Moving to Indonesia: Things you should know before you immigrate to Indonesia

Being the world largest archipelago with more than 17.500 islands, Indonesia is a unique country located in Southeast Asia. Located between the Indian and the Pacific Ocean, Indonesia is the fourth most populated country in the world and also the country with the largest Muslim population. Even though Indonesia is densely populated, like for example the island Java with a population of over 140 million inhabitants, there are also huge stretches of untouched nature. As a result, Indonesia is one of the 17 countries that are ‘megadiverse”, meaning that there are many animal and plant species that can only be found in Indonesia. Rich in natural resources such as oil, gas and gold, Indonesia is also a giant when it comes to agriculture, for which it produces things like palm oil, rice, tea, coffee, spices and medicinal plants. All this together makes Indonesia a country of contrast and diversity. When you think you would like to step into an entirely new world, Indonesia might just be the place for you. So, join us when making an in-depth analysis of this huge island nation.

International Removals to Indonesia with Eurosender

When you are moving to Indonesia from the USA, you will find that Indonesia is a unique country. With a long colonial history, being ruled by the Portuguese, the English and the Dutch, Indonesia has been an independent country since 1945, which was just 2 days after the surrender of Japan in WW2. While many think of a country with long sandy beaches, which are present in abundance, there is so much more to this diverse country. As Indonesia consists of thousands of islands, there is a wide variety of local culture and customs. Whether you want to enjoy the beauty of Bali or the hustle and bustle of Jakarta, Indonesia has something for everyone. However, you can only fully experience the Indonesian way of life once you move there.

With such a large country and such a diverse population, you should know at least know the essential facts that keep them together as a nation.

Are you relocating from the USA to Indonesia because you found a new job? Or maybe you want to enjoy your pension in the tropical atmosphere of this beautiful archipelago. Whatever the reason might be, when you choose for international removals to Indonesia with Eurosender, you can be sure that it is both fast and cheap. You can easily place your order online now and you will immediately see how much your move costs. When your move has specific requirements, feel free to contact our logistics experts for an individual offer.

Living in Indonesia

Your new life in Indonesia will be extremely exciting, especially when you come from an orderly country like the UK or Germany. Despite the possible culture shock, you will soon realize that Indonesia is a country of great diversity that is never boring. Let’s look at some of the things that other expats noticed about life on the islands of the Indonesian Archipelago.

• There are huge income gaps between certain parts of the population with many people living in poverty.
• Traffic is one of the worst in the world and is also one of the causes of air pollution, which is widespread in urban areas.
• Punctuality is not something that is often adhered to in Indonesia and don’t be surprised when your guests or business partners show up an hour late.
• Personal space in Indonesia is way less than in the western world and you may feel someone standing right next to you when waiting in line.
• Indonesians like a good time and there is a vibrant nightlife with karaoke, live bands and discos.
• Food is cheap and Indonesian cuisine offers a wide range of flavours so there is something for everyone to like.
• Alcohol is allowed but is not to be sold to Muslims.

Visa Regulations for Indonesia

Getting the right visa in Indonesia can be a long and complicated process. Below we describe the basics of the Indonesian visa system. However, we recommend you always contact your local Indonesian embassy for the latest visa regulations. You can use the services of special visa agencies that might be able to speed up the process.

• Tourist Visa: This kind of visa is usually issued for 30 days. Citizens from many nations can get this visa upon arrival and when being in the country it can be extended for another 30 days at the local immigration office. With a tourist visa, you are not allowed to work, even when this is voluntary work.
• Visit visa: This is what you could consider a business visa and is valid for up to 60 days. It can be used for business visits.
• Temporary residence: For this, you need to get what is called VITAS (Visa Izin Tinggal Terbatas) in Indonesian. This semi-resident visa allows you to stay up to 1 year in Indonesia with the possibility to extend that stay with another year. Once you have that, you can apply for KITAS, which is a temporary residency permit, which is valid for up to 5 years.
• Permanent residence: After living in Indonesia for 3 years in a row, you can apply for permanent residence which is called KITAP.

Healthcare in Indonesia

Healthcare in Indonesia is not always up to western standards and it might be hard to find proper medical care in some areas. Let’s take a brief look at some of the things you should pay attention to when it comes to Indonesian health care.

• Public healthcare is not always of decent quality. That is why most expats choose for private medical care. Also, keep in mind that Indonesians themselves are covered by the universal healthcare system but foreigners are not.
• However, people who can afford it, often travel to Singapore to receive medical treatment.
• When visiting a private clinic, make sure to bring some cash as payment by card is often not possible.
• Pharmacies are called ‘Apotik’ and can easily be found in many locations such as trainstations and shopping malls.
• When travelling to Indonesia, always contact your physician to see if you need any vaccinations and mention the exact location of where you are going. While in urban areas the conditions are usually safe, in rural areas there might be a chance to contract malaria or other diseases.
• The major cities in Indonesia, for example, Jakarta, suffer from severe air pollution, caused by traffic exhaust and ash from forest fires.

School and education

There are three types of school available in Indonesia:

• Public schools, which are organized by the local government. This education is in Indonesian and the language barrier may prevent you from sending your child to a public school.
• Private schools: With a wider curriculum and education, also provided in English, private schools are a cheaper option compared to international schools.
• International schools: With an international curriculum, this option is the most common one chosen by expats. Your child will have other foreign classmates and when you decide to leave the country you know that your child can easily attend another international school.

Some other things you should know about schools in Indonesia.

• School is compulsory from age 6-18.
• Public school is free of charge.
• School weeks are from Monday to Friday and lessons start at about 0730 and students go home around 1500.
• As traffic can get really bad, keep your commute in mind when choosing a school.

The job market in Indonesia

When you are looking for a job in Indonesia, these are some of the most popular areas for foreigners coming to the country.

• Teacher: In most cases, people teach English in Indonesia but you can also teach other subjects at a private or international school. When you have the right diplomas and some experience you are bound to find employment.
• Multinationals: When you already work for a multinational it might be possible to be relocated to Indonesia.
• Export: With many products that are being exported from Indonesia, such as oil, gas, gold and rubber, there is always a need for skilled workers.

When you are looking for a job in Indonesia you can go on one of the many local job sites. Another option is to go to for example to Jakarta on a tourist visa to see if you can pick up some employment. An internship at an international company is also a great way of getting your foot in the door.

Property information

With a vast range of different options on the real estate market, Indonesia has accommodation for each budget. You can easily find living space by using online listings or a local real estate agent. The main thing you need to do is find out what is important for you. Here are some examples of things you could think of.

• Do you want to relax or do you want to feel the energy of the vibrant city life? You can opt for a penthouse in the centre of Jakarta or you can choose for a secluded house on the beach.
• Do you have children? Quality and proximity of schools is something that you have to take into consideration.
• Do you have a car? If you don’t you should also check out the public transport connections and the time your daily commute will take.
• Do you have pets? Always check if the owner allows pets in the accommodation.

Cost of moving to Indonesia

When you have secured a job and found a place to live, you may be stuck with the question: How much is shipping from the USA to Indonesia? The cost of moving house to Indonesia depends on the service you choose and the location you ship from. Take a look at the options you have.

• Standard Shipping is the best option when your items don’t exceed the maximum dimensions below (including the packaging). Don’t forget that you can also ship multiple packages in one order.
  • Maximum weight of 40kg (30kg in some cases).
  • A maximum length of 175 cm.
  • Length (in cm) + 2x width (in cm) + 2x height (in cm) < 300 cm.
• Freight Service is the best choice when you have bigger and bulkier items that you need to ship on pallets. The ideal option for when you are looking for the cheapest way to move furniture to Indonesia
• Not sure which service to choose? Don’t worry and just ask our logistics experts for an individual offer.

Now that you know more about the average moving costs to Indonesia, here some other things that Eurosender provides you with.

• Packing: With the right packaging your package won’t get damaged along the way.
• Payment: Quick and easy, that is what our payment options are all about.
• Insurance: The right insurance will give you peace of mind and is inexpensive with our rates.

Cost of living in Indonesia

Most expats consider the cost of living to be low in Indonesia. This is because most of them receive salaries from international companies, which are usually much higher than the local ones. As in any other country, accommodation will take up the biggest part of your budget, especially when you want to enjoy a nice apartment in a gated community. However, food products are relatively cheap as many are grown in Indonesia. Fuel prices and utility bills also compare favourably well to most western countries.

Driving in Indonesia

Whether you want to bring your own car or rent one, the following documents are always required when driving in Indonesia.

• Your native driving license
• International Driving Permit (IDP)
• Insurance document of the vehicle
• Registration document of the vehicle

When you have all your documents in order, you can start your adventure on the Indonesian roads. However, driving in Indonesia might differ a bit from your native country. That is why we have compiled some tips about driving in Indonesia.

• Indonesian traffic is overwhelming and dangerous. Drivers are flexible with traffic laws and road conditions can be rather poor. Therefore, many expats and other foreigners choose to simply hire a driver. Besides being inexpensive, this is also a safer option as the driver is used to the traffic conditions. When you do decide to drive, we recommend that you first take a few cab rides before getting behind the wheel yourself.
• Due to the rainy season, many roads are flooded part of the year.
• Indonesians don’t like red traffic lights and behave impatiently around them or even completely ignore them.
• Motorcycles are a popular form of transport. However, they tend to make up their own rules and often cause dangerous situations for people driving other vehicles.

Other destinations?

Disclaimer: The materials provided in this article were collected from other credible resources to be used for general information purposes only. Given that the legislative basis of the country and its economic development have a changing nature, the information provided in the article could be subject to change. Whilst we endeavour to keep the information up-to-date and correct, Eurosender will not be liable for any inappropriate, incomplete, or inaccurate information. Certain links will lead to websites which are not under control of Eurosender. Thus, Eurosender accepts no liability in respect of materials, products or services being not under control of Eurosender.