This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Safety and Security: Civil Unrest/Political Tension (Central Sulawesi, Maluku), Local Travel (public transport) and Money and Valuables (update). The overall level of the advice has not changed. The level of advice for Central Sulawesi and Maluku Provinces have decreased.

Summary

Safety and Security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Indonesia due to the very high threat of terrorist attack. Ask yourself whether, given your own personal circumstances, you're comfortable travelling to Indonesia knowing there is a very high threat from terrorism and you may be caught up in a terrorist attack. Ask yourself whether travel could be deferred or an alternative destination chosen. If, having considered these issues, you do decide to travel to Indonesia, you should exercise extreme caution.

There have been recent arrests of high level terrorist operatives in Indonesia, but we assess terrorists are continuing to plan attacks. These attacks could take place at any time. You should be particularly vigilant during holiday periods such as Easter and Christmas.

Indonesian authorities warned terrorists may be planning to kidnap foreigners.

Attacks against Westerners in Bali and Jakarta indicate that these areas are a priority target for terrorists. Suicide attacks against locations frequented by foreigners in Bali and Jakarta such as the 1 October 2005 and 12 October 2002 Bali bombings and bomb attack outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in September 2004 killed and injured many people. Westerners were also targeted in the bombing of a five-star hotel in central Jakarta in August 2003. We cannot rule out the possibility of another attack targeting Westerners, including Australians.

In planning your activities, consider the kind of places known to be terrorist targets and the level of security provided at venues. You should take particular care to avoid places known to be terrorist targets. Tourist areas and attractions throughout Indonesia and tourists travelling to or from these places, including those in tour groups or tour buses, could be targeted. Other possible targets include international hotels, clubs, sporting clubs and venues, restaurants, international fast food outlets, bars, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, Jakarta's embassy district and diplomatic missions elsewhere, international schools, expatriate housing compounds and Western interests and businesses. Places frequented by foreigners, central business areas, office buildings, churches and other places of worship, airlines, airports, public transport and transport hubs, shopping centres, premises and symbols associated with the Indonesian Government, and outdoor recreation events are also potential targets.

Due to security concerns, security at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and the Consulate-General in Bali is at a high level. The Australian Embassy has advised its staff and their families to be particularly careful in how they travel or walk to and from the Embassy.

Civil Unrest/Political Tension

Political rallies, protests and demonstrations occur regularly. Most are publicised in advance and are often held near the Presidential Palace, major government buildings and embassies. You should avoid protests, demonstrations and rallies as they can turn violent with little notice. You should also maintain a high level of vigilance and security awareness.

The outcomes of judicial processes, including trials of extremists and the implementation of sentences, could prompt a strong reaction from their supporters such as demonstrations and acts of violence.

International events and political developments may prompt demonstrations in Indonesia. You should also read our travel bulletin entitled Release of a film by Netherlands MP Geert Wilders.

Aceh: A peace accord officially ended hostilities in August 2005. However, the overall security situation remains unsettled. There are isolated incidents of violence, often of a criminal nature. Before travelling to Aceh, you should contact Indonesian authorities to determine whether your activities require official approval.

Central Sulawesi Province: The security situation in Central Sulawesi province (including Palu, Poso and Tentena) is unsettled. There is a risk of bomb attacks and shootings. Police raided militant strongholds in early 2007 and clashed with extremists, a number of whom were killed or arrested. Foreigners could be caught up in violence and attacks directed at others, but could also become the targets of violence. There have been attacks on inter-provincial and inter-city buses in the area of Poso, including those carrying tourists. Churches could also be targeted.

East Kalimantan: In northern areas of East Kalimantan, there is a danger of kidnapping for ransom by anti-government groups, criminals and terrorists operating from the southern Philippines.

Maluku: Maluku province (particularly Ambon) is subject to outbreaks of internal violence and bomb attacks. The security situation remains unsettled.

Papua: Political tensions associated with anti-government groups in Papua and inter-ethnic tensions may lead to violence. If you are travelling to Papua for reasons other than tourism, you will require a travel permit (Surat Keterangan Jalan). Permits. can be obtained from the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta. Applications may take some time to process.

West Timor: The security situation remains unsettled, particularly in areas near the border with East Timor, where security incidents continue to occur and have the potential to inflame local tensions. Foreigners were evacuated from the border town of Atambua during riots in early 2008.

Crime

Petty crime is common and robberies are increasing. Violence is sometimes used. Thieves on motorcycles commit 'snatch theft' of handbags from pedestrians. Thefts from cars stopped at traffic lights have been reported and tourists have been robbed while repairing car tyres punctured by criminals.

Fraud: Credit card and ATM fraud is increasing. You should monitor transactions statements and only use ATMs in secure locations such as banks, shops or malls.

Drink spiking: There have been reports of tourists being robbed after bringing back visitors to their hotel rooms. In some cases, the victims' drinks were spiked. Foreigners have died after consuming brand name alcohol adulterated with methanol bought from 'black market' traders.

Taxis: Cases of robbery and temporary confinement involving taxis have been reported in urban areas, particularly in Jakarta. Victims have been forced to withdraw funds from credit or debit cards at ATMs to obtain their release. Lone female travellers appear most vulnerable. You should only use official taxi companies that can be booked by phone or from stands at major hotels and from inside the airport. You should check taxis carefully as unscrupulous operators have taxis that look similar to those run by reputable companies.

Local Travel

Public transport, including buses, rail and ferries, are crowded, poorly maintained and have limited safety equipment.

Mountain treks, including some on Mt Rinjani in Lombok, are only suited to experienced climbers. We recommend you travel with a guide and seek information on the level of difficulty.

Piracy occurs in the coastal areas of Indonesia. See our travel advice on shipping and ports for more information. The International Maritime Bureau issues weekly piracy reports on its website.

Airline Safety

Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.

If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO. The FAA has determined that Indonesia's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is not in compliance with ICAO safety standards for the oversight of Indonesia's air carrier operations. For more information, visit the FAA website. The US embassy in Jakarta has advised Americans travelling to and from Indonesia to fly directly to their destination on international carriers whenever possible.

The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. On 4 July 2007, all Indonesian airlines were banned from operating in the EU.

CASA assesses the safety of all aircraft flying within, to and from Australia. CASA has certified Garuda International to operate flights between Australia and Indonesia. CASA cannot assess the safety of any Indonesian carriers operating within Indonesia or to countries other than Australia.

Indonesia's DGCA assesses the operational performance of Indonesia's commercial airlines. The results of this assessment can be found in Indonesian on the DGCA website.

Australian Embassy officials are advised to use discretion when considering which airline provides the best travel options, to use the DGCA assessment as a point of reference and to consider travelling with international carriers where possible. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

Earthquakes: Indonesia is in an active earthquake region with a continuing high level earthquake activity. There were 14 earthquakes measuring more than 4.8 on the Richter scale during 2007. All caused deaths, injuries or significant damage. Five were centred near southern Sumatra.

Tsunamis: All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure.

Floods: Floods and mudslides occur regularly during the wet season from December to April. Flooding has caused deaths and the displacement of people. Key services, such as transport, telecommunications, emergency and medical care, and the supply of food and water can be disrupted. The high risk of contracting a water-borne disease may persist after the water recedes.

Volcanoes: There are many active volcanoes throughout Indonesia. Alert levels can be raised and evacuations ordered at short notice. If you plan to travel to an area near an active volcano, you should check the Indonesian Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation's daily updates (in Indonesian) on the status and alert level and the Smithsonian Institution's weekly updates.

In the event of a natural disaster, you should follow the advice of local authorities. More information is available from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service.

Wildlife Watching

Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home. You should carry a copy of your passport with you for identification purposes.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

You should only use licensed money changers and count the cash given to you.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

For Parents

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Local Laws

When you are in Indonesia be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

Penalties for drug offences are severe and include the death penalty. Penalties for possession of even small amounts of recreational drugs include heavy fines and imprisonment. Indonesian police target illegal drug use and possession across Indonesia, in particular popular places and venues in Bali and Jakarta.

Serious crimes, such as murder and piracy, may attract the death penalty.

Gambling is illegal. Tourists have fallen victim to organised gambling gangs, particularly in Bali, resulting in the loss of large sums of money and threats of violence if travellers are unable to pay the debt.

Some aspects of Sharia (Islamic) Law have been introduced in Aceh. Travellers should seek to inform themselves of relevant provisions. Visit the Indonesian Embassy website for further information.

You should obey signs that prohibit photography. If in doubt, seek advice from local officials.

To drive in Indonesia, you will require an Indonesian or international driver's licence appropriate to the type of vehicle. An Australian licence is not sufficient.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Local Customs

There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in many parts of Indonesia. You should find out what customs are observed in your destination and take care not to offend. If in doubt, seek local advice.

Information for Dual Nationals

Indonesia's citizenship legislation now permits children born to an Indonesian parent and a foreign parent to maintain citizenship of both countries until their 18th birthday.
For more information, contact your nearest Embassy or Consulate of Indonesia or visit Indonesia's the Department of Law and Human Rights website (in Indonesian).

Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Indonesia for the most up-to-date information.

You should ensure you have the correct, current visa at all times, otherwise you may be fined, jailed, deported or banned from re-entering Indonesia for a period of time.

Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from your date of arrival. Visitors may be granted a seven day visa on arrival for a fee of USD10 or a 30 day visa on arrival for a fee of USD25. Both visas are non-extendable and non-transferable. The period of stay for visas is calculated from the day of arrival. For example, if a tourist with a seven day visa arrived on a Sunday, they must depart Indonesia the following Saturday. If the tourist departed on the following Sunday, they would be considered to have overstayed their visa. This principle also applies to 30 day visas. Fines are imposed for each additional day in Indonesia.

If you are staying in private accommodation, you are required to register with the local Rukun Tertangga (RT) Office and the local police when you arrive. If you plan to be in Indonesia for more than 90 days, you must register with the local immigration office and hold the correct visa.

Under Indonesian law, you must carry identification (an Australian passport, Kartu Ijin Tinggal Sementara (KITAS) or Residents Stay Permit) at all times.

Health Issues

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations, including booster shots of childhood vaccinations you may require, and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.

Medical facilities are generally below western standards and in many regions hospitals provide only basic facilities. Hospitals often require confirmation of medical insurance cover or up-front payment prior to providing any services, including emergency care. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to Singapore or Australia is recommended, costing between $A10,000 to $A85,000 depending on circumstances and location.

Decompression chambers are located at Bali's Sanglah General Hospital and hospitals in Jakarta and Manado.

Mosquito-borne and other insect borne illnesses are common throughout the year. Malaria (including chloroquine-resistant strains) is prevalent throughout rural areas, but is uncommon in Jakarta. Dengue fever occurs throughout Indonesia, including in Bali and the major cities, and is particularly common during the rainy season. Outbreaks of chikungunya have been reported, while Japanese encephalitis and filariasis are also present, particularly in rural agricultural areas. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling, taking prophylaxis against malaria where necessary and taking measures to avoid insect bites, including using an insect repellent at all times.

Japanese encephalitis vaccine is currently unavailable in Australia. The Department of Health and Ageing is working with vaccine suppliers to make a vaccine available as soon as possible. For further details see the Department of Health and Ageing's website or consult your doctor.

Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including cholera, hepatitis, measles, typhoid and tuberculosis) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. Other diseases (including HIV/AIDS, polio and rabies) are a risk for travellers. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes and uncooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.

Avoid temporary 'black henna' tattoos as they often contain a dye which can cause serious skin reactions. For further information see the Australasian College of Dermatologists' website.

Smoke haze: It is typical for there to be a smoke haze across much of the north-west part of the archipelago from July to October. Kalimantan and Sumatra are generally the worst affected areas. You should be aware the smoke haze could affect your health and travel plans. A current smoke haze map can be seen on the Singaporean National Environment Agency website.

Avian influenza. The World Health Organization has confirmed human deaths from avian influenza in Indonesia, including Bali. The Department of Health advises Australians who reside in Indonesia for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long-term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. You should seek medical advice before taking antiviral medicines. Australians intending to travel to Indonesia for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.

If the avian influenza virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australian travellers and long-term residents in Indonesia should be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, including deciding when to leave an affected area and ensuring they have appropriate contingency plans in place. Australians in Indonesia should monitor the travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice and ensure that their travel documents, including passports and visas for any non-Australian family members, are up-to-date in case they need to depart at short notice.

In September 2005, the Australian Government decided as a precautionary measure to hold a limited supply of the antiviral medicine oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and protective face masks at its missions in Indonesia. The antivirals would primarily be used to protect emergency staff providing consular and other essential services in the event of a widespread outbreak of avian influenza amongst humans. Australian missions will not be in a position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Australians in affected areas and it is the responsibility of individual Australians to secure their own supply of such medicines (such as Tamiflu or Relenza).

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website.

Where to Get Help

Access to the Australian Embassy in Jakarta is by appointment only. An appointment for consular services can be made by calling +62 21 2550 5500 or +62 21 2550 5555.

Australian Embassy
Jalan H R Rasuna Said Kav C 15-16
Jakarta Selatan 12940 Indonesia
Telephone: +62 21 2550 5555
Facsimile: +62 21 526 1690
Website: http://www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/jakt/home.html.

In Bali, you can obtain consular assistance from:

Australian Consulate General
Jalan Tantular 32
Renon
Denpasar, Bali, 80234 Indonesia
Telephone: +62 361 241 118
Facsimile: + 62 361 221 195 (general enquiries)
Facsimile: +62 361 241 120 (visa enquiries)
Email: Bali.congen@dfat.gov.au

In Medan, you can obtain limited consular assistance from:

Australian Consulate
Jalan R A Kartini 32
Medan 20152
North Sumatra Indonesia
Telephone: +62 61 415 7810
Facsimile: +62 61 415 6820

If you are travelling to Indonesia, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we strongly recommend you register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency – whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy, Consulate General or the Consulate, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.