Shipping from Singapore to Indonesia: Everything You Need to Know

Indonesia is one of Singapore's biggest shipping destinations, and for good reason — close proximity, strong trade ties, and a massive consumer market of 270+ million people. But shipping to Indonesia has unique challenges that catch first-time shippers off guard.

Delivery Times

FedEx International Priority to Jakarta typically takes 2-3 business days. Other major cities like Surabaya, Bandung, and Medan take 3-4 business days. Remote areas and smaller islands may take 5-7 days.

FedEx International Economy takes 4-6 business days to Jakarta and 5-8 days to other cities. For non-urgent shipments, Economy offers significant savings.

Customs and Import Duties

Indonesia's customs regime has become stricter in recent years:

• De minimis threshold: US$3 per shipment. This means virtually all commercial shipments attract import duty.
• Import duty: Typically 7.5% of the declared value for most consumer goods, though specific rates vary by HS code.
• VAT (PPN): 11% on the declared value plus import duty.
• Income tax (PPh): 10% may apply if the importer doesn't have a Nomor Pokok Wajib Pajak (NPWP/tax ID).

Total taxes can reach 25-30% of the declared value. Make sure your recipient is aware of this before shipping.

Prohibited and Restricted Items

Indonesia prohibits or restricts the import of:

• Used clothing and textiles
• Certain electronics without SNI certification
• Alcoholic beverages (restricted, requires special license)
• Food products (requires BPOM approval)
• Medicines and supplements (requires BPOM registration)
• Printed materials deemed offensive to Indonesian values

Tips for Shipping to Indonesia

• Include the recipient's phone number. Indonesian customs and local delivery agents will call to arrange customs clearance and delivery.
• Use DAP (Delivered At Place) terms. This means the recipient pays any duties and taxes on delivery. Most Indonesian recipients expect this.
• Provide the recipient's KTP or NPWP number if available. This speeds up customs clearance significantly.
• Describe items in detail. Indonesian customs frequently inspects parcels with vague descriptions.
• Keep values realistic. Under-declaring is taken very seriously and can result in packages being held for weeks.