Indonesia Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in indonesia, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Import Requirements and Documentation
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The Government of Indonesia (GOI) requires comprehensive documentation for the importation of goods. U.S. exporters are strongly encouraged to work with experienced local customs brokers who are familiar with the evolving regulatory environment, required formats, and electronic systems.

At a minimum, import documentation must include:

  • Proforma invoice
  • Commercial invoice
  • Certificate of origin
  • Bill of landing or airway bill
  • Packing list
  • Insurance certificate

These documents are essential for customs clearance and must be submitted electronically through the Indonesia National Single Windows (INSW) platform using standardized Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) formats, and submissions typically occur prior to cargo arrival. In certain cases, custom authorities may require importers to upload flash drive backups for manual verification, depending on the customs post involved.

In addition, importers must hold a valid Import Identification Number (API) and the appropriate import license. Depending on the type of the goods, additional permits or certificates of analysis, registration or compliance may be necessary, especially for products regulated by sector-specific agencies such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, seeds, and chemicals.  These documents must often be submitted prior to shipment approval. Importers without an API may apply for a special import permit from the Ministry of Trade, typically reserved for temporary or limited shipments.

Upon arrival, all goods are subject to customs inspections, which may include document verification and physical inspection, especially for red-line cargo or regulated products. Indonesia applies import duties based on the product’s classification under the Harmonized System (HS) Code, as specified in the Indonesian Customs Tariff Book (BTKI).

Labeling requirements have also been enforced since 2013. All food products must display Indonesian language labels, which include nutritional content, expiration dates, and manufacturer/importer identification. Additional labeling regulations apply to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, household goods, and electronic products.

Indonesia has introduced several regulatory updates that impact import documentation and custom compliance. A notable change includes Regulation No. PER-5/BC/2025 by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE) which revised customs declaration protocols.

U.S. exporters should ensure their Indonesian importer is up to date with the latest regulatory changes and required approvals. Delays or rejections often occur due to minor document errors, missing pre-import permits, or failure to comply with technical agency requirements.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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