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Travellers arriving in Indonesia may bring 1 L of alcohol duty-free. Anything above the allowance must be declared at the red channel. Duty-free per person: goods valued up to USD $500 (per person; USD $1,000 per family traveling together). Alcohol: 1L per adult. Tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 100g of tobacco. Exceeding limits requires payment of import duty, VAT, and excise.

200 cigarettes per traveller (or proportionally less in cigars / tobacco). Above-limit tobacco must be declared.

Yes. Cash and equivalent bearer instruments above USD 7500 (IDR) must be declared on arrival.

USD $3 (per shipment) (~USD 3). Indonesia drastically lowered its de minimis threshold from USD $75 to USD $3 per consignment in January 2020 (PMK 199/2019) to protect domestic industry from cheap imported e-commerce goods. VAT (11%) and income tax withholding apply to goods above $3. Goods for personal use up to 3 times per month may have some relief.

VAT raised from 11% to 12% on 1 January 2025 (with selective 1% bracket for essentials, effectively keeping most at 11%). Personal-import de minimis USD 3 (one of the lowest globally) — almost every parcel attracts VAT.

Prescription medicines for personal use are generally allowed in reasonable quantities (typically 30-90 days' supply), accompanied by the original prescription and ideally a doctor's letter. Some controlled substances need import authorisation. Verify with Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE / Bea Cukai) for your specific medicine.

Gifts are accepted by post but are still subject to Indonesia's import rules. Tax-relief gift thresholds (where they exist) are typically much lower than commercial thresholds. Declare honestly on the CN22/CN23 — undervaluation is treated as fraud.

A customs declaration filed with Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE / Bea Cukai), a commercial invoice, packing list, and transport document (AWB or B/L). Add a Certificate of Origin to claim FTA preferential duty. Sector-specific imports (food, plants, animals, medicines, electronics, dangerous goods) need additional permits.

The green channel is for travellers with nothing to declare. The red channel is for travellers carrying anything above allowances or any restricted goods. Spot checks happen at both. Lying or hiding goods can lead to seizure plus penalties.

Narcotics and psychotropic substances (death penalty for trafficking); Pornographic materials; Counterfeit goods. See the full prohibited list on this page.

Firearms and weapons (National Police permit required); Certain medicines and narcotics (BPOM registration required); Alcohol (excise and import duties apply; limited quantities duty-free). Restricted items typically need a permit, certificate, or declaration. See the full restricted list on this page.

Use the red channel at the airport. Most ports of entry into Indonesia accept either a paper declaration or, increasingly, an electronic declaration via an app or kiosk. Be ready to show receipts, prescriptions, or permits.

Most countries restrict animal-origin food (meat, dairy) for biosecurity reasons; sealed commercial packaged food is sometimes permitted. Verify with Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE / Bea Cukai)'s agricultural / biosecurity authority before bringing food.

Vape rules are changing fast worldwide; Indonesia may have specific restrictions, age limits, or outright bans. Verify on the current Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE / Bea Cukai) guidance before travel — bans have grown markedly since 2023.

Many countries require advance import authorisation for opioids, stimulants, and certain psychiatric medicines. Carry the original prescription, doctor's letter, and original packaging. For controlled substances, contact Indonesia's health authority before travel.

Yes. Duty-free purchases at the destination airport on arrival count toward your alcohol and tobacco allowance, even though they were purchased after immigration. Buying duty-free at departure rather than arrival does not bypass the allowance.

Above the de minimis, customs assesses duty and VAT/GST on the goods value (plus, in some regimes, freight + insurance). The carrier or postal operator usually clears it and bills the recipient. Recipients can refuse delivery if they don't want to pay.

Yes. If you don't want to pay duties or taxes, you can refuse the parcel and the carrier will return it to sender or destroy it. This does not affect your tax record but means the goods don't enter Indonesia.

Standard clearance for compliant parcels is typically same-day to a few days. Holds for incomplete declarations, biosecurity inspection, sanctions screening, or anti-counterfeit checks can take longer. Provide complete declarations to avoid delays.

Your carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, postal operator) is the first contact — they handle clearance on your behalf. If you need to deal directly with the authority, contact Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE / Bea Cukai) via the contact route on their official site.

Watch for: fake "customs fees" demands by SMS or email; impostor officials at airports; unsolicited phone calls about a "stuck parcel"; payment requests by gift card. Real customs authorities do not ask for payment via SMS link or gift cards. See our scams page for documented patterns.