Importers are required to register with Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade and obtain a customs identification number (Nomor Identitas Kepabeanan, or NIK) which is issued by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise. In addition, importers need to obtain an Importer Identification Number (API/Angka Pengenal Import) which serves as a record in the database of importers and their import activities. An import license holder must declare all goods imported into Indonesia to the Indonesian Directorate General of Customs and Excise.

Based on MOT Regulation 70/2015, all importers must obtain an import license. There are four types of import licenses available in Indonesia:

• API-U (General Import License) for importers of goods for further distribution
• API-P (Producer Import License) for importers of goods for their own manufacturing
• API-T (Limited Import License) for importers of goods limited to a particular industry
• API-K (Limited Import License for Contractors) for contractors to import goods that may require additional licenses from particular ministries.

The import of some products is regulated based on the Restricted and Banned Goods List, also known as the “LARTAS list.” Several ministries related to products regulated under the LARTAS list, including the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, National Agency of Food and Drug Control (BPOM), and Ministry of Communication and Informatics.

In May 2018, the Indonesia National Single Window (INSW) system was enhanced to integrate all customs documents, quarantine documents, licensing documents, port/airport documents, and other related documents related to exports and imports so that they can be electronically submitted to the relevant ministries and institutions. In order to check on specific import restrictions, importers can check using INSW’s portal at https://www.insw.go.id/.

In December 2015, the MOT issued Regulation 118/2015 on complementary goods, which allows companies that operate under an API-P import license to import finished products for complementary goods, market testing, or for after sales service purposes, as long as the goods are new, consistent with the company’s business license and meet import requirements. In October 2015, MOT issued Regulation 87/2015 on the Import of Certain Products. Regulation 87/2015 requires pre-shipment verification by designated companies (known in Indonesia as “surveyors”) at the importer’s expense and limits the entry of imports to designated ports and airports. In addition, Regulation 87/2015 maintains non-automatic import licensing requirements on a broad range of products, including electronics, household appliances, textiles and footwear, toys, food and beverage products, and cosmetics.

MOT Regulation 82/2012, as amended by Regulations 38/2013, 68/2015, 41/2016, and Ministry of Industry (MOI) Regulation 108/2012, in effect since January 2013, imposes burdensome import licensing requirements for cell phones, handheld computers, and tablets. Under Regulation 82/2012, importers of cell phones, handheld computers, and tablets are not permitted to sell directly to retailers or consumers, and they must use at least three distributors in order to qualify for a MOT importer license. MOT Regulation 41/2016 requires 4G device importers to provide evidence of contributions to the development of the domestic device industry or cooperation with domestic manufacturing, design, or research firms to fulfill local content requirements.