How to Get an Import License in Indonesia

To import goods into Indonesia under your own company, you need a Business Identification Number (Nomor Induk Berusaha, or NIB) that functions as an importer identification number (Angka Pengenal Importir, or API).

The API type you need depends on whether you are importing goods for resale or for your own production.

This article explains how import licensing works in Indonesia, the difference between API-U and API-P, and what you need to get your company ready to import.

Do You Need Your Own Import License?

Not necessarily.

Foreign companies generally have two ways to import goods into Indonesia.

If you plan to operate in Indonesia long term, establishing your own PT PMA and import authorization usually gives you more control over your supply chain.

If you only need to get products into Indonesia without setting up a company, an Importer of Record can import eligible products using its own licenses and customs registrations.

Emerhub supports both models.

How Import Licensing Works in Indonesia

Indonesia no longer issues the API as a separate standalone document.

Instead, your NIB, issued through the Online Single Submission (OSS) system, can function as your importer identification number.

The current import framework is based on Ministry of Trade Regulation No. 16 of 2025, as amended by Regulations No. 37 of 2025 and No. 18 of 2026.

When setting up the NIB for importing, the company must use one of two importer types:

• API-U for importing goods for sale or transfer to other parties
• API-P for importing goods for the company's own production or operational needs

Your NIB is also integrated with Indonesian customs systems.

Importers do not normally complete a separate customs-registration application, but you should confirm that the NIB has customs access and is successfully synchronized with the Indonesia National Single Window (INSW) and CEISA before importing.

Having an NIB/API does not automatically mean you can import every product.

The goods themselves may trigger additional requirements.

API-U vs API-P

Your importer type depends on what you intend to do with the goods after they enter Indonesia.

API-U: General Importer

An API-U (API Umum) is used when you import products to sell or transfer to another party.

It is typically used by:

• distributors;
• wholesalers;
• trading companies; and
• businesses importing finished products for sale in Indonesia.

For example, if you import foreign cosmetics and distribute them to retailers in Indonesia, you would typically operate under an API-U.

API-P: Producer Importer

An API-P (API Produsen) is intended for businesses importing goods for their own use.

These can include:

• machinery;
• capital equipment;
• raw materials;
• components;
• supporting materials; and
• other production inputs.

Manufacturers commonly use API-P.

Goods imported under API-P generally cannot be resold in the same way as goods imported under API-U, except where specifically permitted under Indonesian regulations.

Choosing the right structure is important. That is because the current regulations provide a route for changing API-U into API-P subject to applicable requirements, but not the same general route in the opposite direction.

If you expect to both manufacture locally and distribute imported finished goods, it is worth planning the company structure before registration.

Requirements to Import Under Your Own Company

1. An Indonesian company

Foreign investors generally use a PT PMA, Indonesia's foreign-owned limited liability company.

A PT PMA currently requires at least IDR 2.5 billion in issued and paid-up capital and must satisfy Indonesia's foreign-investment requirements.

The minimum investment calculation depends on the company's activities, so businesses should confirm the applicable rules for their specific KBLI codes rather than applying one investment figure to every activity.

If you need to establish the entity, Emerhub can handle the company registration process in Indonesia and the licenses required for your planned activities.

2. The correct KBLI business activities

Your Indonesian Business Classification (Klasifikasi Baku Lapangan Usaha Indonesia, or KBLI) determines what your company is licensed to do.

If you import goods for resale, your company normally needs the appropriate wholesale or distribution activity.

If you are importing raw materials or machinery for your own production, the relevant manufacturing activities need to be registered.

Your KBLI activities must match what the business actually intends to do.

This is important because your NIB, importer type, business licenses, and other regulatory requirements are linked to your registered activities.

3. NIB functioning as an API

Once the company is registered through OSS, its NIB needs to function as either:

• API-U; or
• API-P.

The correct importer status should be reflected in the company's registration.

4. Customs access

Before importing, confirm that the company's NIB has the necessary customs access and has synchronized correctly with INSW and CEISA.

A company can have an issued NIB but still experience problems filing its first import declaration if this integration has not been completed correctly.

How to Get an Import License in Indonesia

Step 1: Determine how you will import

The first decision is whether you actually need your own import license.

If you plan to import regularly and operate locally, setting up your own PT PMA may make sense.

If you are testing Indonesia, have only occasional shipments, or need to import before your own company is ready, an Importer of Record may be faster and more practical.

Step 2: Register your company with the correct KBLI

If you choose to import under your own entity, establish the Indonesian company with business activities that match the intended import model.

For an API-U importer, this will commonly involve appropriate wholesale or distribution codes.

For API-P, the relevant manufacturing activities generally determine what the company can import for its own production.

Step 3: Obtain an NIB that functions as the correct API

Register the business through OSS and ensure the NIB is configured as either API-U or API-P.

The correct choice depends on whether the imported goods will be sold to others or used internally.

Step 4: Confirm customs access

Make sure the NIB is integrated with INSW and CEISA and that customs access is active.

This needs to be working before the company can submit import declarations.

Step 5: Determine the HS code for each product

Every product you import needs to be classified under Indonesia's tariff system using its Harmonized System, or HS, code.

This is one of the most important steps in the process.

The HS code determines:

• whether the goods can be imported;
• whether additional import approvals are required;
• applicable import duties;
• whether a Surveyor Report is required;
• whether sector-specific approvals apply; and
• other conditions imposed on the shipment.

Products that appear commercially similar can fall under different HS codes and therefore have very different import requirements.

Step 6: Obtain product-specific approvals

Once the HS codes are established, check which restrictions apply before shipping.

Certain products can require:

• Import Approval (Persetujuan Impor);
• Surveyor Report (Laporan Surveyor);
• technical recommendations;
• BPOM registration
• SNI certification
• halal certification
• Ministry of Health permits; or
• other sector-specific authorizations.

These requirements should be checked before the goods leave the country of origin.

Shipping first and resolving the permits afterwards can result in goods being held at customs or having to be re-exported.

Restricted Imports in Indonesia

Indonesia restricts the import of a wide range of goods.

Since 2025, product-specific import rules have been separated into dedicated regulations covering categories such as:

• textiles and textile products;
• agriculture and livestock;
• fishery products and salt;
• chemicals and hazardous materials;
• electronics and telematics;
• industrial goods;
• consumer goods; and
• certain used goods and waste materials.

The exact requirements depend on the product's HS code.

A restricted product may require one or more of the following.

Import Approval

An Import Approval (Persetujuan Impor) is issued by the Ministry of Trade.

Depending on the product, the approval may specify:

• permitted quantities;
• period of validity;
• ports of entry;
• country of origin; or
• other import conditions.

Surveyor Report

A Surveyor Report (Laporan Surveyor) is issued following inspection or verification by an appointed surveyor.

For certain products, verification must take place before shipment.

Technical recommendations

Some products require a recommendation or technical consideration from the ministry responsible for that industry before the Ministry of Trade can issue the import approval.

The requirements change regularly, so companies should check the current rules against the product's HS code before placing an order with a supplier.

Emerhub can assess the products you plan to import, identify the applicable restrictions, and coordinate the required approvals.

Prohibited Imports

Some goods cannot be imported regardless of whether the company holds an NIB/API.

Ministry of Trade Regulation No. 47 of 2025 contains the Ministry of Trade's main list of goods prohibited from import.

Other prohibitions and restrictions can also apply under customs law and sector-specific regulations.

One clear example is used clothing, which is prohibited from import into Indonesia.

Indonesia also generally requires imported goods to be new unless the government has specifically allowed a category of used goods to be imported.

Before shipping products that may fall into a sensitive category, check their HS classification and current import status.

Product Registrations and Approvals

An import license only gives the company the legal ability to act as an importer.

The product itself may still need separate approval before it can be imported or sold.

If you are importing regulated consumer or healthcare products, see our overview of product registration in Indonesia for the different authorities and registration routes.

Food, cosmetics, supplements, and pharmaceuticals

Many food products, cosmetics, supplements, and pharmaceutical products require BPOM registration before they can legally be imported or sold in Indonesia.

BPOM registration is separate from the company's import authorization.

A foreign manufacturer also generally needs an Indonesian entity, distributor, or local license holder for the registration.

Halal certification

Indonesia's next phase of mandatory halal certification requirements takes effect on 18 October 2026, covering applicable imported products including food and beverages.

Products made from non-halal materials are not required to obtain halal certification but must be clearly identified as non-halal.

Where a product already holds a foreign halal certificate, the certificate and certification body need to meet Indonesia's BPJPH recognition and registration requirements.

You can also check our guide to foreign halal certification bodies recognized in Indonesia if the product is already certified outside Indonesia.

Companies planning imports around October 2026 should account for the transition before shipping.

Medical devices

Medical devices generally need an Indonesian marketing authorization before they can be imported and sold.

The applicable requirements depend on the device's risk classification and whether it is locally manufactured or imported.

See our guide to medical device registration in Indonesia for the registration and license-holder requirements.

SNI certification

Products covered by mandatory Indonesian National Standards (Standar Nasional Indonesia, or SNI) need the appropriate certification before they can be distributed.

This can include certain:

• electronics;
• household products;
• construction materials;
• children's products;
• industrial goods; and
• other regulated products.

Whether SNI applies depends on the product classification and applicable standard.

See our guide to SNI certification in Indonesia for the requirements and application process.

Import Duties and Taxes

Importing goods into Indonesia can create three main charges:

1. Import duty
2. Import VAT
3. PPh Article 22 income tax prepayment

Import duty

The import duty rate depends on the product's HS code.

Indonesia also participates in several free trade agreements, so goods originating from qualifying countries may be eligible for lower or zero import duty if the relevant rules of origin are met.

A Certificate of Origin may be required to claim the preferential rate.

Import VAT

For most non-luxury taxable imports, the current effective VAT burden is 11%.

Different treatment applies to qualifying luxury goods.

Import VAT may generally be credited as input VAT where the importer meets Indonesia's VAT requirements.

PPh Article 22

Imports are also subject to PPh Article 22, an advance payment of Indonesian income tax.

For many ordinary imports:

• imports using an API are subject to a 2.5% rate; and
• applicable imports without an API can be subject to a 7.5% rate.

Special rates apply to certain categories of goods.

PPh 22 is generally not a final tax and can be credited against the company's income tax liability.

The exact customs and tax cost of a shipment therefore depends on its HS code, customs value, origin, and the importer.

Customs Clearance Documents

For each shipment, the importer or customs broker files an import declaration (Pemberitahuan Impor Barang, or PIB).

Supporting documents commonly include:

• commercial invoice;
• packing list;
• bill of lading or air waybill;
• Certificate of Origin where preferential tariffs are claimed;
• Import Approval where required;
• Surveyor Report where required; and
• other product-specific permits or supporting documents.

Customs uses the import declaration and supporting documents to assess the applicable import duty and taxes.

Goods may also be subject to documentary checks or physical inspection depending on the customs process and risk classification.

Importing Without an Indonesian Company

You do not necessarily need to establish a PT PMA to start selling products in Indonesia.

An Importer of Record can use its own Indonesian company, NIB/API, and customs access to import qualifying products on your behalf.

This can make sense if:

• you are testing the Indonesian market;
• you only import occasionally;
• your Indonesian company has not been established yet;
• you want to launch before your own licenses are ready; or
• setting up a local importing entity is not commercially justified.

You still need to comply with applicable product requirements.

For example, using an Importer of Record does not remove BPOM, SNI, halal, medical-device, or other product-registration obligations where those requirements apply.

The difference is that you do not have to establish and maintain your own licensed importing company.

Once the business reaches sufficient scale, you can establish your own PT PMA and move future imports under your own NIB/API.

Import Products into Indonesia with Emerhub

Emerhub can help you set up the right import structure in Indonesia and manage the licensing process on your behalf.

If you are importing under your own company, we can help establish the required NIB/API and coordinate the approvals needed for your products. If you do not have an Indonesian entity, you can also import eligible goods through our Importer of Record service.

Tell us what you plan to import, and our Indonesia team can determine the requirements and help you get started.