The Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Office has officially implemented regulations to limit imported goods purchased by passengers from abroad.
The Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Office, Gatot Sugeng Wibowo, announced that his department would enforce the legal regulations recently stipulated by the Indonesian Ministry of Trade. These rules restricting imported goods are based on Minister of Trade Regulation Number 36 of 2023 concerning Import Policies and Regulations, which will be effective from the 10th of March, 2024.
“We would like to inform you that soon, Minister of Trade Regulation Number 36 of 2023 concerning Import Policies and Regulations will be implemented,” Wibowo said in his statement on Tuesday, the 12th of March, 2024.
The main regulations that will be implemented by Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise involve restructuring import policies; that is, by shifting the supervision of imports of several commodities entering Indonesia.
“This regulation shifts commodities whose import control is Post-Border back to Border,” Wibowo added.
According to information from the Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Office, there are five types of passenger items with limited loads, namely:
- Electronic devices;
- Mobile phones, headsets, and tablet computers;
- Footwear;
- Textile goods;
- Bags; and
- Shoes.
Commodities limited to the number of carry-on items consist of a maximum of two pairs of footwear per passenger, a maximum of two bags per passenger, and other finished textile goods, the maximum number of which is five pieces per passenger. For electronic devices, each passenger is only permitted to bring a maximum of five devices with a total value of US$1,500. Next are cell phones, headsets, and tablet computers, the maximum number of which is two items per passenger for a period of one year.
Wibowo emphasised that this latest regulation applies to all passengers travelling abroad, including Indonesian Migrant Workers returning to their hometowns. The regulation governs limits on the number of goods for several commodities that are allowed to be brought into the country without an import permit from the Ministry of Trade.
Furthermore, if passengers were to carry more cargo than the specified amount, Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise would charge a professional import fee for the said goods.
“It is very common for passengers to bring these commodities when they return to Indonesia as consumer goods or souvenirs for family and relatives. So, there are restrictions on luggage; if the load is excessive, as long as the passenger is willing to pay import duties and taxes for the import, that’s fine,” Wibowo explained.