Indonesia customs: LARTAS checks and digital declarations for arrivals to Bali

Denpasar — Indonesia’s customs authority requires all passengers entering or leaving the country to submit a digital declaration of their baggage and reminds travelers to review rules on prohibited and restricted goods (LARTAS) before bringing items into Bali or other destinations in Indonesia, including through the All Indonesia integrated arrival system.

According to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, every passenger must list the contents of their baggage via a digital customs declaration form, with certain categories of travelers allowed to provide an oral declaration directly to an officer in limited circumstances. The arrival guidance notes that some goods are classified as prohibited or subject to restrictions, known as Barang Larangan dan Pembatasan (LARTAS), and urges travelers to check the applicable information before departure.

Passengers remain responsible for the contents of their baggage and are advised not to accept packages from people they do not know, as officers may inspect baggage and require cooperation with inspection procedures. The general arrival information is intended as a starting point, and travelers carrying medicines, food, cash, telecommunications devices or other potentially regulated items are expected to consult the specific rules governing those goods.

Declaration and arrival process

For international arrivals by air and sea, immigration authorities describe All Indonesia as a single digital service that integrates immigration, customs, health and quarantine arrival forms. Passengers can complete the All Indonesia arrival declaration up to three days before reaching Indonesia and are instructed to retain the QR code issued after submission for scanning on arrival.

The immigration guidance states that, where All Indonesia has been implemented at airports, seaports or land borders, passengers no longer need to submit a separate electronic customs declaration, because customs information is captured in the integrated system. Travelers bringing animals, fish, plants and related products are also required to complete the All Indonesia declaration.

Customs guidance still refers to an electronic customs declaration system (e-CD) for baggage reporting, and notes that all passengers entering or leaving Indonesia must submit their baggage list through the digital customs declaration process. It also outlines limited situations in which officers may accept an oral declaration, including for certain elderly passengers, passengers with disabilities, regular Hajj pilgrims, VVIP passengers and some passengers or crew at designated locations.

Key figures in the guidance

• Personal-goods allowance: USD 500 per passenger per arrival.
• Pre-arrival digital submission via All Indonesia: up to three days before arrival.
• Adult allowance for cigarettes: 200 sticks.
• Adult allowance for cigars: 25 sticks.
• Adult allowance for cut tobacco: 100 grams.
• Alcoholic beverages: 1 liter for adults above the minimum age.

Allowances, LARTAS and special items

Customs rules provide a duty-free allowance for personal-use goods: each passenger is granted exemption from import duty, excise and taxes on personal effects purchased or obtained abroad that will remain in Indonesia, up to a customs value of USD 500 per person for each arrival. Goods exceeding this value are subject to import duty and taxes at rates specified in customs regulations.

For adult passengers, excisable goods for personal use are exempt from import duties, excise and taxes up to 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars or 100 grams of sliced or other tobacco products for passengers aged 18 or above, and up to 1 liter of alcoholic beverages for passengers aged 21 or above. Travel guides and customs explainer sites aimed at foreign visitors broadly reflect these limits, noting that tobacco and alcohol above the allowance may be subject to duty and tax or seizure in line with customs practice.

LARTAS covers goods whose importation is prohibited or restricted under Indonesian law, and the customs portal highlights that some items may be banned entirely or require special permits. Travelers are directed to consult the specific LARTAS rules relevant to their goods, rather than relying solely on the general arrival page, especially when carrying items such as medicines, food products or telecommunications equipment that may be subject to separate regulations.

Local customs information for Bali notes that mobile phones, handheld computers and tablets purchased overseas and intended for permanent use in Indonesia should be declared and may require IMEI registration to work with Indonesian mobile networks. Travelers planning to use such devices long-term in Bali are advised to complete the appropriate customs and registration steps so their equipment can operate with local SIM cards.

Cash reporting and practical checks

Customs guidance requires passengers carrying significant amounts of cash or negotiable instruments to notify officers, with Indonesian regulations setting reporting thresholds for rupiah and foreign currencies that apply at borders. Explainer materials aimed at foreign travelers describe reporting obligations that cover banknotes and various payment instruments, and warn that failure to report or inaccurate reporting may lead to administrative sanctions under Indonesian law.

Before traveling, passengers are encouraged by official and explainer sources to make an inventory of their baggage, identify goods that might fall under LARTAS, complete the correct digital declaration and keep the resulting QR code accessible for inspection upon arrival. Travelers should also keep devices and documents available in case customs officers request additional checks on baggage, electronics or cash.

The customs portal lists the Bravo Bea Cukai contact service for further information and urges travelers to review the official arrival guidance again before departure to ensure they are following the latest rules and procedures.

Sources

• Directorate General of Customs and Excise – "Selamat Datang" portal
• Indonesia Customs Guide – Duty-Free & Bans (2026)
• Nasha Planeta – Customs rules of Indonesia and Bali
• Goods Across Borders – Duty-free allowances — Indonesia
• Weetake – Import rules for Indonesia
• Airlo – Indonesia duty-free allowance — alcohol, tobacco, gifts
• BC Denpasar/Benoa – Provision
• Batam Immigration Office – Arrival Passengers and All Indonesia Application