Jakarta

[SeaTraveler]

I arrive on December 7 for a 3 month stay. Prefer CJ's and BATS but also want to explore Kings Cross and Malioboro. Anyone wanting to meet up PM me ASAP.

[United1]

Silly question but can I make the assumption that none of this matters on an all Asia or Global eSIM card bought outside of Indonesia?

No, you don't have to register if you are using a non-Indo SIM card.

[United1]

Tourist sim can be registered to a foreign phone only 2 times for 3 months ea. Then if you want to use that phone you will need to register the IMIE and pay duty.

Only other option is to buy a cheap local phone and put a indo sim in it.

This could be what the Telkosim folks were tries to warn me. Hmmmm. Thanks.

[Banana Boi]

Silly question but can I make the assumption that none of this matters on an all Asia or Global eSIM card bought outside of Indonesia?

[Menteng]

Hi Menteng. Thanks for your commments. But whys do you say can't use INdo SIM card in mobile phone abroad? I have been doing that last 4-5 times to Jakarta. It always works. I go to Telkosel at Mal Ambassador and they give me cheap card and register my IMEI.

But are you sayings if you spend MORE than 90 days in Indonesia (total, including in and out) then it doesn't work, must register?

Sorry if I am confused.

I stayed six weeks at a stretch in September and October, this year.

Of course you can use an Indonesian SIM card in another country (roaming abroad), but you can not use an Indonesian SIM card in an UNREGISTERED phone you brought FROM abroad, while being in Indonesia. That was my experience.

So, when was the last time you were in Jakarta?

I mentioned that I have an Indonesian SIM card since a couple of years. I used to use it in my registered foreign phones. When registering that phone at / by Telkomsel (for 30 days) in September 2023, they told me it would be the last time that I could do that outside the airport. After those 30 days, the SIM card indeed stopped working. Thinking, the combination SIM card and expired registered IMEI does not work, I put the SIM card in my second, non-registered, phone. Alas, it still did not work. That was when a friend told me about tettering.

BTW, those who have registered a mobile phone that is worth more than US $500 at the airport, did they tell you that you'll have to pay tax?

[Offshore Swell]

Hello Gents -.

Does anyones have the information about IMEI registration for cell phone. I come to Jakarta at least 3-4 times a year. I will buy the Tourist SIM card at Telkosel in mall. And they will register my phone using my passport info. I usually stay for few weeks (under 30 days) in town and then leave.

However, last time the Telkosel staffs told met his is the LAST time they can register for me. And next time I MUST REGISTER at airport. This seems very very strange and no make sense. Because I am only buying a Tourist SIM card and I am leaving the country and then returning again.

Have any of your frequent travelers to Indonesia has this issue? Please advice. Thank you. I am sorry, but I might post this in Bali forum also because they might be more in-out travelers. The governmetn website is very useless not helps.

Tourist sim can be registered to a foreign phone only 2 times for 3 months ea. Then if you want to use that phone you will need to register the IMIE and pay duty.

Only other option is to buy a cheap local phone and put a indo sim in it.

[BKKguru]

Smartfren is a company that circumvents the need for IMEI registration. <snip>

Thanks for the tip! I will try this on my next visit.

~BKKguru

[BKKguru]

Also, what is the downside of registering your phone? I am coming for 2 weeks. I want to have data all the time. I would want to register my phone and get a SIM (either in the airport or in the mall). Is this a bad idea?

I am not aware of any downside except for the following:

+ Sometimes there are 5 to 7 people in line and only ONE officer at the desk. You will have to wait 1.5 hours for the IMEI Registeration to be completed.

+ Each passenger is allowed to Register two devices only.

~BKKguru

[BKKguru]

How does this make any sense at all? You always get ripped off when buying SIM cards in airports. Anyone know the reasoning behind this change? I always just went to Grand Indonesia to buy my SIM cards.

BB,
My understanding is you can buy the SIM anywhere.
However, the IMEI Registeration must be done at the Airport.

The IMEI registration office is in Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport on the Ground Floor.
FYI - you MAY be asked a couple of questions about the phone - where did you buy and the market value of your phone.

~BKKguru

[Joe Brooklyn]

Is it worth it to check out the two red light districts in southern Jakarta (Jalan Falatehan I and Melawai), or should I stick to the northern JK red light district (Jalan Pangeran Jayakarta) and the nearby brothels (Classic, Emporium, Malio, etc.)?

I'm asking because I only have 3 nights in Jakarta, and want to use my time wisely.

Cheers.

[SeaTraveler]

I'm staying at the Grand Mercure for a week which is 6-7 km from BATS etc but I guess it will be ok for 8 nights in JK.

YMMV.

I stayed there for 4 days in August after a last-minute change in travel plans brought me back to Jakarta at 9 pm on a Tuesday night.

My fiancé recommended it. I thought it was very nice and much less expensive than Shangri-la and Mulia where I stayed the other 18 nights.

[Kopi Hitam]

Also, what is the downside of registering your phone? I am coming for 2 weeks. I want to have data all the time. I would want to register my phone and get a SIM (either in the airport or in the mall). Is this a bad idea?

Smartfren is a company that circumvents the need for IMEI registration.

I've been using a Smartfren SIM in my unregistered overseas bought modern phone for the past 2 years without issue.

I bought my SIM from a counter in ITC Kuningan (Level 3 or 4, wherever the all the phone counters are), but they're available all over the place.

As mentioned, get the staff to install it for you.

[United1]

Correct, you don't have to register if you stay less than 90 days. But you can't use an Indonesian SIM card in your mobile phone from abroad.

Hi Menteng. Thanks for your commments. But whys do you say can't use INdo SIM card in mobile phone abroad? I have been doing that last 4-5 times to Jakarta. It always works. I go to Telkosel at Mal Ambassador and they give me cheap card and register my IMEI.

But are you sayings if you spend MORE than 90 days in Indonesia (total, including in and out) then it doesn't work, must register?

Sorry if I am confused.

[United1]

Thanks Mr. GB for your postage. I sure you are correct. I am just a bit freaked out when Telkosel service staffs told me 'this is the last time we can dos it for you".

Did you use a Indo SIM card? Or you using home country SIM with Roaming.

I am curious. But again cheers and thanks.

United1,

I went to Jakarta this October 2023 for 3 weeks. In Jakarta airport. On arrival. My phone app based customs declaration card specifically said NO IMEI REGISTRATION FOR 30 DAY stays.

So unless it just changed. The VOA less than 30 day Visa arrivals don't need the IMEI registration.

[Cucumber]

How does this make any sense at all? You always get ripped off when buying SIM cards in airports. Anyone know the reasoning behind this change? I always just went to Grand Indonesia to buy my SIM cards.

You can easily get a very cheap SIM card at the airport with unlimited data allowance. I find this is always the best solution when staying for a few weeks and avoids a lot of trouble. It is important to get the people who sell you the SIM card to install it to, and to test it before you leave. It takes them 5 min, whereas for you it might be very tricky. Also make sure to get one with fast internet speed and where the speed doesn't decline after a certain amount of time. I have a phone with two SIM card slots so I can keep my SIM card from my home country running for incoming calls and texts, and route everything else through the local SIM card.

Registering a foreign phone is cumbersome and takes time. SIM cards for foreigners are not easily available apart from at the airport.

However, for MiChat, only a proper local phone and SIM card will work. I have the impression that MiChat is useful for mongering in places like Yogyakarta. It has a function that enables you to see other people with MiChat nearby - including service providers. But I don't have the impression that MiChat is very useful in Jakarta.