Declaring Mobile Phone in Indonesia

If you’re arriving in Indonesia with a normal personal phone, you can usually enter without any special “phone declaration” as long as you do not need customs to whitelist the IMEI for long-term use on Indonesian cellular networks.

The moment you want your overseas-bought phone to work on local Indonesian cellular service (physical SIM or eSIM) beyond a short visit, that’s when declaring/reporting the device to Customs (Bea Cukai) becomes relevant, because it’s tied to IMEI registration.

What “declare my phone” really means in Indonesia

In Indonesia, travelers usually say “declare my phone” when they mean one of these:

• Customs declaration (arrival form): declaring items you bring in (including certain electronics) on your passenger declaration form.
• IMEI registration: reporting your device to Customs so your phone’s IMEI can be recognized for use on Indonesian cellular networks (Telkomsel, XL, Indosat, etc.).

These are connected, but the key point is: you don’t “declare” your phone just because you carry it.

You declare/report it when you need it treated as a device that will use Indonesian cellular networks.

Indonesia no longer uses “e-CD” for arrivals (now: All Indonesia)

Starting 1 October 2025, Indonesia launched All Indonesia as the integrated and official arrival declaration system for international passengers.

So, for arrivals, you should expect to complete the declaration through All Indonesia and keep the QR code to show on arrival.

Even though the older Customs e-CD site may still appear online, the practical rule for travelers is: use All Indonesia for your arrival declaration (the “All Indonesia” system now covers what travelers used to fill in separate arrival forms).

When you DO need to report/declare your phone

You should plan to report your phone to Bea Cukai (and do IMEI registration) if all of these are true:

• The phone (or cellular tablet/handheld) was bought/obtained overseas, and
• You will use it in Indonesia with an Indonesian cellular network (local SIM/eSIM), and
• You need it to keep working reliably on cellular service (especially for longer stays).

Indonesia’s Customs declaration guidance explicitly flags that if you bring a mobile phone / handheld computer / cellular tablet obtained abroad and it will be used on Indonesian national cellular networks, you should report it to Customs at the arrival terminal.

When you usually DON’T need to declare your phone

Most short-term tourists do not need to do an IMEI registration process at the airport if:

• You use roaming eSIMs (such as Airalo, Holafly, or Saily), or
• You will only use Wi-Fi, or
• You are staying briefly and do not need long-term Indonesian cellular service tied to that overseas device’s IMEI.

Important nuance: your phone can still function normally on Wi-Fi even if IMEI-based cellular access becomes restricted later; the “problem” is mainly calls/SMS/mobile data on Indonesian networks.

What happens if you don’t report it (and you actually need IMEI registration)

If a phone’s IMEI is not recognized for Indonesian cellular networks, the practical consequence is that local cellular service can be blocked (your device may still work on Wi-Fi, but Indonesian SIM/eSIM cellular connectivity can stop working).

This is exactly why Customs handles IMEI registration for passenger devices.

Read more: A Complete Guide to IMEI Registration in Bali for Tourists and Foreigners

How to do it now (All Indonesia + Customs on arrival)

Here’s the typical flow in 2026:

• Complete your arrival declaration in All Indonesia before landing.
• Save the QR code generated by All Indonesia to show on arrival.
• If you need your overseas phone to work on Indonesian cellular networks long-term, go to the Bea Cukai/Customs counter in the arrival area and report the device for IMEI registration.

Short stays (under 30 or 90 days) using a local Telkomsel eSIM or SIM

How it works:

• First 30 days:
  Your device connects normally to Telkomsel’s network, with full signal and mobile internet.
• After the 30-day period:
  The Telkomsel number is still active, but your phone will lose Telkomsel signal and data access because the IMEI is blocked again.
• Second month:
  You can buy another new eSIM or SIM card to unlock the IMEI for a further 30 days.
• Third month:
  You may still purchase one more new eSIM or SIM card for an additional 30-day activation.

Key limits to keep in mind:

• One passport can be used to register up to three numbers per provider.
• Most devices (especially eSIM phones) have two IMEIs.
• Each IMEI can only be activated twice through this tourist eSIM or SIM approach.

Read more: Using a Mobile Phone in Indonesia Without IMEI Registration

Will I have to pay? (Tax and the USD 500 allowance)

Whether you pay depends on the declared value and how Customs classifies the device as passenger personal goods.

Indonesia provides a USD 500 (FOB) allowance for passenger personal goods; above that threshold, duties/taxes may apply to the excess.

Because tax outcomes depend on your situation (value, documentation, how many devices, etc.), the safest approach is:

• Be honest in your declaration, and
• Ask the Customs officer at arrival if you’re unsure.

Read more: IMEI Registration Cost in Indonesia: How Much You Pay

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