iPhone 15 to Indo....

[Shadrach]

I think this may have been before the regulations changed (April 2020) - now a local sim will only work on a phone that has had its IEMI registered.

More control over your life, and freedom. Taxation without representation!

 

[Wisnu]

I think this may have been before the regulations changed (April 2020) - now a local sim will only work on a phone that has had its IEMI registered.

No. It was on October 2021. The Telkomsel outlet in Ciputra mall cibubur registered my IMEI; I could use my phone for maximum 3months. On the next trip to Indonesia on 2022, I registered the same phone IMEI at the airport - move to Bali early this year and I can use my phone until now no problem at all.

 

[Hawk256]

In the end Telkomsel will be the one who really can help, being the technical company and 'owner' of the network. It's like when a patient is knocking on the door of a hospital without health insurance. According to hospital policy, this patient will not get treatment. But in the end the doctor or surgent are the ones who will decide to help or not. Same situation with the president and his generals ... in the end ...

It's not just Telkomsel, all the mobile providers have the same list and rules to follow based on the govermental act. How will Telkomsel circumvent a list that they have no control over and put themselves in a situation of breaking government policy to help one person break the rules that everyone else has to follow?

 

[Samoerai]

Telkomsel is a subsidiary of Telkom Indonesia

Telkom Indonesia - Wikipedia bahasa Indonesia, ensiklopedia bebas

id.m.wikipedia.org

 

[merahputih]

My Indonesian wife (Australian resident) will be returning to Jakarta for a two months visit taking her iPhone 15 (purchased in Aus.) with her.
Does she need to register the IMEI number of her phone with Customs at the airport?
Will she be liable for 40% tax on value of phone over US$ 500? i.e. does the new regulation apply to Indo citizens living abroad returning to Indo for short visit/holiday (less than 90 days) and does it apply to all iPhones or just the new iPhone 16? TIA

An Indonesian passport holder is considered not a tourist. Even if she lives abroad and comes to Indonesia just for visiting.

When she arrives in CGK, she should go directly to Immigration booth to register her IMEI in order to use her phone with Indonesian number. After registration, she gets a barcode that she can show to Grapari/other service provider later that day/the next day.

When we came in June 2023, my husband (not an Indonesian passport holder) can register his phone directly in Grapari as a tourist but I (an Indonesian passport holder) can't. He managed to get 2 numbers, one for a portable modem. I had to bring that modem with me everywhere for internet access. In 2024, I did what I wrote before.

If your wife's family can provide one extra number, she can have an Indonesian number in such portable modem but it won't work in her Ozzy phone. Otherwise, may be buy a cheap Indonesian phone?

 

[merahputih]

Once the phone is registered, she doesn't need to register it again the next time.

 

[Brian86]

The eSIM I mentioned before (airalo.com) doesn't require IMEI registration or a tourist designation. You just buy it on your phone and activate it. Technically it is a foreign card with roaming access to Indonesia, so it is more expensive that Indonesian plans but far cheaper than most international roaming plans.

 

[Samoerai]

My Indonesian wife (Australian resident) will be returning to Jakarta for a two months visit taking her iPhone 15 (purchased in Aus.) with her.
Does she need to register the IMEI number of her phone with Customs at the airport?
Will she be liable for 40% tax on value of phone over US$ 500? i.e. does the new regulation apply to Indo citizens living abroad returning to Indo for short visit/holiday (less than 90 days) and does it apply to all iPhones or just the new iPhone 16? TIA

So, how did she solve the situation?

 

[bzh]

So, how did she solve the situation?

Sorry, I don't know. She is now in Jkt and I've asked her, but it's not clear what happened. She seems to be saying it can't be done, but I don't believe she's actually gone to Telkomsel and explained her circumstances and pressed her case, as suggested on this site. She is mostly using her old phone (i suppose topped up her old sim) , but using her new iPhone for Whatsapp etc. when she is somewhere where WiFi is available.
I noted when filling out the online customs declaration before travel there is a question right at the end asking about whether you have phone with unregistered IMEI, we answered "yes". Once again, I dont know exactly what happened when arrived at Jkt airport. Sorry, not much help for those who might be in similar situation (and it must be happening thousands of times).

 

[Samoerai]

She is mostly using her old phone (i suppose topped up her old sim) , but using her new iPhone for Whatsapp etc. when she is somewhere where WiFi is available.

Btw. Maybe she can then use the old phone (with local sim card) as a 'hot spot' for the new phone.