Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and as such is the location of foreign embassies. If you are travelling to Bali and lose your passport, you may need to visit Jakarta to get a new one issue. Likewise, foreigners married to Indonesians may have to go to Jakarta for an interview with their spouse in order for them to get a foreign visa.
The Jakarta area code is (021).
Here is a list of Jakarta Embassies:
•Australia
(2550 5555;
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav C 15-16
Kuningan
•Brunei Darussalam (574 1437)
Wisma GKBI
Jl. Jenderal Sudirman 28
•Canada
(525 0709)
5th Floor,
Wisma Metropolitan I
Jl. Jenderal Sudirman Kav. 29
•France
(314 2807)
Jl. M.H. Thamrin 20
•Germany
(390 1750)
Jl. M.H. Thamrin 1
•Malaysia
(522 4947)
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said
Kav. X/6 #1-3
•Myanmar
(314 0440)
Jl. Haji Agus Salim 109
•Netherlands
(525 1515)
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said
Kav. 5-3
•Papua New Guinea
(725 1218)
6th Floor
Panin Bank Center Jl. Jenderal Sudirman 1
•Philippines
(315 5118)
Jl. Imam Bonjol 74
•UK
(315 6264)
Jl. M.H. Thamrin 75
•USA
(344 2211)
Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan 5)
Indonesian Customs:
Arriving in Indonesia at any airport or seaport, you will be subject to the similar restrictions as in other parts of the world. Your Customs arrival card will list some of the prohibited items such as drugs, explosives, endangered animals, firearms, or X-rated materials are not allowed in. Other prohibited items include fresh fruit, TV set, radios.
Indonesian Customs allows you to enter the country with 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 100g of tabacco. You can also bring in 1 liter of alcohol (wine or liquor) and a ‘reasonable amount’ of fragrances.
Arriving in Bali with laptops, cameras, typewriters, video cameras etc. you are supposed to declare these and later leave the country with them. The reality is the Customs officials are not interested in your personal property, focusing their attention on cigarettes and alcohol which is over the limit, meaning they can confiscate it.
If Customs suspect that you intend to sell items brought into the country they may attempt to ‘fine’ you. Surfers with more than 2 boards, people travelling from other Asian countries with gem / decorative stones etc. could be pulled over and questioned. Generally passing through Indonesian Customs is quick and easy. Indonesia allows foreigners to bring in as much foreign currency as they like. Importing or exporting more than 5m rp must be declared.
It is not a good idea to purchase items in Indonesia that are made from either ivory or turtle shell. Indonesia has signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) agreement and Customs will pull you up for having these items.
With so many ‘antique’ dealers in Bali and in other parts of Indonesia, and the local’s ability to make new items look like antiques by burying them in certain types of soil for a period of time, it can be hard to tell a real antique from a fake. Indonesia has laws against exporting cultural treasures, antiquities and ancient artifacts. You might want to pack that, antique bronze statue inside a container of furniture rather than walk through the airport with it.
In general the average tourist will have no problems with Indonesian Customs.
N.B. If your body board bag suddenly weighs and extra 4 kilos, check it before walking though Customs.
