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Mobile IMEI Registration in Indonesia: real experience from chats

Short answer
Foreign tourists must register their phone's IMEI at airport customs upon arrival to avoid service blocks and claim a $500 tax exemption. For stays exceeding 90 days, registration is mandatory at customs or official telecom offices to maintain local cellular connectivity.

From real experience

Foreign tourists in Indonesia face IMEI registration requirements for mobile devices.
Options include: 1) Registering at a Grapari Telkomsel office (valid for 3 months), 2) Paying a registration tax at customs, 3) Purchasing a local device with an already registered IMEI, or 4) Paying the tax after re-entering the country to receive a discount. Registration is necessary for cellular services to function reliably.
✓ 4 reports from chats
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.
✓ 3 reports from chats
IMEI registration in Indonesia is mandatory for devices staying longer than 90 days.
If the device was not registered at the airport (Customs), the SIM card might be blocked after 30 days. To fix, visit the local customs office (Bea Cukai) or a certified operator branch with your passport, visa, and flight ticket. Check device status via the official government IMEI portal (imei.kemenperin.go.id).
✓ 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
Mobile devices used in Indonesia for extended periods require IMEI registration.
Solutions for blocked devices include purchasing a local phone, using a different carrier (if the IMEI database isn't shared), or paying the customs tax upon arrival. Simply changing SIM cards does not bypass the hardware-level IMEI block.
✓ 1 report from chats
Foreigners staying in Indonesia long-term must register their phone's IMEI.
Registration must be done inside the airport customs zone upon arrival to be eligible for a $500 tax deduction. Exiting the arrival area before registering makes the process significantly more difficult.
✓ 1 report from chats
Foreign smartphones (IMEI) can be registered for free at the airport or official stores when purchasing a local SIM card.
Registration is required for local SIMs to function properly.
✓ 1 report from chats

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