A passenger service charge is usually added to the cost of an air ticket. The amount depends on the airport. For Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the charge is IDR130. For Sepinggan Airport the charge is IDR 100 for domestic flights and IDR 225 for international flights. For Husein Sastranegara Airport the charge is IDR 60 for domestic flights and IDR 130 for international flights. For Juanda Airport the charge is IDR 90 for domestic flights and IDR 210 for international flights. For Adi Sumarmo Airport the charge is IDR 50 for domestic flights and IDR 125 for international flights. 

1 Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) = 100 sen.
Latest exchange rate: IDR1 = ZAR0,0009 (25 Feb 2026 05:00).

Currency (preferably USD) can be exchanged in tourist areas. Exchange facilities do not change USD notes that are damaged, or issued before 1996. Major credit cards are accepted in Jakarta and main tourist areas, but cash is required in more remote locations, preferably in small denominations. There are ATMs in cities and towns. ATMs have a maximum limit for withdrawals, sometimes it is IDR3,000,000, but can be as low as IDR400,000, which is not much in foreign currency terms. Problems can occur if your bank has a minimum withdrawal limit that is higher than the ATM’s maximum. In this case your transaction will be refused.

Banking hours: Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 14:00; Friday 08:00 to 12:00 and Saturday 08:00 to 11:00 at some branches.
 

The official language is Bahasa Indonesia. Balinese is also spoken. English is common in tourist areas.

  Electricity

230 volts, 50Hz (same as SA). Plugs are European 2-pin round and Schuko 2-pin round. 

  Telecoms/Internet

Most major hotels in cities offer free WiFi. Smaller hotels in small towns do generally provide WiFi, however it’s advised to check in advance. Most public places in major cities have free WiFi hot spots. These include malls, restaurants, cafés, tourist attractions, etc. However, in public areas they are not always secured networks, so be really careful and read the terms and conditions thoroughly before signing in. Local SIM cards can be bought at airports and stores in city centres. There are several providers to choose from including Telkomsel, XL, Smartfren, 3/Tri, Axis, and Indosat/IM3. Foreigners will need either their passport, or KITAS, or KITAP (the last two are for visitors with a long-term stay) to register the SIM card.
 

  Public Holidays

2026: New Year’s Day (01 Jan); Isra Mi’raj (Prophet’s Ascension) (08 Feb); Chinese New Year (09-10 Feb); Bali Hindu New Year (Hari Raya Nyepi) (11-12 Mar); Good Friday (29 Mar); Lebaran Holiday (08-09 Apr); Hari Raya Idul Fitri (10 Apr); Lebaran Holiday (11-15 Apr); Labour Day (01 May); Ascension Day (09-10 May); Waisak Day (23-24 May); Pancasila Day (01 Jun); Idul Adha (17-18 Jun); Islamic New Year (07 Jul); Independence Day (17 Aug); Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (16 Sep); Christmas Day (25-26 Dec).
 

  Customs

Visas:

• South Africans require a visa for Indonesia. Visas are issued on arrival.

Note: International travellers to Indonesia must complete a declaration form if they enter the country through Soekarno-Hatta (CGK), Ngurah Rai (DPS), and Juanda (SUB) airports. The All-Indonesia declaration form is mandatory and must be filled in by travellers, three days before departure. The form is available on All Indonesia’s website or app. After submitting the declaration form, passengers will receive a QR code, which must be presented to Immigration and Customs officers upon arrival.

Duty-free allowances:

• 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 100g of tobacco
• 1 litre of liquor
• A reasonable amount of perfume
• Personal goods up to a value of USD500 per person

Prohibited goods:

• Drugs
• Arms and ammunition
• Obscene material
• Chinese publications and medicines
• Cordless telephones
• Fresh fruit
• Certain electronic equipment
• Any commercial or merchandised goods as part of the baggage (infringements will be charged at IDR25 000 per piece)
• Import and export of pets through Denpasar, Bali (DPS) is prohibited, with the exception of transit

Special notes:

• Duty-free allowances only apply to travellers 18 years and older.
• Wild fauna and flora: The import of certain live animals requires a CITES export permit issued by the CITES authority in country of origin (www.cites.org).
• Additional information on regulations: (Video) cameras, binoculars and sport equipment may be imported by tourists if also exported upon departure. Passengers not entering on a tourist visa have to pay duty on photo and film cameras unless the equipment was registered in their passport by the Indonesian Customs on a former occasion. Film pre-recorders, video tapes, video laser disc, records and computer software must be screened by the censor board. Chinese medicines and printings, drugs, firearms and ammunition, obscene material, fresh fruit, and cordless telephones are not permitted except by those holding a licence.
• Pets: Dogs or cats require an import permit together with a good health and rabies vaccination certificate issued by an authorised government veterinarian in the country of origin. Vaccination must be performed at least 30 days and not more than one year prior to travel. Pets must be at least 90 days old at time of travel and are subject to quarantine upon arrival. The Animal Quarantine Office should be notified two days before departure and an application for quarantine inspection should be submitted. Birds require an import permit, a copy of the letter of approval for a temporary quarantine facility, and a health certificate issued by an authorised government veterinary surgeon/quarantine officer at country of origin. The Animal Quarantine Office should be notified two days before arrival.
• Baggage clearance: If transiting via Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) or Medan Kuala Namu (KNO) baggage must be labelled to those airports and cleared on arrival. Passengers must collect their baggage on arrival and re-check in. Exempt – baggage of passengers transiting Indonesia to a destination abroad. If transiting via other airports baggage can be cleared at final destination.
• Currency import/export regulations: Local currency (Indonesian Rupiah-IDR) amounts exceeding IDR100 000 000 require approval from the Central Bank or External Affairs. Foreign currency amounts exceeding the equivalent of IDR100 000 000 must be declared. Amounts exceeding IDR1 000 000 000 or equivalent are prohibited.
• Global liquid ban regulations apply. See below.

NB! This is only a brief overview of Customs requirements. If you need additional information, please contact the Embassy of Indonesia on (012) 342 3350.

GLOBAL LIQUID BAN REGULATIONS
Global security guidelines have been issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation implementing restrictions on liquids, gels, pastes and aerosols that passengers are allowed to carry in their hand luggage.

The following rules will apply throughout most airports worldwide:
Passengers may only carry small quantities (max. 100 ml per container) of liquids, gels, pastes and aerosols in their hand baggage. The packaging of these products must also meet specific requirements.

The new rules apply for liquids such as water, drinks, cream, lotion, oil, perfume, spray, hair gel, bath gel, various types of foam, toothpaste, deodorant, lip gloss or any product of similar substance. Exceptions will be made for baby milk, special dietary foods and medication, for which prescriptions are required.

The following rules apply for liquids in hand baggage:
– Passengers are only allowed to carry liquids and gels in containers with a volume of 100 ml or less.
– These containers may only be carried in a transparent plastic bag.
– Each passenger may only carry one such transparent plastic bag.
– The volume of the transparent plastic bag may not exceed 1 litre.
– The transparent plastic bag must be re-sealable.
– You may bring a transparent plastic bag from home.

Liquids and gels that you purchase after passing through passport control or aboard the aircraft will be packed and sealed for you in the shop or on board, if necessary. The package seal will remain valid for 24 hours. If you have to catch a connecting flight, you will not be allowed to break the seal until you have reached your final destination.

Note: Please consult relevant airline for hand baggage rules regarding liquid ban.

  Doing business

  Getting around

• Driving is on the left-hand side; road conditions vary widely across islands, with good infrastructure in urban areas and more basic roads in rural regions
• International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended and often required for car rentals
• Car rentals are available in major cities and tourist destinations like Bali, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta
• Public transport includes buses, minibuses (angkot), and trains; trains are reliable on Java and Sumatra, while buses vary in quality
• Taxis are available in cities; metered taxis are common, and ride-hailing apps like Gojek and Grab are widely used
• Domestic flights are frequent and essential for travel between islands; Indonesia has an extensive network of airports
• Ferries and boats connect the archipelago; services range from short local crossings to long-distance routes between major islands
• Motorcycle taxis (ojek) are popular and efficient for short trips, especially in congested areas
• Walking is common in tourist zones, though pedestrian infrastructure can be limited in some cities
• Customs vary by region; modest clothing is appreciated, especially in rural and Muslim-majority areas, while urban and tourist zones are more relaxed

  Accommodation

• The islands of Bali and Lombok offer the most diverse lodging options, including everything from five-star private villas to basic homestays.
• Luxury international chains front the beaches of Bali and are available for visitors looking to escape Jakarta’s urban centre. There are also a number of quality Indonesian hotel chains.
• Mid-range hotels always have en-suite bathrooms with a shower and toilet as well as a ceiling fan or perhaps air-conditioning. Major chains accept credit cards for payment, but at smaller hotels you’ll be expected to pay in cash.
• Renting a private villa is a good option for groups and will cost less than a luxury hotel. Villas range from simple homes with a few rooms and an on-duty gardener, to lavish master bedrooms, swimming pools, oceanfront access and staff.
• Most hotels charge 10% service and 11% governments tax that will be included in the final bill.

  Useful tips

• Tip 10% for good service if the bill does not include service charges.
• Give porters a small tip and round up taxi fares. 
• Nusa Penida Island in Bali accepts card payments for tourist fees as well as cash. Tourists are advised to bring a combination of cash and card to pay for entry. The fee is IDR25 000 for adults and IDR15 000 for children.
• Bali Zoo no longer offers elephant-riding activities. 

  Disability awareness

Bali, with its wide range of tourist services and facilities, is the favoured destination for travellers with disabilities. It is easy to find suitable amenities and adapted accommodation. Sanur and Nusa Dua – where the higher-end hotels and resorts are located – are more wheelchair-accessible than Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, although there are accessible beach walks in all these locations. But expect high kerbs, few kerb cuts, badly maintained and crowded pavements and steps into many establishments. Help, however, is always readily at hand. Most temples are only partially wheelchair accessible at best, stairs being an integral philosophical part of every Hindu temple. However, there is often a way around these stairs – ask a caretaker or a local. There are several tour operators and transport providers who can accommodate travellers with disabilities. Some can arrange accessible transport and supply a wide range of mobility and medical equipment, care, and nursing. Scuba diving companies can also provide trips for those with disabilities.