Indonesia Travel Information

All visitors travelling to Indonesia will need a valid passport, with at least one open page. The passport needs to be valid for at least six months after the entry date and a proof of return ticket must be shown upon request. You can stay in Indonesia without a visa for less than 30 days.

Every country has their own set of custom regulations, and it is imperative that all visitors understand these rules and the repercussions of any actions which contradict said regulations.

• Tobacco products, 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars and 100 grams of tobacco.
• 1 litre of alcohol
• A reasonable quantity of perfume
• Personal goods of up to US$250 per passenger or US$1,000 per family
• Camera equipment and binoculars may be imported as long as they are carried out of the country upon departure.

• Chinese medication, printings and artefacts
• Narcotics
• Firearms and ammunition (unless a permit is obtained)
• Pornography
• Fresh fruit
• Cordless telephones

Amounts exceeding IDR 100,000,000 or the equivalent in a foreign currency must be declared and approved by the Central Bank or External Affairs

Indonesia is one of the world’s greatest travel and tourism destinations but there are a few precautions that every visitor should take, before travelling to this spectacular country. Tourists should visit a medical practitioner approximately 4-6 weeks before travelling, the doctor will then advise on what vaccinations are recommended for the destination being visited. All routine vaccinations should be up to date before travelling and the recommended precautions should be followed.

• Diphtheria
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Malaria – for some areas
• Rabies – in some areas
• Tetanus
• Typhoid
• Yellow Fever – only if travelling from an infected area

Tourists should avoid using water that has not been boiled before use and should only drink bottled water. Milk in the country is mostly unpasteurised, so this should be boiled before use, alternatively powdered or tinned milk could be used. Travellers should also beware of keeping hydrated to avoid heatstroke and should always use sun lotion.

Indonesia is in close proximity to the equator, and in fact lies in both sides, so the region generally enjoys hot and humid tropical temperatures with two distinct seasons. The wet and rainy season begins around the month of October and ends towards the end of April. In the regions of Maluku the rainy season extends from March to August. The dry season can be characterised by its tropical showers in the afternoons and the coastal temperatures are usually around 25°C - 30°C all year round. In the highlands region the temperatures can range from a night time temperature of 7°C and can reach peaks of around 22°C.     

Western Indonesian time falls in the GMT/UTC +07:00 time zone while Indonesian Central Time is GMT/UTC +08:00 and Indonesian Eastern Time falls under the GMT/UTC +09:00 time zones. Indonesia does not make use of daylight savings time.    

The Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) is the only currency accepted in Indonesia while travellers’ cheques and credit cards are also readily accepted in most hotels, restaurants and larger shops. Street vendors, taxis and small local boutiques or cafés might not have credit card facilities, so be sure to keep small amounts of cash on you when travelling. ATMs can be found quite easily in larger tourist areas and money changers are also located in most areas. Make sure you have enough Rupiahs upon arrival to pay for the tourist visa as well as upon departure to pay the airport embarkation tax. 

Exchange rates:
1 CAD = 10.683,46 (last updated 06.09.2019)
1 £ = 17.311,77 (last updated 06.09.2019)

Indonesia uses a 220 Volt AC and a 50 Hz cycle power. Appliances with other voltage requirements will need an adaptor and transformer in order to work in Indonesia. The plug sockets used in Indonesia are either two prong or three prong grounded plugs, so a universal adaptor is recommended for all tourists who may not be sure of their plug requirements.

Indonesia’s country code is +62 and landlines in large cities have 8 digits, smaller areas have numbers which consist of 7 digits while mobile phone numbers vary between 10-12 digits. In order to phone a number locally in Indonesia, the country code will be followed by the area code and then the number. While callers calling from abroad will need to dial the international prefix – 00 followed by the country code, area code and then the number. Resorts, hotels and pay phones will usually have a directory filled with country codes from all around the world. 

Internet in Indonesia is quite accessible in hotels, restaurants and internet cafés. Wifi is offered in most large restaurants and hotels – especially organisations which cater for international tourists specifically. Internet cafés are always quite cost effective and convenient to visit as they can be found on most streets in tourist areas. Rural areas might not offer easily accessible internet access so keep this in mind when looking for the ideal destination.

British Consulate (Bali)
Jalan Tantular No 32, Renon, Denpasar, Bali, 80234, Indonesia
Tel.: +62 21 2356 5200

There are over 249 million people living in Indonesia with an astounding 42% of this population being made up of people from the Javanese community. 15% of the Indonesian population is made up of the Sundanese community with an approximate 10% being made up of Malay, Batak and Mandurese communities. Indonesia is made up of over 300 different ethnic groups with 95% of these ethnicities originating from Indonesian ancestors. This large number of ethnicities makes the country’s national motto even more meaningful, showcasing that unity in diversityis the Indonesian way.

Indonesian is the official language of the country, with a number of Chinese dialects also being used throughout Indonesia. Indonesian is considered a standardised register of Malay and has been used as a lingua franca (common language) in the archipelago for centuries.  

Indonesia’s central location between the Middle East, the Far East and South Asia has resulted in a dynamic culture which has been influenced by a number of religions. This colourful culture offers a gilded view of Asian vivacity – from traditional ethnic customs to stringent values and religious beliefs, the Indonesian culture is a rich and intricate tapestry of historic and modern wonder. The local Indonesians showcase their culture with pride and strongly believe in the national motto – unity in diversity, which has resulted in a multitude of religions and cultures all joining together to form a dynamic and enchanting national culture.

Although the country has been influenced by a number of different religions the government only recognises six official religions in the region. Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism are the official religions of Indonesia, but an astounding majority of the population are Muslim.