A文 Luky info portal · any country · no fluff
RU AR DE EN ES FR HI IT JA KO PT TH TR ZH

IMEI Registration Guide in Indonesia: real experience from chats

Short answer
Foreign mobile devices used in Indonesia must have their IMEI registered to avoid cellular network blocks after 90 days. Registration can be completed at airports or official telecom offices, with duty exemptions available for devices valued under $500.

From real experience

An Indonesian SIM card is tied to the IMEI of the phone with which it was initially registered.
If you wish to use an activated Indonesian SIM card in a different phone, the IMEI of that second phone must also be registered with Indonesian authorities. Unregistered foreign phones may have their SIM service blocked after a certain period (e.g., 3 months). IMEI registration can be done at airports upon arrival or at official telecom stores.
✓ 1 report from chats
Foreigners staying in Indonesia for over 90 days must register their phone's IMEI to use local SIM cards.
Registration at the airport is free for devices valued up to $500 (import duty exemption). Telkomsel offices can register the IMEI for 3 months upon SIM purchase. Once a device spends 90 days in local networks without registration, it is blocked for all Indonesian SIMs.
✓ 1 report from chats
Local Indonesian SIM cards only work in devices with a registered IMEI.
Tourist IMEI registration is valid for 30 days. Swapping a working local SIM card into an unregistered phone will result in 'No Service'. On dual-SIM Android phones, inserting the SIM into the wrong slot can trigger an IMEI block if only one slot was registered at the office.
✓ 1 report from chats
Foreign mobile devices in Indonesia must register their IMEI if staying long-term.
Tourists can bypass this for 90 days by purchasing a 'tourist' SIM card. After 90 days, the device will be blocked from cellular networks unless the import tax is paid or a local device is used.
✓ 1 report from chats

Related topics

• Mobile IMEI Registration 🛂 Extending Tourist Visas • Bali Beaches and Swimming Conditions • Online e-VOA Application 🚕 Transport and Logistics 🎟 Return Ticket Requirements

Generic articles exist — but a solution for you?

Ask Luky — from people's recent experience, not from manuals.

And Luky is a live voice translator for real conversations: talk to a doctor and understand what they said.

PS: strike up a chat with a fellow traveller who speaks not a word of yours

Open Luky