Anyone intending to enter Indonesia by yacht must first register with the Vessel Declaration System (VDS). This must be done up to 24 hours prior to your arrival in a Port of Entry (so that authorities have time to prepare your documentation), but can be done well in advance.
See the User Manual for clear instructions on how to do this. This online system has greatly improved since it was first implemented. However cruisers still report problems with the system. See feedback from cruisers using the speech bubble icon in the "Explore Country" dropdown.
The system requires you to complete a vessel declaration which includes: all the vessels details; travel route (previous port, port of entry and intended port of exit, ports of call while in Indonesia, destination after leaving Indonesia); skipper and crew details; list of items on board; and certification documents.
By registering on this system, the Indonesian authorities will look through the documents and decide whether a yacht is eligible to enter Indonesia or not. If a yacht is on their blacklist, they will be notified. If not, they may enter Indonesia and perform CIQP procedures at any Port of Entry of their choice.
Note: Cruisers report that it can take up to 2 weeks to get an email confirmation of your registration in the VDS - only then can you log on! Then you must enter your yacht details. Don't forget to click "save" at the end of every page to avoid having to redo the process. The "submit" button is very small at the top right of the screen. It's highly likely you will not receive any further confirmation.
An AIS device - able to transmit (not "receive-only") and properly configured - is required. The Indonesian government yacht committee has agreed that "for the purpose of their safety and security, AIS is mandatory for all foreign yachts cruising in Indonesian waters". You will need the MMSI number associated with the unit to complete the registration forms. Officials are enforcing this law and physically checking the AIS, making photographs for evidence, and checking MarineTraffic.com. Citations and/or letters of warning are being issued for noncompliance.
In September 2022 it was reported that officials were going to enforce the regulation requiring all vessels to use an agent for clearance processes into and out of Indonesia. See this News report. However, cruisers have reported to Noonsite that in some ports (such as Bali , Sabang, Bitung and Kupang) they have been able to undertake formalities without the use of an agent, which is much cheaper. In ports where contact with pleasure yachts is not normal and language may be an issue, it may be advisable to use an agent.
Everyone on board must have an Indonesian Visa (see Immigration for details). Some visas require a sponsor/guarantor and agents can act as this.
Officially there are 28 Ports of Entry that are able to receive foreign yachts. However, some of the more "remote" ports may not have full CIQP and Health facilities.
Indonesia Transport Department - Current Ports of Entry for Indonesia.
It may be possible, with advance permission, to stop in Indonesia to refuel/effect repairs for one to two days, without officially clearing in. Cruisers have reported being granted permission by Nongsa Point Marina en-route from Kuching to Langkawi.
However, the official response is that if you arrive at any port in Indonesia you must fulfil the clearance requirements, even if it is only for a brief fuel/re-provisioning stop. It is advisable to check with an agent or marina where you are planning a fuel stop, prior to entering Indonesia waters.
While the information provided here is correct "officially", it is important to bear in mind that Indonesia has thousands of outlying islands and it is very difficult for the government to enforce their Laws, with each port interpreting them in their own way. Formalities may be inconsistent from port to port.
On arrival at your nominated port of entry, fly the "Q" flag and either anchor in the designated area or pick up a Quarantine Buoy.
In addition to the "Q" flag, you should fly the Indonesian flag as a courtesy. Ensure that it is flown the correct way (red at the top) and is not faded or torn.
In some places you will be required to go ashore to official offices, in other ports you may be required to transport officials out to your vessel. Be prepared to do both. Ensure you have numerous copies of the following documents when arriving at your Port of Entry:
Anti-malarial rules were introduced in June 2022 for vessels arriving from certain high-risk countries. This involves anchoring in the quarantine area and the boat being sprayed prior to landing. See the Health section for full details.
The Captain should report to quarantine and complete a medical declaration. Latest reports indicate that it is again a requirement to have a Green Book (health document). This can be purchased (for minimal cost) from Quarantine officials and filled in to satisfy this requirement.
Other required documents include a Sanitation Certificate (SSCEC) and Ship's Chest Medical Certificate (SCMC). The SCMC is for the First Aid Kit and medicine on the boat. This should be provided by Quarantine officials at the entry port. This document is valid for six months and can be renewed in the closest Quarantine office.
Current information is that the Health Book (Green Book), SSCEC and SCMC will be given after entry procedures are completed. These documents are also supposed to be provided to officials at the port of exit from Indonesia, but again there are differing reports from cruisers where thisd requirement is enforced or not. Be prepared.
The Captain and crew should then report to the nearest immigration office (open 08.00-16.00 local time) with valid passports, three copies of the crew list and the vessel declaration (as printed out from the YACHTERS On-line system) ready to be stamped.
Crew Changes: Noonsite has been advised of a regulation for yachts visiting Indonesia by a reliable agent in Indonesia that affects crew and crew changes. However, further information is proving hard to come by. Since July 1, 2024, it is no longer permitted to change crew or add new crew members (i.e. crew lists from the port of entry must be the same at the port of departure). Having investigated it appears this new rule is only being actively enforced by officials in western Indonesia in the Anambas Islands. However, the Noonsite team are endeavouring to get more details. If any cruisers have come across this new rule, please get in touch at noonsite@noonsite.com.
The Captain must then report to Customs and provide 2 copies of the stamped vessel declaration, and copies of all passports. Customs will inspect the vessel and then provide a stamped copy of the vessel declaration and a customs clearance certificate. Customs will want to see your AIS working.
See Customs for details of the permitted length of stay for visiting yachts.
The Captain should then visit the Harbor Master and hand over the stamped vessel declaration from customs, the customs clearance certificate and the signed crew list from immigration [see domestic clearance below if intending to visit more ports in Indonesia, including an exit port].
Notes:
Yachts only need to complete full clearance procedures at the first Indonesian Port of Entry and at the Exit Port before leaving Indonesian waters. However, there is much misinformation, official and anecdotal, about the requirement for a Cruising Permit (listing every intended port of call in advance) and the need to clear in and out of every domestic port visited. See this Noonsite report - Confusing Clearance Procedures - as well as the official Customs Recommendations for Foreign Yachters.
If you intend to visit other ports in Indonesia, including a different port for exit, it is advisable to get domestic clearance from the harbor master to the next port inside Indonesia. If you arrive at a subsequent port without this internal clearance you may encounter problems and could have to pay a large fine.
As this process can be time-consuming, many cruisers recommend cruising around Indonesia from anchorage to anchorage and avoiding as much as possible ports with harbor masters and authorities.
Cruisers who have experienced Indonesian bureaucracy recommend “clearing out” with the harbor master from your last domestic port before arriving at your international departure port, so officials at the international departure port cannot use the “omission” as an excuse to delay your departure or impose a fine.
If staying a long time in Indonesia, the Captain must report to Customs by e-mail at the first port of entry every six months. See Customs for more details.
From July 1, 2024, Indonesia officials in some parts of the country started to enforce a regulation that yachts were no longer permitted to change crew or add new crew members (i.e. crew lists from the port of entry have to be the same at the port of departure). The rule was being actively enforced by officials in western Indonesia in the Anambas Islands, due to a vessel engaged in illegal chartering. See Immigration for more details.
Last updated: August 2025
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