Your starting point in Indonesia

Moving to Indonesia: Your Arrival & Settling-In Guide

A successful move to Indonesia starts with choosing the right immigration route, understanding your destination and organising the essentials before making expensive commitments.

Your experience will depend on the island, city and neighbourhood you choose. Build your plan around your work, family, healthcare and transport needs rather than a holiday impression.

Use this guide to prepare before departure, organise your first days and establish a workable routine during your first month.

Your nationality, passport type, intended activities and length of stay determine which entry arrangements apply.

Check with Indonesian Immigration or the Indonesian embassy responsible for your location:

• Whether you qualify for visa exemption, a visa on arrival or another visa.

• Which category permits your intended activities.

• Whether you need a sponsor or advance approval.

• Which entry points accept your visa.

• Passport validity and supporting document requirements.

• Whether an extension is available and how to apply.

• Whether leaving Indonesia ends your permission to stay.

Keep these terms separate:

Do not assume that a long visa validity period allows an uninterrupted stay of the same length.

Your next action: Record your visa category, permitted activities and extension conditions before booking non-refundable travel.

Tourism, employment, business meetings, remote work, study and joining family can involve different permissions.

A visa on arrival is not suitable for every business activity, volunteering arrangement or commercial content project. Sponsored social media and influencer work may require a different category.

Before accepting work or relocating for employment, ask:

• Which immigration and employment approvals apply?

• Who submits each application?

• Who pays the fees?

• When may I legally begin the activity?

• What happens if the employment ends?

For remote work or overseas clients, obtain advice about your specific arrangement. Do not rely on a social media claim that earning abroad automatically removes local obligations.

Your next action: Write a plain description of your intended activities and ask the relevant authority or qualified adviser which route fits.

Indonesia uses All Indonesia, an integrated arrival declaration covering immigration, customs, health and quarantine information.

Current guidance directs travellers to complete the declaration within the 72 hours before arrival. The declaration is free. Use the official government website rather than a paid intermediary.

Prepare:

• Passport details.

• Flight or other arrival information.

• Your first accommodation address.

• Travel history and declaration information requested by the system.

• Your visa details, where applicable.

Save the confirmation offline.

Your next action: Add the declaration window to your calendar and use the official All Indonesia portal.

Keep essential documents accessible without mobile data.

Include:

• Passport identification page.

• Visa approval and relevant sponsor documents.

• Arrival declaration confirmation.

• Accommodation confirmation and map location.

• Onward or return travel evidence where required.

• Insurance details and emergency assistance number.

• Relevant prescriptions and medical information.

Check every approval against your passport. Resolve spelling, date and passport-number errors before departure.

Keep protected backups separately from your phone. Share document copies only with verified recipients who need them.

Your next action: Test whether you can open your travel folder with your phone in flight mode.

Book initial accommodation that gives you time to inspect longer-term options.

Confirm:

• The exact address and arrival airport or port.

• Transfer arrangements and total price.

• Check-in procedures for your arrival time.

• A working contact number.

• Cancellation terms.

• Internet access and additional charges.

After arrival:

1. Confirm your entry record and permitted departure date.

2. Set reminders before your stay expires.

3. Establish working mobile data.

4. Locate groceries, a pharmacy and suitable medical care.

5. Tell a trusted person where you are staying.

For private accommodation, check local police registration requirements. Current guidance says private stays require registration, while hotels handle registration for their guests.

Your next action: Confirm your immigration deadline and accommodation reporting arrangements during your first few days.

Compare places against the routine you intend to maintain.

Test journeys at the times you will normally travel. Visit shortlisted streets during the day and evening.

For an island or remote location, investigate transport disruption and access to treatment before committing.

Your next action: Compare three realistic locations using the same priorities and total budget.

An attractive listing is only the start of the assessment.

Check:

• Water pressure, drainage and signs of leaks.

• Air conditioning, ventilation and damp.

• Electricity arrangements and billing.

• Internet installation and actual performance.

• Locks, access control and fire exits.

• Road access and parking.

• Construction and evening noise.

• Previous flooding and maintenance problems.

Before paying, obtain written terms covering:

Verify the owner or authorised representative and their right to rent the property. Obtain help understanding unfamiliar contract language.

For a purchase, long lease or investment structure, use independent Indonesian legal advice before transferring money.

Your next action: Ask for the agreement, inventory and payment instructions before sending a deposit.

Separate setup spending from normal monthly costs.

Ask whether quoted prices include taxes, service charges and other fees.

Keep emergency money accessible separately from long-term housing payments. Avoid committing most of your available funds before you have tested the location.

Your next action: Replace estimates with written quotes and track actual spending during your first month.

Plan your budget in Indonesian rupiah and confirm the currency and full amount before paying.

Practical habits:

• Carry small denominations and a backup card.

• Check ATM and overseas card fees.

• Verify recipients before approving transfers.

• Keep receipts for deposits and significant purchases.

• Use authorised currency exchange providers and count the money before leaving.

• Confirm whether your payment app works with the merchant’s system.

Before opening a local account, ask the bank directly about eligibility, required documents, fees and restrictions.

Your next action: Test a small payment or withdrawal before relying on one method for everything.

Buy mobile service through an authorised provider and confirm identification requirements.

Ask about:

• Coverage at home and work.

• Data allowance and package validity.

• Renewal and top-up methods.

• Hotspot use.

• Compatibility with your device.

• Any device-registration requirements for an overseas phone.

If staying longer, check the applicable phone and IMEI arrangements with your operator and Indonesian Customs before assuming a tourist setup will remain suitable.

For home internet, test video calls and uploads at the property. Ask about outages and installation times.

Your next action: Establish a mobile-data backup before relying on home Wi-Fi for work.

Start with transport that lets you learn the area without rushing into a vehicle agreement.

Before renting or driving, verify:

• The licence and vehicle category you need.

• Whether an international driving permit is required.

• Insurance for both driver and passengers.

• Rental excess, damage liability and deposit terms.

• Breakdown and accident procedures.

Inspect and photograph the vehicle before collection and return. A rental business agreeing to hand over a vehicle does not establish that you are licensed or insured.

Your next action: Confirm your licence and insurance position before paying for a rental.

Choose a suitable clinic and emergency facility near your accommodation.

Ask your insurer about:

• Direct billing versus upfront payment.

• Approved providers.

• Emergency evacuation.

• Pre-existing conditions.

• Prescription and specialist care.

• Coverage for riding, diving, hiking or other activities.

Medical facilities vary, and treatment for serious conditions in remote areas may require evacuation. Ensure your cover matches your destination and activities.

Use safe drinking water. Seek immediate medical assistance after an animal bite or scratch because rabies occurs in Indonesia. Check medication import rules before travelling, including for controlled prescriptions.

Your next action: Save your medical provider, insurer and medication information offline.

Check the rules for the province you will visit. Aceh applies Sharia law, with specific restrictions and penalties that differ from other destinations.

Indonesia’s criminal code includes complaint-based offences relating to sex outside marriage and cohabitation. Obtain current advice if these provisions may affect your circumstances.

Illegal drug penalties are severe. Cannabis and CBD products can be illegal even when legally prescribed or sold in your home country.

In Bali, plan around Nyepi, when restrictions include staying indoors and airport closure. Check the dates for your travel year.

Learn basic Bahasa Indonesia greetings, thanks and directions. Follow religious-site dress rules, respect ceremonies and ask before photographing people.

Your next action: Read destination-specific laws and customs before packing or booking activities.

Check official weather, earthquake, tsunami and volcanic information for your itinerary through BMKG and the relevant disaster authorities.

At your accommodation:

• Identify evacuation routes and assembly points.

• Ask how local warnings are communicated.

• Keep essential documents and medication accessible.

• Maintain backup power for your phone.

• Leave flexibility around important flights and connections.

Emergency numbers listed in current UK government guidance:

Confirm local arrangements with your accommodation and save direct hospital contacts as backups.

Your next action: Create an emergency note with your address, nearby landmark, medical details and key contacts.

Before departure

• Confirm your visa route and permitted activities.

• Prepare documents and applicable declarations.

• Check destination-specific requirements.

• Arrange insurance, initial accommodation and transport.

Within 72 hours

• Confirm your permitted stay.

• Check accommodation registration.

• Establish communication and payment access.

• Locate healthcare and everyday essentials.

During your first week

• Inspect housing and test regular journeys.

• Confirm work or residence requirements.

• Test internet and mobile backup.

• Replace budget estimates with actual costs.

Before the end of your first month

• Complete outstanding administrative tasks.

• Confirm renewal deadlines.

• Review housing and spending.

• Establish regular social connections and a sustainable routine.