Sailing in Indonesia is certainly a nice project however if you come from abroad a little time need to be spend on getting the right papers. We strongly advice you to make sure your papers are right as authorities have recently started a campaign of detailed verification. Once this is done then you can really enjoy the beauty of the Indonesian seas, the islands and the people. Two Options exist to sail in Indonesia. The recent attitude of the Indonesian Custom has created a lot of confusion as it seems that custom law interpretation is not uniform. a recent example can be found at http://www.noonsite.com/Members/doina/R2007-08-29-1
Nevertheless if you really want to bring your boat in Indonesia here is the situation as we think it is.
2) Importing the boat (see below)
The key document that is required to sail in Indonesia is the cruising and security permit (SIB) also called CAIT . This permit can be obtained in most harbors but we recommend you start processing this in advance so that when you arrive things run smoothly. This permit is free however as you need to process the document through various administrations we advice strongly you appoint an agents who will charge some fees. The required stamps on the cruising permit are:
Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Tourism
Department of Defense and Security
Department of Sea Communications
Cost of the agents is approx. 300US$ to process the permit that will be valid for a period of three months. The cruising permit can be renewed an indefinite number of times (There are some sign that this may change in the very near future so we strongly advice you to monitor our website regularly. To request a permit you need to have the following documents.
Builder certificate
Flag (registry) letter
Passport or other ID document
Proof of ownership of the boat (Bill of Sale)
JOSC strongly advice you to exert extreme care when contacting an agent as some of them already are telling you that the law has changed and that it is impossible to renew the cruising permit unless you pay a fees up to 20mio (+/- 2.500US$) per year to keep your boat without paying the import duty (In reality they charge you the cost of a temporary import permit for a working vessel). Those permits are not applicable to yachts and could be revoked at any time with no refund.
One of the important section in filling the cruising permit is to clearly indicate were you plan to sail as well as the crew. The crew members on the boat should also need to be clearly mentioned as any discrepancy may require some explanations. People having to leave the boat for medical emergencies are accepted by the authorities as a valid reason for having some change in the crew but this is left to the interpretation of the official.
All pleasure yachts must ONLY check into the first Indonesian port of call and out of the last port of call before leaving Indonesian waters. It is no longer necessary to clear in and out of each harbor as in the past. In other words, if you wish to go sailing anywhere in Indonesia, simply go ! Don't forget to ask for your copy of the official letter to carry with you on the next voyage ( commercial charter yachts are still required to clear in/out when sailing with tourist guests)
People who can assist you in getting permits
See section cruising permit in suppliers list
Bali Marina (allow you to request permit by mail)
Once entering Indonesia you need to check in the first port and when you leave the country you also need to complete the exit permit. lease refer to the section exit permit for more details.
If you plan to stay a long time in Indonesia you may decide to import temporarily your boat. You will be requested to pay the import duty (equal to 5% of the value of the boat + 10% VAT and also 30% luxury tax which represent in total 46.9778% of the value of the boat (This is probably a world record). In theory the day you leave the country you may recover the import duty. Once imported you may navigate in the country without the cruising permit. The regulations concerning importation of boat have been revised in April and May 2007. Custom will evaluate the custom value of your boat and in order to start the process you need to fill in some forms and ask for an inspection by the Bea Cukai office 1 in Tanjung Priok (Customs). Once inspected the inspectors will submit a report to the Bea Cukai head office who will then decide on the custom value of the boat. So far no boats did go through this new process so we do not know how smooth the process is and how the value of the boat is accessed. All custom official we met have been very helpful and friendly in helping us to complete the forms but regretfully no boat has yet completed the process as they are waiting the decision from the head office of Bea Cukai (Custom). Once imported you may keep your foreign registry letter or apply for Indonesian registry which in theory would necessitate an Indonesian Captain. Should you keep your foreign flag you do not require an Indonesian Captain..
Exit Permit (Surat Izin Berlayar SIB)
All foreign pleasure yachts (not charters) must ONLY check into the first Indonesian port of call and out of the last port of call before leaving Indonesian waters. It is no longer necessary to clear in and out of each harbor as in the past. In other words, if you wish to go sailing anywhere in Indonesia, simply go ! Don't forget to ask for your copy of the official letter to carry with you on the next voyage ( commercial charter yachts are still required to clear in/out when sailing with tourist guests).
Furthermore JOSC member Yachts, sailing from Pantai Mutiara and returning from Pantai Mutiara, may take JOSC members aboard their boats without further requirements or documentation for Day sailing (Sail training) or club events.
Download copy of the letter of ministry of Transportation on the above matter
Letter of Ministry UM 48 and Clarification Telegram (Bahasa Version)
Letter of Ministry UM 48 and Clarification Telegram (English Version)
For boats arriving or leaving Indonesia immigration can be processed at the following seaports.
1. Sekupang, Batu Ampar, Nongsa and Marina Teluk Senimba in Batam;
2. Bandar Bintan Telani Lagoi and Sri Udana Lobam in Tanjung Uban;
3. Belawan in Belawan;
4. Sibolga in Sibolga;
5. Yos Sudarso in Dumai;
6. Teluk Bayur in Padang;
7. Tanjung Balai Karimun in Tanjung Balai Karimun
8. Tanjung Priok in Jakarta;
9. Tanjung Mas in Semarang;
10. Padang Bai and Benoa in Bali;
11. Tenau in Kupang;
12. Pare-Pare in Pare-Pare
13. Soekarno-Hatta in Makassar;
14. Jayapura in Jayapura.15. Bintang Pura in Tanjung Pinang
16. Bitung in Bitung
17. Maumere in Nusa Tenggara Timur
18. Batam Island
19. Batu Ampar
20. Nongsa Point Marina
New changes in Immigration laws have been introduced as per 1 of February 2004 and 1 of August 2005 as well as in 2007. We recommend you visit the following website that seem to be well updated with respect to the Indonesian Immigration Laws.
Indonesian Embassy Website in Canberra Australia
The following citizen do not require a visa and do not require to pay visa fees. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Hongkong SAR, Macao SAR, Chile, Morocco, Peru and Vietnam.
For other citizen an ON ARRIVAL visa may be granted provided they are from the following countries and pay the due amounts. Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America. The cost of such a visa is 10US$ for a 7 days visa or 25 US$ for a 30 day visa. This ON ARRIVAL visa cannot be extended and you would not be able to get a new on arrival visa within 60 days after you have left the country.
Other nationals not listed above need to request a visa prior to the departure.
Post Scriptum
We would appreciate you inform JOSC about any matter in relation to the issue of Sailing permit so that we can update this page as required to ensure the information does not get outdated. You can send an e-mail to tpowis@cbn.net.id<nospam>. Should you wish to consult another site on administrative procedures you may consult the The global site for cruising sailors