Your Guide to Filling Out the Indonesia Digital Arrival Card Correctly

You land after a long flight, tired and sticky, and the line at customs is already moving slowly because half the passengers are typing on their phones with no signal. That is the most common scene at Indonesian arrival halls in 2026. The Digital Arrival Card (DAC) takes about ten minutes to complete, but doing it at the last minute, or doing it wrong, can cost you time at the end of your journey. This guide shows you how to fill it in correctly, what the customs questions really mean, and what happens next at the airport or seaport.

What the Digital Arrival Card Is and When to Complete It

The Digital Arrival Card, also called the Electronic Customs Declaration (E-CD), is a mandatory electronic form for all international travellers entering Indonesia. It replaces the old paper customs declaration. Indonesian Customs (Bea Cukai) uses it to see what goods you bring in, including dutiable goods, restricted items and personal belongings.

Two things surprise first-time visitors. First, the DAC is a customs form, not a visa. It does not replace the visa-free entry, Visa on Arrival or E-Visa that Immigration checks. Second, there is no separate DAC mobile app. You use an official website that works well on a phone.

The best time to fill it in is within 2-3 days before your flight or boat trip. You can also complete it on arrival, either at designated kiosks or on your own device using airport or port Wi-Fi. Do it at home if you can. Arrival hall Wi-Fi is shared by hundreds of people at once.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Form on the Bea Cukai Website

Open the official Indonesian Customs Electronic Customs Declaration website at https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/. Web addresses for government systems can change, so check that you are on the official Bea Cukai site before you enter any personal data. Then follow these steps.

1. Start the declaration. Click “Start Declaration” or the similar button on the home page.
2. Enter your personal information. You need your full name exactly as in your passport, passport number, nationality, date of birth, occupation and email address. The occupation field may or may not be required, so fill it in if it appears.
3. Add your travel details. Enter your arrival date, airline or vessel name, flight number or vessel name, and your port of arrival. Examples include Soekarno-Hatta (CGK), Ngurah Rai (DPS) and Batam Centre.



4. Write your address in Indonesia. Enter the hotel name or the full address of your accommodation. This field is crucial, so do not leave it vague.
5. Add family members if needed. One DAC can cover up to 5 family members travelling with you. Enter each person’s name, passport number and relationship to you.
6. Complete the goods declaration. This is covered in the next section.
7. Review and submit. Check every letter of your name and every digit of your passport number, then submit.
8. Save your QR code. After you submit, the system generates a QR code. Screenshot it or print it.

At the arrival hall, a Customs officer scans that QR code. There are usually dedicated e-CD scanning counters, so look for those signs after you collect your luggage.

The Goods Declaration: Questions, Limits and Thresholds

This section is where honesty matters most. You answer “Yes” or “No” to each question, and if you answer “Yes” you may need to give more details. These are the common questions and the figures behind them.

• Tobacco: Are you bringing more than 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco? The limit is per adult.
• Alcohol: Are you bringing more than 1 litre of alcoholic drinks? The limit is per adult.
• Cash: Are you bringing more than IDR 100,000,000 in cash or bearer negotiable instruments such as cheques? This is a declaration threshold, not a limit on how much you can bring in.
• Animals and plants: Are you bringing any animals, plants, fish or related products?
• Prohibited items: Are you bringing narcotics, psychotropic substances, firearms, sharp objects, pornography or other prohibited items? These are strictly prohibited.
• New goods: Are you bringing new goods bought abroad worth more than USD 500 per person, or USD 1,000 per family? The USD 500 per person allowance is the current figure, so confirm it before you travel in 2026.

Declaring something does not mean you are in trouble. Declaring a laptop you bought last month, or a large amount of cash, is routine. Not declaring something and getting caught is where the real problems start.

Your Entry Type Decides Your Queue: Visa-Free, VoA and B211A

The DAC is only one half of entry. Immigration, run under the Directorate General of Immigration, checks your right to enter. For all entry types, you generally need a passport valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry and a confirmed return or onward ticket.

Visa-Free Entry (BVK)

Visa-free entry gives up to 30 days for tourism only. It is free, but it cannot be extended, so you must leave after 30 days. It is available to citizens of over 160 countries, with the list led by ASEAN members such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, plus a few other select countries. The country list changes from time to time, so check the official immigration list for your passport before you fly. You go straight to immigration after disembarking, with no prior application or payment.

Visa on Arrival (VoA)

The VoA gives up to 30 days for tourism, social visits and non-work business. It can be extended once for another 30 days, for a maximum of 60 days. It is available to citizens of over 90 countries, including Australia, the USA, the UK, Canada, most EU countries, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and India. The fee is IDR 500,000 per person, and the extension costs IDR 500,000 per person, processed at Immigration offices in Indonesia.

You have two options. You can buy it at the VoA counters at major international airports and seaports, paying in rupiah cash or by Visa or Mastercard. Or you can apply online before departure through the E-VOA at https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/. The E-VOA is sent by email, and you should print it or save it on your device to show at immigration.

B211A Social/Cultural Visa

The B211A suits longer stays. It starts at 60 days and can be extended up to four times, 30 days each, for a maximum of 180 days. It covers tourism, social and cultural activities, family visits, non-employment business meetings, humanitarian activities and transit. It is not for employment, and a work permit such as a KITAS is a separate matter. You usually need a sponsor in Indonesia and must apply through the E-Visa portal before travel. Prepare financial proof and sponsor documents as well as your passport and onward ticket.

Arrival Day at Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) and Ngurah Rai (DPS)

The order of steps is the same at both airports.

1. VoA counter, if needed. If you did not buy an E-VOA, go to the “Visa on Arrival” counter before immigration. Pay IDR 500,000 and receive a sticker in your passport. Expect 10-30 minutes.
2. Immigration. Join the line for “Visa-Free,” “Visa on Arrival” or “E-Visa/Other Visas.” Show your passport, boarding pass and any visa documents. Officers scan your passport, take fingerprints and sometimes a photo. Allow 30-90 minutes depending on the time of day. Autogates exist for certain passport holders, such as Indonesian, Singaporean and Malaysian travellers.
3. Baggage claim. Check the screens for your flight number and carousel.
4. Customs. Show your DAC QR code to the officer, who scans it. If you declared items, or you are picked for a random check, your bags may be scanned or opened.
5. Exit. After clearance, you walk into the public arrival hall.

Soekarno-Hatta, Jakarta

International flights mainly use Terminal 3, with some at Terminal 2. Your options into the city:

• KAI Bandara airport train: Links T3 and T2 to BNI City station (Central Jakarta) and Manggarai station (South Jakarta). Fares run roughly IDR 50,000 to IDR 100,000, and the trip to BNI City takes about 45-55 minutes.
• Damri buses: Routes to many parts of Jakarta and nearby cities, at IDR 50,000 to IDR 80,000.
• Official taxis (Blue Bird, Express): Central Jakarta is around IDR 200,000 to IDR 300,000, excluding tolls.
• Gojek or Grab: Use the designated pick-up points. Central Jakarta is around IDR 180,000 to IDR 280,000, excluding tolls.

Ngurah Rai, Bali

All international flights arrive at the dedicated International Terminal. Use the official airport taxi counter for fixed zone prices, for example Seminyak at IDR 200,000 to IDR 250,000. Gojek and Grab usually cost less, about IDR 120,000 to IDR 180,000 to Seminyak, from the designated pick-up points outside the terminal.

Arriving by Boat at Batam, Bintan and Karimun

Many travellers from Singapore and Malaysia enter by ferry. The rules match airport entry. Major international seaports include Batam Centre and Sekupang in Batam, Bandar Bentan Telani and Sri Bintan Pura in Bintan, and Tanjung Balai Karimun. VoA is available at these designated ports for eligible nationalities.

Immigration officers check your passport and visa. Customs officers scan your DAC QR code, and your luggage can be inspected. From the port you can use local taxis, Gojek or Grab where they operate, or pre-arranged transport. Complete the DAC before boarding, since sea crossings and port terminals can have patchy signal.

2026 Budget Reality: What Entry Costs in IDR

The DAC itself is free to complete. Your costs depend on your visa and how you travel from the airport.

• Budget: Visa-free entry costs IDR 0. Add a Damri bus at IDR 50,000 to IDR 80,000 or the KAI Bandara train at IDR 50,000 to IDR 100,000 from CGK.
• Mid-range: A VoA at IDR 500,000, plus Gojek or Grab, which is IDR 180,000 to IDR 280,000 from CGK to Central Jakarta or IDR 120,000 to IDR 180,000 from DPS to Seminyak.
• Comfortable: A VoA at IDR 500,000 and an official airport taxi, at IDR 200,000 to IDR 300,000 in Jakarta or IDR 200,000 to IDR 250,000 to Seminyak. Add a VoA extension at IDR 500,000 if you stay up to 60 days.

The B211A has an official E-Visa fee of approximately IDR 1,500,000 for 60 days, plus IDR 500,000 per extension. Agents often charge more, so compare the official portal fee against any agent quote. Tolls are extra on taxi and ride-hailing rides from CGK. Check the latest fees before you travel.

What Has Changed Since 2024

• E-VOA is the big improvement. Applying through molina.imigrasi.go.id before departure reduces queues at the VoA counter. It is expected to be stable and widely used in 2026.
• The DAC process is settled. It has been mandatory since late 2022 or early 2023. No major procedural change is expected, though the online system may be refined.
• No health app is required. The mandatory PeduliLindungi app for international arrivals ended in June 2023. As of 2026 no specific health app is mandatory, though protocols could return if the global situation changes.
• Autogates may expand. They exist at major airports, and wider access for more foreign passports is a possibility. Do not count on it.
• Fees have been steady. The IDR 500,000 VoA and extension fees have been stable for several years.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaving it until you land. Shared airport Wi-Fi is slow. Submit the DAC before you fly.
• Typos in passport details. Your name and passport number must match your passport exactly.
• Vague accommodation address. “Bali” is not an address. Use the hotel name and full address.
• Forgetting the QR code. Keep a screenshot and a backup copy.
• Confusing the DAC with a visa. You still need visa-free eligibility, an E-VOA, a VoA or an E-Visa.
• Assuming visa-free can be extended. It cannot, and you must leave after 30 days. If you want 60 days, VoA is the extendable option.



• Short passport validity. You generally need at least 6 months remaining.
• No onward ticket. A confirmed return or onward ticket is typically required.
• Wrong answers on goods. Declare cash above IDR 100,000,000, tobacco or alcohol above the limits, and new goods above the allowance. Never bring prohibited items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Indonesia Digital Arrival Card mandatory?

Yes. All international travellers must complete the Digital Arrival Card, also called the Electronic Customs Declaration (E-CD). It replaces the paper customs form. You complete it online, receive a QR code and show it to a Customs officer at the arrival hall.

When should I fill out the Indonesia Digital Arrival Card?

It is best to complete it 2-3 days before your flight or boat journey. You can also fill it in on arrival at designated kiosks or on your own device using airport or port Wi-Fi, but doing it early avoids queues and weak signal problems.

Can one Digital Arrival Card cover my whole family?

Yes. You can include up to 5 family members travelling with you on a single DAC. You need to enter each person’s name, passport number and relationship to you. Make sure every detail matches each passport exactly before you submit the declaration.

How much is a Visa on Arrival for Indonesia in 2026?

The Visa on Arrival costs IDR 500,000 per person and gives up to 30 days. It can be extended once for another 30 days at IDR 500,000 per extension. You can pay at airport counters or apply online through the E-VOA at molina.imigrasi.go.id before you travel.

What happens to the QR code after I submit the form?

After you submit, the system generates a QR code. Save it as a screenshot or print it. At the arrival hall, after baggage claim, you show it to a Customs officer, who scans it. If you declared items or are selected randomly, your luggage may be inspected.

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📷 Featured image by Alim on Unsplash.