Indonesia flag Indonesia: Buying and Selling

International convention and customs procedures of Indonesia

International Conventions
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Party to the International Coffee Agreement
International Economic Cooperation
Indonesia is a member of the following international economic organisations: IMF, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), ICC, Colombo Plan, WTO, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), G-15, G-20, G-77, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates Indonesia click here. International organisation membership of Indonesia is also outlined here.
Non Tariff Barriers
It is strictly prohibited to import certain products: books, magazines, brochures and newspapers written in Chinese, in Indonesian or in a local language (except for scientific reasons) as well as cassettes, video cassettes and films for personal use.
Import licenses are required for medicines, psychotropic substances, explosives, arms, fireworks, films and videos, telecommunications equipment, color photocopiers, unregistered foods and drinks, some pesticides (DDT, EDB, Pentachlorophenols). These licenses are issued after consultation with the competent Ministry (Agriculture, Health, Commerce and Industry).

Permits are required for animals and animal products. These documents are issued by the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health Services. At present, the importation of all chicken products is banned. There is a specific quota system for spirits and wines.

Foreign companies are allowed to import or to manufacture products but not both.

Customs Duties and Taxes on Imports
8% (latest data available by WTO)
Customs Classification
Indonesia uses the Nomenclature of the Harmonized System.
Import Procedures
In order to legally import into Indonesia, importers must register with the Indonesia Trade Department and obtain a customs identification number (Nomor Identitas Kepabeanan, NIK), a personal identification number given by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.  In addition to NIK, importers must obtain an importer identification number (Angka Pengenal Import, API), which serves as a record in the database of importers and their import activities.

Public authorities require extensive documentation prior to allowing the importation of goods. Local customs brokers are acquainted with the procedures and required format of the documentation. At a minimum, the exporter or their agent must provide a pro-forma invoice, commercial invoice, certificate of origin, bill of lading, packing list, and insurance certificate. In addition to those documents additional certificates are often required by technical agencies with an interest in the content and conformance of the imported product such as food, pharmaceutical, seeds, or chemicals.

The process of providing the documentation includes a requirement that the importer notifies the customs office prior to the arrival of goods and submits import documents electronically through the electronic data interchange (EDI) in a standardised format placed on flash drives. In addition to providing the import documentation, the Custom Office will conduct physical inspection of imported goods.

There is an import fee applicable for incoming goods which is based on the goods classification from Indonesian Customs Tariff Book or Harmonised System Code.
Since 2013, food products are required to include labelling in Indonesian.

For more information, please visit the website of the Indonesian Customs.

Importing Samples

Indonesia accepts ATA Carnets for the intended uses of:

  • Exhibitions and Fairs
  • Professional Equipment
  • They DO NOT accept Commercial Samples.
 

To go further, check out our service Import controls and Export controls.

 
For Further Information
General Customs Office
Ministry of Commerce
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Asia Trade Hub

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Latest Update: March 2024

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