A cruising yacht is a foreign vessel visiting temporarily — and Indonesian customs has a specific, duty-free path for exactly that.
Bea Cukai, the Indonesian customs authority, treats a foreign yacht arriving to cruise as a temporary importation rather than a permanent one. Handled correctly, that status allows your vessel to enter and remain in Indonesian waters without incurring the import duty that would otherwise apply to a boat brought into the country. Alongside the vessel itself, customs expect an honest declaration of what is aboard. We manage the temporary-importation formalities and the goods declaration at Benoa, so your arrival with Bea Cukai is clean, correct and free of unexpected charges.
Temporary importation, not permanent entry
The distinction matters more than any other point of customs procedure. A yacht cleared as a temporary importation under her cruising status is recognised as a visiting foreign vessel that will leave again — and is therefore relieved of the import duty levied on goods brought permanently into Indonesia. Getting this classification right at the outset is what keeps your customs bill at zero. We ensure the vessel is entered under the correct temporary status and that the paperwork reflects a genuine cruising visit.
Declaring what is aboard
Beyond the vessel, Bea Cukai is concerned with what she carries. Ship’s stores, spares, tenders, diving equipment, alcohol and any high-value items may all form part of the declaration. An accurate, complete manifest presented up front is far preferable to a query later, and we help you declare goods correctly so nothing aboard becomes a problem at the counter.
Customs at Benoa
Benoa is where most yachts complete their customs formalities on arrival in Bali, with Bea Cukai working alongside the harbourmaster and immigration in the same clearance window. We coordinate the customs element with your port clearance and crew visas, so the three authorities are satisfied together and your first day in Bali is spent on the water rather than at a desk.
Customs documents
The temporary-importation file rests on a clear set of papers — we prepare and present them to Bea Cukai.
The precise declaration depends on what your yacht carries — tell us what is aboard and we will prepare it correctly.
From First Message to Approval
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1
List the vessel and her stores
Send the registry, cruising permit and an inventory of the equipment and dutiable goods aboard.
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2
We prepare the customs file
We frame the entry as a temporary importation and assemble the declaration for Bea Cukai.
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3
We clear customs at Benoa
Our team completes the temporary-importation and goods formalities alongside your port and visa clearances.
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4
Entered duty-free
Your yacht is cleared under cruising status with the declaration on record, and we remain on hand for departure.