Navigating Indonesian customs can be smooth for those who prepare, but unexpected delays can disrupt your business and cause frustration. This guide delves into the key strategies to prevent your goods from getting stuck at Indonesian customs.
The Indonesian government entrusts the Directorate General of Customs and Excise to manage the nation's import and export activities. This agency meticulously ensures adherence to customs regulations, levies, duties, and taxes and diligently safeguards against prohibited goods entering the country.
Indonesia follows a self-assessment system for customs duties. Travelers and businesses declare their goods and calculate the payable duties based on the declared value and harmonized system (HS) code (a standardized product classification system).
Here are some key aspects of Indonesian customs regulations:
| Custom regulations | Descriptions |
| Electronic Customs Declaration (e-CD) | Travelers can declare their belongings electronically before arrival using the e-CD system (ecd.beacukai.go.id). |
| Duty-free allowances | Travelers are granted duty-free allowances for personal belongings within a set value limit. Exceeding the limit may incur duties. |
| Import permits | Certain goods require prior import permits from relevant government agencies. |
Several reasons your goods might get stuck at Indonesian customs, ranging in severity. These delays could stem from incomplete or inaccurate documentation, discrepancies in declared values, or the presence of restricted or prohibited items.
The consignee you use in Indonesia may need an import license or the necessary supporting documents. Some specific goods require additional paperwork beyond just the import license.
The forwarder handling your imported goods in Indonesia may need to inform you about the customs documents required. This oversight can cause your goods to get stuck in Indonesia.
Pemeriksaan Jalur Merah (PJM) is Indonesia's red channel inspection. It involves a physical check of selected imported goods and document verification. Many end-to-end import or export providers previously used door-to-door services to avoid paying customs duties and taxes.
However, as of July 2017, the Indonesian government enforced a new regulation to eliminate this type of service. This enforcement has resulted in many imported goods being stuck in customs due to unpaid taxes and incomplete documents.
Read more: Navigating the landscape of Indonesian imports
During the customs clearance process, it is essential to declare the following items to comply with the regulations and ensure a smooth entry into the country:
Read more: Indonesian Diaspora Visa: A Guide about Visa for Diaspora Indonesia
To prevent your goods from getting stuck at Indonesian customs, you can follow the below tips:
Ensure your packing list and commercial invoice accurately reflect your shipment. Indonesian customs officers rely on these documents to calculate taxes and duties. Any inaccuracies can result in incorrect tax calculations.
Establishing an import company in Indonesia can benefit those considering regular import activities. Here are some types of businesses open to foreign ownership that can apply for import licenses:
| Business activities | Percentage of foreign ownership |
| Import-export *The company cannot distribute the imported goods | 100% |
| Distribution | 67% |
| E-commerce | 100% |
| Direct selling | 100% |
Only Indonesian companies with relevant import licenses and customs identification numbers can clear goods through customs. These are necessary for customs authorities to be able to retain or re-export your goods.
If your company lacks these credentials, you can appoint a consignee to handle the importation on your behalf using their documents.
The duration that goods may spend at Indonesian customs can be varied, influenced by various factors such as the nature of the imported goods, the accuracy and precision of import documentation, and the necessity for physical inspections.
The customs clearance process typically ranges from several days to a few weeks. During this time, several factors can contribute to delays.
Here's a guide on how to check if your goods are being held at Indonesian customs. Follow these steps to track your international package and understand its status.
Read more: Understand the import permit in Indonesia to avoid delays
Customs advises that if any customs officer asks you to transfer money to a personal account, you should ignore it as it might be a scam pretending to be from customs.
If customs hold your goods due to discrepancies or missing information, here are three possible solutions to get your goods out of customs.
If a shipment remains unclaimed or needs more information on exporting, the customs office may auction it off. In such cases, the goods will be sold to the highest bidder. This process allows the customs office to clear space and recover potential losses from unclaimed or unexported shipments.
One solution is to have a consignee handle your shipment. Your consignee must coordinate with customs on your behalf and manage any relevant taxes, fines, and fees.
In certain situations, customs authorities in Indonesia may refuse entry to the goods. If this happens, you will be required to export the shipment, enabling you to maintain ownership of the goods. Subsequently, you can make another attempt to import them into Indonesia with the help of a record importer.
Importing goods to Indonesia can be complex, with strict regulations and potential delays at customs. Ascentium takes the worry out of the process, ensuring your imports flow smoothly.