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Indonesian SIM Cards and Connectivity: how it works in Indonesia — first-hand

Short answer
Keep an Indonesian SIM card active for banking OTPs by maintaining a balance and performing paid actions or buying an extension package monthly. Use a local SIM card for reliable access to ride-hailing apps, as foreign numbers often face registration issues. Note that the 90-day restriction applies to unregistered device IMEIs, not the SIM card itself.

From real experience

In Indonesia, a local SIM card remains active as long as the balance is topped up.
The common '30-day' or '90-day' restriction refers strictly to the device's unregistered IMEI, which blocks local cellular network access on unregistered foreign phones after this period. To keep receiving SMS for bank confirmations, users can keep the SIM active through top-ups, even if the primary phone's IMEI is blocked, or use an IMEI-registered backup device.
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Registering for Gojek with a foreign phone number (e.g., Russian) can be difficult or impossible.
Grab is generally more accommodating for foreign numbers. Other local ride-hailing apps like Maxim and MyBluebird might also allow registration with non-Indonesian phone numbers. For reliable access to ride-hailing services in Bali, using a local SIM card is recommended.
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To keep an Indonesian SIM card (XL, Telkomsel) active while using it for roaming abroad (e.g., to receive banking OTPs), users must maintain a balance and perform at least one paid action (like sending an SMS) monthly, or purchase an active period extension ('masa aktif') package within the provider's official app.
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If your Telkomsel SIM card registration is expiring soon (e.g., after 3 months), and you plan to stay longer, you can attempt to extend the registration at a Telkomsel office if your visa status allows.
Otherwise, you may need to get a new SIM card.
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To resolve SMS issues with GoPay, try setting up WhatsApp on your Indonesian number.
Codes are often sent via WhatsApp. If SMS is still not coming through, wait for the SMS service to resume.
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