Most first-time importers from China lose money not on freight rates but on paperwork. A container arrives at Tanjung Priok, the importer has no import licence number on file, and the goods sit in the port accruing storage while the paperwork is sorted out. This checklist covers what Indonesian customs actually asks for, so you can decide what to prepare yourself and what to hand to a DDP forwarder.
1. Start with your company status
Indonesian customs links every import declaration to a registered business entity. Before you ship anything commercial, confirm you have:
- NIB (Nomor Induk Berusaha) — the business identification number issued through the OSS system. Every importer needs one.
- NPWP — the tax identification number. It appears on the PIB declaration and on every tax invoice.
- Customs registration (NIK / access rights) — granted by DJBC so your company can submit a PIB in its own name.
If you are importing under your own name, all three must be active and match the name on the commercial invoice exactly. A mismatch between the invoice header and the NIB record is one of the most common causes of a held shipment.
2. Decide your import licence type: API-U or API-P
Indonesia splits importers into two categories, and the choice changes which goods you are allowed to bring in:
- API-U (Angka Pengenal Importir Umum) — a general import licence for trading. Use this if you buy goods to resell, including through marketplaces and distributors.
- API-P (Angka Pengenal Importir Produsen) — a producer licence. Use this if the goods are raw materials or machinery consumed in your own factory. API-P holders generally cannot resell imported goods as-is.
E-commerce sellers and brand owners almost always need API-U. Getting it wrong means the PIB cannot be filed under the correct category, and the shipment has to be re-documented.
3. Check whether your product is Lartas
Lartas (larangan dan pembatasan, prohibition and restriction) is the list of goods that need an extra permit from a technical ministry before customs will release them. It is the single biggest source of delay for Chinese consumer goods.
Typical examples:
- Electronics and electricals — SNI mandatory certification and, for some categories, an SDPPI permit for wireless devices.
- Food, beverages, supplements, cosmetics — BPOM registration, plus halal certification for food products.
- Toys, helmets, tyres, cables — SNI certification.
- Textiles and apparel — import approval (PI) and surveyor report for certain HS codes.
- Machinery and spare parts — sometimes a surveyor report (LS) even when no technical licence is required.
Lartas status is attached to the HS code, not to the product name on your invoice. Two similar products under different HS codes can face completely different requirements, which is why HS classification should be confirmed before the goods leave China, not after arrival.
4. Prepare the document set
For a standard DDP sea shipment you should expect to provide or confirm:
- Commercial invoice with Incoterms, unit prices and HS codes
- Packing list with carton count, dimensions and gross/net weight
- Bill of lading (original or telex release, depending on the agreement)
- Certificate of origin where a preferential tariff applies
- Lartas permits for restricted categories
- Import declaration (PIB) filed on your behalf if the forwarder handles clearance
5. Understand where the tax lands
Indonesian imports attract import duty, VAT (PPN) and, for certain categories, income tax on imports (PPh 22) and excise. Under a DDP arrangement the forwarder pays these at clearance and bills them inside the all-in rate, which is why DDP pricing is quoted per kilogram or per cubic metre rather than as a bare freight rate. Ask for the tax breakdown in writing so you can reconcile it against your landed-cost model.
6. Know what DDP does and does not cover
A good DDP service covers export clearance in China, international freight, Indonesian import clearance, duty and tax payment, and final delivery to your address. It usually does not cover:
- Product certification you must hold as the brand owner (BPOM, SNI, halal)
- Import licences that must be issued in your company name
- Red-lane physical inspection costs caused by misdeclared value or quantity
The practical rule: a forwarder can be the importer of record for you, but they cannot certify your product for you. Anything that requires your brand to be registered must be started early — BPOM registration in particular can take weeks to months.
Quick pre-shipment checklist
- NIB, NPWP and customs access active and matching the invoice name
- API-U or API-P confirmed for your business model
- HS codes confirmed and checked against the current Lartas list
- Any required SNI / BPOM / SDPPI permit obtained or in progress
- Invoice and packing list consistent with the purchase order
- Tax and duty treatment agreed in writing with the forwarder
If you are unsure which of these applies to your product, send us the product name, the HS code if you have one, and the quantity you plan to ship. We will tell you which permits are needed before the cargo is booked, so the container does not become a storage bill.
Not sure which permits or mode fit your cargo? Send us your shipment details and we will reply with a door-to-door quote, duty and tax included.
Leave a Reply