Indonesia Customs Declaration: A Complete Guide for a Smooth Arrival

Every traveller entering Indonesia must submit a customs declaration, and since 1 October 2025 it is filed online through the All Indonesia arrival card, together with immigration and health details, within three days before arrival. Personal goods bought abroad are duty-free up to USD 500 per person per arrival; cash of IDR 100 million or more must be declared.

Indonesia Customs Allowances at a Glance (2026)

Item	Duty-free limit	If you exceed it	Legal basis
Personal goods bought abroad	USD 500 FOB per person per arrival	10% import duty + VAT on the value above USD 500	PMK 203/2017 jo PMK 34/2025
Alcohol	1 litre per adult	Excess destroyed	PMK 203/2017 jo PMK 34/2025
Tobacco	200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 100 g tobacco per adult	Excess destroyed	PMK 203/2017 jo PMK 34/2025
Cash and bearer instruments	Declare at IDR 100 million or more	Fine 10%, max IDR 300 million	PP 99/2016
Foreign banknotes	IDR 1 billion equivalent or more needs Bank Indonesia approval	Fine 10%, max IDR 300 million	Bank Indonesia regulation
Phones, tablets (IMEI)	2 units per passenger within the USD 500 exemption	Taxed above USD 500; blocked from local networks if unregistered	PER-13/BC/2021 jo PER-7/BC/2023
Airline and ship crew	USD 50 per person per arrival	10% duty + VAT on the excess	PMK 34/2025

What Is a Customs Declaration in Indonesia?

A customs declaration is the statement every arriving passenger makes to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Bea Cukai/DJBC) about the goods, cash and restricted items they carry. It lets customs apply duty-free allowances, collect import duty and taxes on the excess, and stop prohibited goods at the border.

The obligation applies to everyone: foreign tourists, business visitors, KITAS and KITAP holders, and Indonesian citizens returning home. Children and infants each need their own declaration, although one adult can file for the family.

Why is the Customs Declaration Important? 

The custom declaration Indonesia serves several purposes: 

• Tax Regulation: Imported goods above a certain value may be subject to duties. 
• Security Measures: Authorities restrict certain items to prevent illegal activities. 
• Economic Protection: The government safeguards local industries from an influx of uncontrolled foreign goods. 

How to Submit Your Customs Declaration Through the All Indonesia Arrival Card

Since 1 October 2025, Indonesia has used one integrated arrival declaration, All Indonesia, run by the Directorate General of Immigration. It replaced the paper arrival card, the Bea Cukai E-CD for airport arrivals, and the separate health declaration.

1. Open the official portal at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id or download the All Indonesia app. The service is free; ignore sites that charge a processing fee.
2. Start within 3 days of arrival. Use your Indonesian arrival date, not your departure date.
3. Enter passport and travel details exactly as printed in your passport, plus flight or vessel number and address in Indonesia.
4. Add family members travelling with you. Each person receives a separate QR code.
5. Complete the customs section. State the number of bags and declare goods above the allowance, excisable goods, cash of IDR 100 million or more, phones for IMEI registration, and plants, animals, food or medicines. Otherwise select nothing to declare.
6. Complete the health and quarantine questions.
7. Submit and save the QR code as a screenshot and printout. You show it at immigration and customs.

Arriving by land? Check the crossing’s instructions, as some land border posts may still use a separate customs channel.

Duty-Free Allowances Explained

Personal goods

Goods bought abroad for personal use are exempt from import duty and import taxes up to FOB USD 500 per person per arrival. The exemption cannot be pooled between family members and cannot be claimed after you leave the airport customs area. Goods in commercial quantities do not qualify.

Alcohol and tobacco

Each adult may bring 1 litre of alcoholic drinks and 200 cigarettes, or 25 cigars, or 100 grams of cut tobacco. Under PMK 34/2025, customs destroys any excess rather than taxing it.

How duty is calculated above USD 500

Only the value above USD 500 is taxed. Under PMK 34/2025, personal-use goods pay 10% import duty and VAT and are not charged PPh 22 import income tax.

Example of calculating duty-free allowance

you bring a camera and clothing worth USD 1,300. At an illustrative customs rate of IDR 16,500 per USD:

Step	Calculation	Amount (IDR)
Taxable value	(1,300 − 500) × 16,500	13,200,000
Import duty 10%	10% × 13,200,000	1,320,000
Import value	13,200,000 + 1,320,000	14,520,000
VAT (12% × 11/12 = 11% effective)	11% × 14,520,000	1,597,200
Total payable	1,320,000 + 1,597,200	2,917,200

Customs uses the weekly Ministry of Finance exchange rate on the day of arrival. Keep receipts; without them, officers assess the value themselves.

Who Needs to Fill Out a Customs Declaration? 

All passengers arriving in Indonesia must fill out a customs declaration form, regardless of nationality or travel purpose. This includes: 

• Tourists and business travelers. 
• Indonesian citizens returning from abroad. 
• Foreign expatriates relocating to Indonesia. 

READ MORE:

• How to Secure a Remote Worker Visa for Digital Nomad
• Indonesia’s Visa Policy in 2025: A Guide for First-Time Travelers
• Things You Need to Know About Bridging Visa Policy in Indonesia

Items You Can and Cannot Bring to Indonesia

What You Must Declare

• Goods worth more than USD 500 in total.
• Alcohol or tobacco above the per-adult limits.
• Cash, cheques, traveller’s cheques, promissory notes or deposit certificates worth IDR 100 million or more.
• Mobile phones, handheld computers and tablets bought abroad that you will use with an Indonesian SIM.
• Plants, seeds, fresh produce, meat, animals and animal products (quarantine inspection by Badan Karantina Indonesia).
• Medicines, especially narcotic or psychotropic prescriptions.
• Commercial goods, samples or goods for resale.
• Drones, firearms (with permit), cultural objects and other restricted items.

Cash and Payment Instruments

Indonesia requires anyone carrying cash or bearer instruments worth IDR 100 million or more, in rupiah or foreign currency, to report it to customs when entering or leaving. The rule comes from PP 99/2016, which implements the Anti-Money Laundering Law 8/2010.

• Not declaring: administrative fine of 10% of the total, capped at IDR 300 million.
• Declaring less than you carry: 10% of the excess, capped at IDR 300 million.
• Foreign banknotes worth IDR 1 billion or more: Bank Indonesia approval needed; unlicensed carriers are fined 10%, up to IDR 300 million.
• Taking IDR 100 million or more in rupiah out of Indonesia: Bank Indonesia approval needed.

Mobile Phones and IMEI Registration

Phones, handheld computers and tablets bought abroad must have their IMEI registered with Bea Cukai before they can connect to Indonesian mobile networks.

• Register at the arrival airport or seaport to use the USD 500 exemption. Up to 2 devices per passenger.
• Registering later at a customs office (within 60 days) is possible, but the exemption no longer applies.
• Visitors using a foreign SIM on roaming do not need customs IMEI registration. Short-stay tourists can also activate a local SIM through operator outlets.
• Laptops and cameras do not need IMEI registration but count towards the USD 500 value if bought abroad and staying in Indonesia.

Prohibited Items

• Narcotics and illegal drugs. Law 35/2009 imposes long prison sentences for possession and allows the death penalty for trafficking.
• Firearms, ammunition, explosives and sharp weapons without a permit.
• Pornographic material.
• Counterfeit and pirated goods.
• Protected wildlife and products made from them.

Restricted Items That Need Permits or Inspection

• Medicines: bring a personal-use quantity in original packaging with a prescription or doctor’s letter in English. Declare narcotic and psychotropic medicines.
• Plants, animals and food: subject to quarantine inspection; some need health certificates from the origin country.
• Drones: declare them; flying one requires compliance with Ministry of Transportation rules.
• Cultural artefacts and antiques: need approval from the relevant ministry.
• Radio and telecom equipment: must use permitted frequencies.

Business Travellers: Samples, Equipment and Commercial Goods

Work tools you carry and take back out, such as your own laptop, are normally treated as personal effects. Goods for sale, trade samples in quantity, or equipment you leave behind are not personal-use goods: they lose the USD 500 exemption and pay 10% duty on their full value plus import taxes and may need import licenses under trade restrictions (lartas).

If you plan to bring products into Indonesia regularly, set up proper import channels through a registered importer or an importer of record.

What Must Be Declared at Customs in Indonesia? 

READ MORE:

• New Custom Declaration Rules for KITAS Holders and Returning Indonesian Citizens
• Customs Clearance for Docking Vessels in Batam: A Complete Guide
• How Tourists Can Claim a VAT Refund in Indonesia

How to Fill Out the Indonesia Customs Declaration Form 

Filling out the Indonesia custom declaration form is simple and ensures a hassle-free arrival. There are two ways of how to fill customs declaration at Indonesian airport. You can complete it on paper or online via the Electronic Customs Declaration (E-CD) system. 

Paper-Based Form 

If you receive a paper form on your flight, fill in: 

• Personal details (name, passport number, nationality, and flight details). 
• Travel purpose (tourism, business, or family visit). 
• Indonesian address (hotel or residence). 
• Items you declare include excess cash, electronics, or restricted goods. 
• Give your signature and date before submitting it to customs. 

Electronic Customs Declaration (E-CD) 

The Electronic Customs Declaration (E-CD) system simplifies customs clearance in Indonesia. Instead of filling out a paper form, travelers can submit their declaration online before arriving, making the process faster and more efficient. 

• Visit the E-CD portal or scan the airline’s QR code. 
• Fill in your details (passport, flight, travel purposes). 
• Declare applicable items (cash over IDR 100 million, alcohol, tobacco, etc.). 
• Submit and save the QR code for customs clearance. 
• Show the QR code at customs upon arrival for faster processing. 

What Happens If You Don’t Submit Your Customs Declaration? 

Undeclared goods found on inspection are charged duty and taxes and may be detained; excess alcohol and tobacco is destroyed. Undeclared cash triggers the 10% fine. Deliberate concealment can be prosecuted as smuggling under Customs Law 10/1995 as amended by Law 17/2006, and drug offences carry the penalties above.

Goods held at customs because duties are unpaid or documents are missing are handled under PMK 92/2025 (in force from 1 April 2026). If they are not settled in time, they can become goods not under the owner’s control and may eventually be auctioned or destroyed.

Essential Tips for a Smooth Customs Process in Indonesia

• Fill in All Indonesia within 3 days before landing, and save the QR code offline.
• Keep receipts for expensive purchases in your hand luggage.
• Put new phones in your carry-on and register IMEI before leaving the airport.
• When unsure, declare. The cost of declaring is lower than the cost of a penalty.
• Never pay third parties for the arrival card or IMEI registration.

Plan Your Trip in Indonesia with InCorp’s Assistance 

Clearing Indonesia’s customs is easy if you follow the rules. Declare any required items, stay within duty-free allowances and restrictions, and use the Electronic Customs Declaration (E-CD) to speed up the process. 

However, customs clearance is just one step; having the right visa is just as important. If you’re traveling to Indonesia, InCorp (an Ascentium Company) provides expert visa and immigration services for all types of travelers: 

• Tourist Visa: For short-term leisure visits. 
• Business Visa: For attending meetings, conferences, or short business trips. 
• Work Permit & KITAS: For those working or relocating to Indonesia. 
• Investor Visa: This is for entrepreneurs looking to set up a business. 
• Retirement Visa: This is for those planning to settle in Indonesia in the long term. 

Travel smart, stay prepared, and enjoy Indonesia hassle-free by completing the form below. 

Sources: PMK 203/PMK.04/2017; PMK 34/2025; PMK 25/2025; PMK 92/2025; PP 99/2016; PMK 157/2017 jo PMK 100/2018; PER-13/BC/2021 jo PER-7/BC/2023; Law 35/2009; Directorate General of Immigration (All Indonesia); Directorate General of Customs and Excise.

Frequently Asked Questions