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🇮🇩 Indonesia

Moving Guide

Moving to Indonesia requires careful planning around visa timing, shipping logistics, and the practical realities of arriving in a country where bureaucracy can be challenging. Most expats arrive with carry-on luggage and ship or buy everything else locally — Indonesian furniture and homewares are excellent quality and low cost.

$2,500–$5,000

Int'l Shipping (20ft container)

Door-to-door; 4–8 weeks transit time

$200–$800

One-Way Flight to Bali

From US/Europe depending on routing

Rp 100,000–300,000/kg

Baggage Excess Fee

$6–$19 — ship separately via sea freight

$500–$2,000

Relocation Agent Fee

For visa, housing, and setup assistance

$1,000–$3,000

Initial Setup Budget

First month expenses: deposit, transport, essentials

Overview🌴Bali🏙️Jakarta🛕Yogyakarta
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Overview

Moving to Indonesia requires careful planning around visa timing, shipping logistics, and the practical realities of arriving in a country where bureaucracy can be challenging. Most expats arrive with carry-on luggage and ship or buy everything else locally — Indonesian furniture and homewares are excellent quality and low cost. Bali particularly has a well-developed ecosystem of relocation agents, furnished villas, and expat Facebook groups that make the first weeks manageable.

Key Takeaways

  • Visa: arrange your B211A Social Visa at the Indonesian consulate in your home country before departure if staying longer than 60 days
  • Sea freight (20ft container): $2,500–$5,000 door-to-door from US/Europe; 4–8 weeks transit; use for large furniture or if moving permanently
  • Day 1: buy a Telkomsel or XL Axiata SIM at the airport (bring passport); withdraw IDR from ATM; get a Grab or Gojek ride to your accommodation
  • SKTT (Temporary Resident Card): issued by the local kelurahan (village office) for KITAS holders; required for some banking and services
  • Pet import: requires a health certificate, vaccination records (especially rabies), microchip, and import permit from Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture — start 6 months in advance
1

Pre-Departure Checklist

Preparation before leaving for Indonesia significantly reduces stress on arrival. These are the key items to address before you fly.

  • Visa: arrange your B211A Social Visa at the Indonesian consulate in your home country before departure if staying longer than 60 days
  • Health insurance: purchase comprehensive expat insurance with emergency evacuation coverage before you arrive — do not rely on sorting this in Bali
  • Vaccinations: ensure Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus are up to date; Rabies vaccine recommended for Bali (monkey and dog bites occur); Japanese Encephalitis for rural areas
  • Banking: set up Wise account and debit card; inform your home bank of your move; load sufficient IDR for first 2 weeks ($500–$1,000)
  • SIM card: buy an Indonesian SIM (Telkomsel recommended) on arrival at the airport — bring an unlocked phone
  • Housing: book an Airbnb or serviced apartment for the first 2–4 weeks while you search for a permanent place
2

Shipping Your Belongings

Most experienced Indonesia expats recommend shipping only what you truly cannot live without — Indonesian furniture, homewares, and electronics are often excellent and cheap.

  • Sea freight (20ft container): $2,500–$5,000 door-to-door from US/Europe; 4–8 weeks transit; use for large furniture or if moving permanently
  • Sea freight (LCL/shared container): $500–$1,500 for partial loads; practical for boxes of books, kitchen gear, and personal items
  • Air freight: very expensive ($5–$15/kg) — only for essential items needed quickly
  • Indonesian customs: restricted items include certain foods, medications above personal limits, electronics above declared value thresholds, and VOIP equipment
  • Recommended shippers: Seven Seas Worldwide, Crown Relocations, AGS Indonesia — get 3 quotes
  • Alternative: ship nothing and buy locally — Bali has excellent furniture, IKEA is available in Jakarta, and household essentials are cheap
3

Arrival & First Weeks

The first weeks in Indonesia are exhilarating and occasionally overwhelming. Having a clear action plan helps enormously.

  • Day 1: buy a Telkomsel or XL Axiata SIM at the airport (bring passport); withdraw IDR from ATM; get a Grab or Gojek ride to your accommodation
  • Week 1: rent a scooter (if in Bali), open a GoPay or OVO e-wallet, find your local warungs, explore your neighbourhood on foot
  • Week 2–4: visit immigration for VoA extension (if staying 60 days); begin B211A process if needed; find permanent accommodation
  • Essential apps: Gojek, Grab, Google Maps (works well offline in Indonesia), WhatsApp (Indonesians use WhatsApp for everything), Tokopedia (Indonesian Amazon)
  • Driving: get an International Driving Permit (IDP) before leaving home — required alongside your home licence to legally ride a scooter in Bali
  • Community: join 'Canggu Community' or relevant expat Facebook groups immediately — invaluable for local knowledge, housing leads, and social connection
4

Essential Registrations & Documents

A few key registrations make daily life in Indonesia significantly easier and are legally required for longer stays.

  • SKTT (Temporary Resident Card): issued by the local kelurahan (village office) for KITAS holders; required for some banking and services
  • NPWP (Tax ID): required for KITAS holders; needed for bank accounts, property leases, and business activities; apply at the local tax office (Kantor Pajak)
  • SIM (Indonesian Driving Licence): available to KITAS holders after passing a test at the local Polres; needed to legally ride a scooter in Indonesia
  • Report to your home country's embassy or consulate: register as an overseas citizen — useful for emergency assistance
  • BPJS Kesehatan: register for public health insurance if on KITAS — Rp 35,000–150,000/month; use alongside private insurance
  • WhatsApp is Indonesia's default business communication channel — set up properly and expect all vendors, landlords, and agents to contact you there
5

Moving with Pets & Family

Indonesia is manageable for families and pet owners but requires advance planning, particularly around international school applications and pet import regulations.

  • Pet import: requires a health certificate, vaccination records (especially rabies), microchip, and import permit from Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture — start 6 months in advance
  • Pet quarantine: up to 14 days at approved quarantine facilities in Bali or Jakarta; cost Rp 3M–8M ($190–$505)
  • International schools (Bali): Green School Bali (unique eco-school), Bali Island School, Canggu Community School — fees $6,000–$20,000/year
  • International schools (Jakarta): Jakarta International School (JIS), British School Jakarta, Australian International School Jakarta — fees $15,000–$35,000/year; apply early
  • Family housing: Seminyak and Sanur in Bali; Kemang and Pondok Indah in Jakarta have the best family expat infrastructure
  • Child visa: children on your passport travel on your VoA; for KITAS, dependent KITAS (KITAS ikut) can be obtained for spouse and children under 18
FAQs

Common Questions — Moving Guide in Indonesia

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🌴 Bali🏙️ Jakarta🛕 YogyakartaBack to Indonesia Overview