Documents Required from Shipper for Working Expats
The following documents are required by Indonesian customs for working expats shipping household goods:
- Original Passport
- Original Temporary Residence Permit (KITAS — Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas) valid for 12 months, issued by Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration (Ditjen Imigrasi)
- Original valid work authorisation documentation as required by Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower (Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan), valid for the full permit period
- Authorization Letter from Shipper
Note for 2026 arrivals: Indonesia’s foreign worker permit system has undergone significant reform since 2018. The IMTA (Izin Mempekerjakan Tenaga Asing) as a standalone card has been replaced in most contexts by an online-based approval and notification system. Your employer’s HR or legal team, or your appointed relocation agent, will be able to confirm which specific documents are currently required by customs. The fundamental requirement — proof of valid, long-term work authorisation — remains in place.
These permits must be valid for a minimum of 52 weeks (not less). If the permits are valid for a period under 52 weeks, the shipper is subject to import duties and taxes.
All of the above must be provided (no exceptions) or the shipment cannot be customs cleared. Additional port storage and demurrage charges will apply on a daily basis until all documents are provided and in complete order.
In order to qualify for duty-free clearance of household goods, the shipment must arrive in Indonesia within three months of the shipper’s arrival in Indonesia with the approval to process a work permit. If you have two shipments, the second shipment must arrive within three months of the arrival of the first shipment. If later than that, the shipment could be rejected.
Documents Required for Retirees Shipping Household Goods to Indonesia
The following documents are required by customs to clear your shipment:
- Original passport of shipper
- Original notification letter from local authorities (from RT, RW, Lurah and Camat) stating the expat’s residency in Indonesia
- Original certificate of police registration
- Original temporary residence card for foreigners
- Original statement letter from client’s embassy stating that he will reside in Indonesia
This shipment is subject to payment of import duties and taxes.
Note for 2026: Indonesia has introduced new long-stay visa categories in recent years, most notably the Second Home Visa (Visa Rumah Kedua), which allows eligible foreigners to reside in Indonesia for up to five or ten years on a renewable basis without requiring employment. If you are relocating on a Second Home Visa or a similar newer long-stay visa rather than a traditional retirement KITAS, the documentation requirements for customs clearance may differ. Confirm the applicable requirements with your freight forwarder or a licensed customs broker (PPJK — Pengusaha Pengurusan Jasa Kepabeanan) before shipping.
Customs Regulations
- Customer must be in the country (Indonesia) for clearance to commence.
- Shipment will be 100% inspected.
- Household goods must have been in customer’s possession and use for at least one full year, and for the customer’s continued private use in Indonesia (not for re-sale).
- Only one air and one sea shipment of household goods is allowed duty-free.
- Air and sea shipments must arrive within three (3) months after the client’s date of arrival in Indonesia.
A 100% physical inspection by Bea Cukai officers is standard practice for household goods shipments. In practical terms, this means all boxes will be opened and contents compared against your inventory. Having a clear, accurate and detailed inventory — in both English and, ideally, Indonesian — will make this process faster and reduce the risk of items being queried or held. Your international moving company should assist with preparing this documentation.
Dutiable/Restricted Items
- Only one of each major appliance is allowed duty-free, with the exception of air conditioners.
- New articles and items not listed on inventory.
- Printed materials, publications and media in any language may be subject to inspection and content review by customs. Materials deemed politically sensitive or in violation of Indonesian content regulations may be confiscated.
- DVDs, Blu-rays, books and other printed or recorded media are subject to content inspection. Prepare a list of titles and authors to assist customs with their review.
- Medicines (prescription required).
- Antiques (may have problems re-exporting).
- Foodstuff (in reasonable amounts).
- Large quantities of any type of product will slow clearance and result in high duty.
Prohibited Items
- Explosives, weapons, firearms, and ammunition
- Narcotics and drugs of various kinds*
- Alcoholic beverages (alcohol is not permitted in personal effects shipments under any circumstances — see note below)
- Animal skins
- Pornographic or politically sensitive literature
Under no circumstances should alcohol be included in the shipment.
⚠️Narcotics Warning: Indonesia enforces among the world’s strictest anti-narcotics laws. Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics carries maximum sentences up to and including the death penalty for trafficking and smuggling offences. This is not a theoretical risk — foreign nationals have been prosecuted and sentenced under this law. Under absolutely no circumstances should any controlled substance be included in a shipment to Indonesia.
Motor Vehicles
Please note that the importation of cars, motorcycles and any kind of vehicle parts or spare parts is strictly prohibited for personal shipments. This prohibition applies to personal importation by expats clearing household goods. Commercial vehicle importation and the purchase of locally registered vehicles operate under entirely separate regulations.
NOTE: Presence of any dutiable, restricted or prohibited items in a shipment will greatly delay clearance and increase charges considerably.
Charges Incurred at Port/Airport of Destination
Important: The figures below are indicative reference points based on historical rates and are provided to give a general sense of how port and airport charges are structured. Actual rates vary by shipping line, airline and port authority, and are subject to change. Always request a current schedule of charges from your freight forwarder or appointed agent before shipping.
Port Storage Charges for Sea Shipment
Port storage charges accrue from the arrival date of the shipment until customs clearance is complete.
- FCL shipment: approximately US$2.00/CBM/day (indicative — verify current rates with your agent)
- LCL shipment: approximately US$13.00/CBM/day, minimum 4 CBM (indicative — verify current rates with your agent)
Demurrage Charges
The following demurrage structure is indicative only. Free periods and daily rates will vary by shipping line.
1 x 20FT Container:
- First 3–5 days: free of charge (typical, varies by shipping line)
- Days 5–10: approximately US$20/day
- Days 11–15: approximately US$30/day
- Day 16 onwards: approximately US$40/day
1 x 40FT Container:
- First 3–5 days: free of charge (typical, varies by shipping line)
- Days 5–10: approximately US$30/day
- Days 11–15: approximately US$40/day
- Day 16 onwards: approximately US$55/day
Airport Storage Charges for Air Shipment
- From day 1 onwards: approximately US$0.12/kg/day (indicative — verify current rates with your airline or freight agent)
NOTE: Port storage, demurrage and airport storage charges are approximate indicative figures only and will vary based on the shipping line or airline selected. Final charges may be higher or lower. These figures are included to assist with general planning only.
Useful Information
Indonesia is a challenging country when it comes to the customs clearance process. Normal customs clearance takes from 6 to 7 working days for sea freight, and 2 to 3 working days for air freight, providing the documentation is in order. These are best-case timelines — incomplete documentation, additional inspections or any restricted items will extend this considerably.
The average time to obtain documentation certifying valid work and residence permits can range from 4 to 6 weeks or more after arrival in Indonesia, depending on your employer, your sector and where you are based. Plan your shipping timeline with this in mind, as it is far preferable for your documents to be ready and waiting for your shipment than the reverse.
It is recommended that the shipper prepare a list of titles and authors of books and publications to allow customs the option of a cursory inspection.
It is unwise to include any shipment boxes which are marked with any name other than the shipper’s. This could delay or jeopardise clearance.
Practical Advice for Expats Shipping to Indonesia
- Use a licensed and reputable international moving company with direct experience in Indonesia. The customs clearance process here is genuinely complex, and your freight forwarder or their appointed local partner will act as your licensed customs agent (PPJK — Pengusaha Pengurusan Jasa Kepabeanan). Their knowledge and experience with Indonesian customs can make a significant difference to how smoothly clearance proceeds.
- Do not pack alcohol. Customs inspections are thorough, and alcohol will be confiscated. It may also result in fines and delays to your entire shipment.
- Keep your inventory detailed and accurate. Vague descriptions (such as “miscellaneous household items”) invite scrutiny. Use specific, honest descriptions of all contents.
- Be in Indonesia when your shipment arrives. This is a customs requirement, not a suggestion. Plan your own arrival accordingly.
- Start the paperwork early. Given that work and residence permits can take four to six weeks or more to fully process after arrival, plan your shipping timeline to avoid your goods arriving before your documentation is ready.
- Keep originals of all documents. Indonesian customs requires original documents, not photocopies or scans, for clearance to proceed.
Pets
Information on the [Importation of Pets]
Resources
[Indonesian Customs Office]
[Track your Shipment]
[Contact information] for the Customs Department
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship alcohol to Indonesia in my household goods?
No. Alcoholic beverages are a prohibited item under Indonesian customs regulations for personal effects shipments. Any alcohol found in your shipment will be confiscated, and you may face fines or significant delays to the clearance of your entire consignment. Do not include alcohol under any circumstances.
How long does customs clearance take for household goods in Indonesia?
For sea freight shipments, you should allow approximately 6 to 7 working days for customs clearance once your shipment arrives at the Indonesian port, provided all your documentation is in complete order. Air freight typically clears in 2 to 3 working days. These are best-case timelines — incomplete documentation, inspections or any restricted items will extend this considerably.
Do I need to be in Indonesia when my household goods arrive?
Yes. Indonesian customs requires the shipper to be physically present in the country for customs clearance to begin. Plan your own arrival in Indonesia accordingly, ideally well before your shipment reaches port.
What happens if my shipment arrives before my work and residence permits are ready?
Your shipment will go into port storage and begin accruing daily storage charges from the day it arrives until your documentation is in order and customs clearance can proceed. This can become expensive very quickly. Work closely with your employer and freight forwarder to coordinate the timing of your shipment carefully.
How long do I have to get my household goods to Indonesia after I arrive?
Under current regulations, your shipment must arrive in Indonesia within three months of your own arrival (specifically from the date your work permit processing was approved). If you have two separate shipments, the second must arrive within three months of the first. Shipments arriving after these deadlines may be subject to import duties and taxes.
Can I ship my car to Indonesia?
No. The personal importation of motor vehicles — including cars, motorcycles and vehicle parts — is strictly prohibited under Indonesia’s customs regulations for household goods shipments.
What documents do I need to clear household goods as a working expat?
You will need your original passport, your valid KITAS (temporary residence permit), your valid work authorisation documentation issued by Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower, and an authorisation letter from you as the shipper. All permits must be valid for a minimum of 52 weeks. Original documents are required — photocopies are not accepted.
Are my household goods inspected at Indonesian customs?
Yes. All household goods shipments in Indonesia are subject to 100% physical inspection by Bea Cukai (the Directorate General of Customs and Excise). This means all boxes will be opened and contents checked against your inventory. A clear, detailed and accurate inventory will help this process go more smoothly.
