport will scan the QR Code and perform a check.
Unless you’re bringing in a large number of identical items or commercially-packaged goods, you typically don’t need to declare personal belongings like clothes, electronics, or toiletries.
What about the iPhone / IMEI Registration?
This is the most asked questions, regarding bringing the expensive phone (iPhone) into Indonesia. While phones are in the category of personal belongings, but it is quite regulated.
First, decide if you are staying in Bali / Indonesia for more than 90 days or not. If its shorter, then you can skip the IMEI registration/declaration.
If you are planning an extended stay in Indonesia (more than 90 days)? Then you’ll need to consider IMEI registration for your mobile devices. What is IMEI registration? It’s a process that registers the unique identification number (IMEI) of your phone, tablet, or other cellular device with Indonesian authorities.
If your device is valued over $500 USD by customs, you’ll need to pay an import tax. This tax break applies to the first $500 of the device’s value.
What happened if I don’t declare my iPhone and i don’t do IMEI Registration? Your IPhone will only works with the WiFi, can’t use the SIM Card in Indonesia.
The best tip is to settling the import tax at the airport because it allows you to benefit from the $500 tax break. If you wait, you might end up paying a higher tax later. If you’re planning a long stay in Indonesia and want to use a local SIM card, take care of IMEI registration at the airport. It’s a quick process that ensures your devices can stay connected throughout your stay.
By following these recommendations and staying informed about the latest customs regulations, travelers can ensure a smooth and hassle-free customs clearance experience when entering Indonesia.
