Decoding the Indonesia Digital Arrival Card: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

You land in Indonesia after a long flight, your phone has no signal, and a customs officer asks for a QR code you never made. It is one of the most common ways to start a trip badly in 2026. The Digital Arrival Card (DAC) is now a required step for international arrivals, and it sits on top of your visa, not in place of it. This guide shows you how to sort out your entry route, fill in the DAC correctly, and move through the airport or seaport without surprises.

First, Know Which Entry Route You Are Using

The DAC is the customs side of your arrival. Your visa is the immigration side. Mixing them up is where most confusion starts, so settle your visa first.

Visa-free entry (BVK)

Citizens of about 10 ASEAN countries can enter visa-free: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor Leste. You get up to 30 days, for tourism only. This stay is non-extendable. You cannot convert it to another visa type or use it for work. You need a passport valid for at least 6 months, a confirmed return or onward ticket, and proof of sufficient funds.

Visa on Arrival (VoA)

Citizens of more than 90 countries can buy a VoA at the airport. That list includes Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The fee is IDR 500,000 per person for up to 30 days. You can extend it once for another 30 days, which makes 60 days in total. The extension must be done at an Indonesian Immigration Office before your first 30 days run out, and it also costs IDR 500,000. You can buy a VoA at designated international airports such as Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) and Ngurah Rai (DPS), and at major seaports such as Batam Centre and Sri Bintan Pura. You need a passport valid for at least 6 months and a confirmed return or onward ticket.

B211A social/cultural visa (e-Visa)

This is the option for longer stays: tourism, visiting family or friends, non-employment business meetings, or cultural exchange. It starts at 60 days and can be extended twice, for 60 days each time, giving a maximum of 180 days. You must apply offshore through the official immigration e-Visa portal at visa-online.imigrasi.go.id. A local sponsor, either a person or a company in Indonesia, submits the application and documents for you. Processing usually takes 5–10 working days. You will need a passport valid for 12 months (for the 60-day visa) or 18 months (for longer stays), a recent passport-sized photo, a bank statement showing enough funds, a return or onward ticket, and your sponsor’s documents. The B211A does not allow work. If you plan to work, you need a different permit, such as a KITAS.

Confirm the country lists, fees and URLs on the Directorate General of Immigration website (imigrasi.go.id) before you travel, because they can change.

What the Digital Arrival Card Actually Is

The DAC is an electronic customs declaration. Indonesian Customs (Direktorat Jenderal Bea Cukai) uses it to record what you are bringing into the country: personal effects, dutiable goods and restricted items. It exists to speed up customs clearance, improve security and make sure import rules are followed.

By 2026 it is mandatory for all arriving international passengers, and it has replaced paper customs forms at all major entry points. When you finish it, you receive a unique QR code. That QR code is your Digital Arrival Card.

When to Complete It

Do it before you arrive. You can fill it in while in transit, on the flight, or up to 2 days before your scheduled arrival. Some airports offer Wi-Fi on arrival, but relying on it is risky. Pre-filling saves time and removes the connectivity problem entirely.

A good habit is to complete it at your departure airport gate or hotel the evening before, with your passport and booking details next to you.

Step-by-Step: Filling In the DAC

The form is completed on an official government website or a dedicated mobile app. The main portal for the Electronic Customs Declaration (e-CD) is ecd.beacukai.go.id. An official app called “Customs Declaration Indonesia” may also be available on iOS and Android. If you cannot find it in your app store, use the website. Check that the address is exactly right and that the site ends in .go.id. Customs information is also published at beacukai.go.id.

1. Open the portal or app. Use the official site or app only.
2. Choose your language. Indonesian or English is usually offered.
3. Start a new declaration. Tap “Start New Declaration” or the similar button.
4. Enter your personal details. You need your full name exactly as in your passport, passport number, date of birth and nationality. You also need your address in Indonesia (a hotel name and address, or a residential address) and an email address. A mobile number is optional but recommended.



5. Enter your flight or vessel details. Add your flight number (for example GA87 or QF43) or the vessel name for boat arrivals. Then add the arrival date, the port of arrival (such as CGK, DPS or Batam Centre) and your country of origin.
6. Add family members. A spouse and children can usually be listed under one declaration.
7. Complete the customs declaration. This is the most important part. The next section explains what it asks.
8. Review everything. Check spelling, passport number and flight number.
9. Submit and generate your QR code.
10. Save it. Take a screenshot and, if you can, print a copy. The customs officer will scan this code on arrival.

What You Must Declare at Customs

The declaration section is where honesty matters. Answer every question truthfully. The categories are:

• Prohibited items: narcotics, firearms and pornography.
• Restricted items: certain medications, plants, animals, food products and cultural artifacts.
• Tobacco and alcohol: declare any amount above the personal exemption, which is typically 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of alcohol per adult.
• Cash and bearer negotiable instruments: declare anything above IDR 100,000,000, or the foreign-currency equivalent.
• Commercial or high-value goods: declare new goods bought abroad for resale, or goods above personal-use value, for example USD 500 per person.

These limits are the typical ones. Check the exact figures for 2026 on beacukai.go.id before you pack. If you take prescription medication, read the restricted-items guidance before you travel, not at the airport.

Arrival Walkthrough: Soekarno-Hatta (CGK), Jakarta

The order is the same every time: immigration, baggage claim, customs.

• Immigration: Follow the “Arrivals” or “Immigration” signs. If you need a VoA, go to the Visa on Arrival counter first, pay IDR 500,000 and receive your sticker. Then join the correct lane. There are usually separate lanes for Visa-Free, VoA, e-Visa/KITAS and Indonesian citizens. Have your passport, boarding pass and visa documents ready. Officers may ask your purpose of visit and how long you will stay.
• Autogates: CGK is expected to have expanded automated gates by 2026, mainly for eligible passport holders such as Indonesian citizens. Do not assume foreign visitors can use them.



• Baggage claim: The carousels are clearly numbered. Check the screen for your flight.
• Customs: Go to the customs exit and show your DAC QR code at the counter or electronic scanner. If you have items to declare or a question, speak to an officer directly.

For transport, your options are:

• Airport Railink (KAI Bandara): connects CGK to central Jakarta, including BNI City/Sudirman Baru, Duri and Manggarai stations. Fares typically run IDR 70,000 to IDR 100,000.
• Damri airport bus: routes to many points in Jakarta and nearby cities, typically IDR 50,000 to IDR 100,000.
• Official taxis: Blue Bird and Express are available. Use the designated taxi stands.
• Gojek and Grab: use the designated pick-up points. Expect IDR 150,000 to IDR 250,000+ to central Jakarta, depending on distance and traffic.

Arrival Walkthrough: Ngurah Rai (DPS), Bali

The flow at Bali’s airport is similar to CGK, but queues are the big difference. Buy your VoA (IDR 500,000) at the counter before the immigration desks. At the desks, present your passport and visa. In peak season, expect waits of roughly 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.

After baggage claim, scan your DAC QR code at the customs exit. Then choose your transport:

• Official airport taxis: fixed-price taxis are sold from counters inside the airport. The fare depends on your destination.
• Gojek and Grab: pick-up zones are often slightly outside the main terminal building because of local taxi regulations. Fares vary by distance, for example IDR 50,000 to IDR 200,000+ to popular tourist areas.

Entering by Sea: Batam Centre and Sri Bintan Pura

Boat arrivals follow the same logic. After disembarking, follow the “Immigration” signs. Buy your VoA at the counter if you need one (IDR 500,000), then present your passport and visa at the desk. Next, go to the customs area and show your DAC QR code. For the vessel field on the form, enter the ship or ferry name instead of a flight number. Outside the terminal, taxis and Gojek or Grab are usually available.

2026 Budget Reality: Fees and Airport Transfers

Here are the figures to plan with. The DAC itself is a free government form, so be wary of any site that tries to charge you for it.

• Visa on Arrival: IDR 500,000 per person.
• VoA extension (once, 30 days): IDR 500,000.
• Budget transfer (CGK): Damri bus at IDR 50,000 to IDR 100,000.



• Mid-range transfer (CGK): Airport Railink at IDR 70,000 to IDR 100,000, or ride-hailing at about IDR 150,000 to IDR 250,000+ to central Jakarta.
• Comfortable transfer (Bali): fixed-price airport taxi from the counter. Prices depend on destination, so ask before you pay.
• Bali ride-hailing: about IDR 50,000 to IDR 200,000+ for popular tourist areas.

For a family of four on a VoA, the visa alone is IDR 2,000,000. Pay by IDR, a major foreign currency, or card (Visa or Mastercard) as accepted, and confirm the current payment methods before you go.

What Has Changed Since 2024

• Digital systems are connecting. There is a trend toward one pre-arrival platform that could cover both immigration and customs data. Check the official sites to see whether your entry point already uses it.
• More autogates. Automated immigration gates are expanding at major airports to cut queues, though eligibility for foreign visitors needs to be confirmed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting until you land. Without Wi-Fi or signal, you will hold up your own arrival. Fill it in before you fly.
• Treating the DAC as a visa. It is a customs declaration. You still need a visa-free right of entry, a VoA or an e-Visa.
• Short passport validity. You need at least 6 months for visa-free and VoA, and 12 to 18 months for the B211A.
• No onward ticket. A confirmed return or onward ticket is a standard requirement for short-term entry.
• Expecting to extend visa-free stays. The BVK cannot be extended or converted. Only the VoA can be extended, and only before the first 30 days end.
• Applying for the B211A from inside Indonesia. It must be applied for offshore, with a local sponsor.
• Misdeclaring items. False declarations can lead to fines, confiscated goods or even denial of entry.
• Using unofficial sites. Stick to ecd.beacukai.go.id, imigrasi.go.id and beacukai.go.id, and treat any other address with caution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Indonesia Digital Arrival Card mandatory in 2026?

Yes. It is the electronic customs declaration that all arriving international passengers must complete. Paper customs forms have been replaced at all major entry points. You receive a QR code after submitting, and customs officers scan it when you arrive at the airport or seaport.

How early can I fill in the Digital Arrival Card?

You can complete it before you arrive in Indonesia: in transit, during your flight, or up to 2 days before your scheduled arrival. Doing it in advance is strongly recommended, because it saves time and avoids relying on airport Wi-Fi once you land.

Does the Digital Arrival Card replace my visa?

No. The DAC only handles customs declaration. You still need the correct entry permission: visa-free entry if your nationality qualifies, a Visa on Arrival (IDR 500,000), or an e-Visa such as the B211A applied for offshore. Immigration and customs are checked separately.

Can I extend my Visa on Arrival in Indonesia?

Yes, once. A VoA gives 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days, making 60 days in total. You must complete the extension at an Indonesian Immigration Office before the first 30 days expire. The extension fee is projected at IDR 500,000, so confirm it with immigration.

What happens if I don’t declare something at customs?

False or incomplete declarations can lead to fines, confiscation of goods or even denial of entry. Declare prohibited and restricted items, alcohol or tobacco above the personal limits, cash above IDR 100,000,000, and goods bought for resale. When unsure, ask an officer directly.

---

📷 Featured image by William Firmansyah on Unsplash.