Shipping with a container questions

[MattyRedSox]

Hi, so next Monday our movers will be packing up our belongings to ship to Jakarta. We are using a known professional moving company with offices both here and in Jakarta. THey have given us a list of restricted items and we have some questions...

1. No porn. We understand and don't intend to ship any DVDs or magazines of porn. The question is... what about "accidental porn?" We have a large book collection, and some are both art and photography, which may have the occasional breast or nude somewhere with in. Should we be worried?

2. Also we are shipping about 5000 vinyl LPs and 8000-CDs. Any censorship that we should be worried about? (Music is a big part of our lives - we want the records and CDs, not just MP3s).

3. DVDs/BD - we have about 500, mostly old TV (Gilligan's Island, I Love Lucy), movies from Hitchcock to the Godfather, and again music (concerts). Again, will anything be blocked due to censorship? There is no outright porn, but an HBO series could have breasts and such.

4. No food. This is fine, but my wife wants to ship some of her teas (she's Japanese) and I have some dried hops (I home brew). We figured we'd put these with the kitchen stuff. Again, any foreseeable problems?


Any other things we should be careful of? My wife has a diplomatic job... so we hope that the customs aspect will be smooth... but we are both new to Indonesia.

[bad_azz]

When I came in i carried 150 dvds in my suitcases.... what I did for ease was to remove the hard plastic cases and pack them in those CD folders you can buy.
I have never yet been so much as looked at in the airport with anything other than respect.
When I went to Singapore I brought 1000 English tea bags back with me - again nobody cared to look in my case.
I brought lots of dried herbs with me too.

I would not worry too much.
If you are nervous it will show and the customs guys might pick up on it.

[MattyRedSox]

When I came in i carried 150 dvds in my suitcases.... what I did for ease was to remove the hard plastic cases and pack them in those CD folders you can buy.
I have never yet been so much as looked at in the airport with anything other than respect.
When I went to Singapore I brought 1000 English tea bags back with me - again nobody cared to look in my case.
I brought lots of dried herbs with me too.

I would not worry too much.
If you are nervous it will show and the customs guys might pick up on it.

we won't be with it. it will be a large shipping container filled with household goods. we have no idea whether they give a quick look or open everything. that's the problem.

[El_Goretto]

Matty, the customs will definitely look in your boxes. Our shipping company told us to put books, CDs, DVDs in their own box for this very purpose. The only item I could think of that could have been confiscated was a nude photography book. I ended up sending it over to my family in Europe rather than taking it with me because it's been signed by the author himself and I don't wanna lose that.

It's difficult for us to give you a straight answer because in the end it all depends on the custom officer and how zealous he is. I would say that for music, it shouldn't pose any problem. For video stuff, unless it's explicitly known as having nude/sex scenes I wouldn't worry too much either.

About your hops, is it easily identifiable as being used to make alcohol by a novice? What if they ask you what it is? What will you tell them? They take alcohol related matters pretty seriously here.

What does your shipping agent say on the matter?

[bad_azz]

Who does know?
My point was that it raised no brows at the airport (inside the terminal) so I doubt it will create a problem somewhere else.
The regulations are the same whether we are with the goods or not.

[PhilippeD]

They will look everything, you can be sure of this.

On the requirement for the shipping you must provide a full list of every article in the container (including book, cd, and dvd).

If you move for a short time in Indonesia (less than 3 year) I suggest you to let your more precious material at your home or family.

The matter about book and music (even more on a big amount like your) can delay a LOT the release of your container.
I would seriously think about sending them separately. Like that the book and CD will be delay and not your other house stuff.

[PhilippeD]

Who does know?
My point was that it raised no brows at the airport (inside the terminal) so I doubt it will create a problem somewhere else.
The regulations are the same whether we are with the goods or not.

B_A it's not same when you arrive by plane with your stuff (myself I arrive in Indonesia with all my "life" in 3 bag), compare to sending a container of personal stuff.

Like you I had my computer full of thousand of song and movie (my wife even found back some porn I had forget in the computer!!!) and some of my best movie I had with myself. No one never check any of them.

The rule are not same when you send a container of personal stuff... You don't deal with the same person and from what I know custom officer are not the one with the better reputation about corruption!

[PhilippeD]

Some year ago when I was searching for information I found this:

**************************************

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

• For All Customers:
  
  • Original passport for customer and spouse valid for a minimum of twelve months
  • Original Work Permit for customer
  • Original Residence Permit (KITAS Card) for customer and spouse -- both MUST BE validated for a full twelve month period
  • Customs Application
  • Bank Guarantee
  • Letter of Authorization to Destination Agent
  • Certain vaccinations may be required
  • Inventory (original and one copy - not valued)
  
  
• For Expatriates:
• Original passport
• Residence permit (KITAS Card) valid for 12 months (also for spouse)
• Work Permit valid for 12 months
• Marital Status Statement (divorced/single only)
• Single status customer is not normally entitled to a duty-free shipment and may petition to obtain approval from the Embassy or Consulate
• IF ALL THE ABOVE ARE NOT PROVIDED, HEAVY DUTIES, PENALTIES AND DEMURRAGE WILL APPLY.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

• CUSTOMER MUST BE IN COUNTRY FOR CLEARANCE
• Shipments 100% inspected
• A returning Indonesian citizen must have lived abroad for a minimum of three years and must have been in possession and use of the items for at least two years with continued use of the items while in Indonesia to be allowed duty-free entry
• For expatriates, household goods must have been in customer's possession and use for at least one full year, and be for the Customer's continued private use in Indonesia (not for resale)
• Only one air and one sea shipment of household goods allowed duty-free
• Shipments must arrive within three months of date of issuance of KITAS Card
• It is unwise to include any shipment boxes which are marked with any name but the shippers. This could jeopardize clearance.

DUTIABLE/RESTRICTED ITEMS

• Only one of each major appliance is allowed duty-free with the exception of air conditioners
• New articles and items not listed on inventory
• Material in Chinese (pictures, tapes, etc.) will require proper permits and is subject to censorship and confiscation
• Medicines (prescription required)
• Cosmetics
• Antiques (may have problems re-exporting)
• Large quantities of any type of product will slow clearance and result in high duty

PROHIBITED ITEMS

• Explosives, weapons, firearms, and ammunition
• Narcotics and drugs of various kinds
• Alcoholic beverages
• Video tapes laser discs and books are subject to censorship. Prepare a list of titles and authors
• Animal skins
• Pornographic and politically sensitive literature
• Foodstuff
• Cordless telephones
• Presence of any DUTIABLE/RESTRICTED/PROHIBITED items in shipment will greatly delay clearance and increase charges considerably.

MOTOR VEHICLES

• Prohibited except for certain diplomats

USEFUL INFORMATION
Indonesia can be a difficult place to clear customs. Normal customs clearance takes from 7 to 10 working days, providing the documentation is order. If duties have been assessed, allow 3 to 4 days after payment to the Indonesian Customs Cashier.
The average time to obtain documentation certifying valid work and residence permits can range from two (2) to four (4) weeks after arrival of the shipper in the Indonesia with a one-year visa from the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate.
It is recommended that the shipper prepare a list of titles and authors of books/publications to allow customs the option of cursory inspection.

URL: http://www.beacukai.go.id

**************************************

After time, I had find that some point can be different depending of the company use (like the "CUSTOMER MUST BE IN COUNTRY FOR CLEARANCE") but the major point will be plus or less same.

Note: I was searching on the goal the bring here my motorcycle and other of my stuff. Because it was impossible to bring the motorcycle I finally never bring anything. So... I had NEVER pass through the process of bring personal stuff in Indo (other than what I bring with me on the plane ~ it's not considered as the same thing).

If anyone who ever do the process can add more information... you are welcome

[Misssverige]

Our container is standing somewhere in a harbor on the other side of this planet waiting for the OK sign to get shipped to Jakarta. The packing company was very strict on everything that was food. Even the decorative peas that have been traveling around the world the past 10 years had to be disposed ... So I think (hope) that we are on the OK side about the food! They never told us to make a list of titles and authors of the books ... and we are bringing with us a lot of books in at least 3 different languages. We'll just have to wait and see I think.

Oh, and my husbands motorcycle got a NO GO right a way. Not from me but from the movers :-)

[BAJakarta]

assume your shipment has already left, but to ease your mind while waiting, my shipment just arrived and was delivered with over 1000 DVDs included among them uncensored R rated movies and HBO series - I didn't have a problem. Also brought some spices, bottle of olive oil, a few tea bags (not many) and all made it no problem. Many music CDs as well. Customs opened many of the boxes - you will be able to tell b/c the ones they open will have different color tape (at least in my case) and the shipping company pointed it out to me when they delivered.