Biak - Clearance

UPDATE May 2024: CIQP officials are now operating a "Joint Inspection" policy here for recreational yachts, to speed up the clearance process. We are currently confirming exactly how this is going to work.

It is advisable to use the services of an agent when clearing in here, to manage the Indonesian bureaucracy.  See Related User Comments.

International Clearance:

This is the first official Port of Entry when coming from the East. Immigration, Customs and Port Captain are all based here.  It replaces Jayapura as an official Port of Entry for this region.

For full details of the formalities for Indonesia see the Noonsite/Indonesia/Formalities page.

Both Customs and Immigration require the form on the Yachters website to be completed prior to entry.

Be patient as the process can take several days to complete.

Immigration:

Visit Imigrasi first, on the first corner after going through the fish and vegetable market. Staff are reported to be very helpful and have enough English to get by.

You can only get 30 day visa on arrival here unless you have done your social visa in another country prior to arrival. The 30 day visa includes both the day you started it and the day you leave (otherwise you get charged for overstaying your visa).

Customs:

Located a 10 minute walk to the west. The building has a short steep cement driveway on the northern side of the road. A Customs officer will visit the boat and is likely to take photos of drugs and some equipment (AIS). As this is mainly a Christian community, they are not too worried about any alcohol.

Port Captain:

The Port Captain's office is further down the road heading west from Customs, on the southern side of the road.

Domestic Clearance:

Permits (surat jalan) are not needed for Biak anymore, only once you get to Raja Ampat.

Last updated: November 2022