Indonesia: just returned, carnet problems
 

Hi,

Just returned from bike trip through Malaysia and Indonesia. Was informed by customs at Nunukan (Borneo) that Indonesia has not fully ratified the ATA carnet system. Just googled that and it is apparently true. This from the FedEx web site:

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ATA Carnets
The ATA Carnet ("ATA" stands for the French and English words "Admission temporaire / temporary admission) was created by international convention thirty years ago. It is an international customs document used worldwide to facilitate temporary importations into sixty (60) member countries. Indonesia does not currently participate in the ATA Carnet convention system, as such goods being imported for temporary import for tradeshows, exhibitions, etc must be processed as temporary imports and bank warranty posted. Prior arrangement with the consignee is recommended on shipments that are subject to this type processing to assure that the proper documents and approvals are in place prior to the arrival of the shipment.
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I highly recommend seeking a letter of invitation from an Indonesian motorcycling organisation (I did not have one, and this was a close call). I did obtain a letter of authoritity from the Indonesian Consulate in Malaysia before crossing the border - it stated that both myself and the bike were permitted to enter Indonesia. This helped a little with customs and a lot with local police.

Hope this is useful for somebody...

Crossing from Penang to Medan in Sumatra the Indo customs required the Carnet and $50.00. It was a bit informal but seemed that many bikers have used that entry point and it worked well for me. As for leaving Indonesia in Sulawesi(Manado) the Customs official was not versed and I actually with the help of my biker friends there explained the procedure and got clearance to export to the Philippines where I am currently. Efficiency and communication are definitely lacking in many countries but we do manage. How was your ride in Borneo?

Sorry to hear of your problems, and glad to receive your advice as I plan riding through Indonesia again in the near future.

The Fedex site is well out of date, however. I used carnets more than 30 years ago and I'm sure they were around in the 1960s at least, if not earlier.

Colin,

You are confusing two carnets here:

The ATA carnet, issued normally by a chamber of commerce, is for merchandise (as you have written yourself).

The Carnet de Passages en Douane is a customs document for motor vehicles, used for crossing borders without having to deposit money. This IS accepted in Indonesia.

The "fee" globalvisions paid is nothing but a bribe. We paid the shipping agent, who then did all the customs paperwork, bar the signature. I'm sure the customs man got his cut later. Normally, processing a carnet shouldn't cost money, certainly not without receipt. We didn't pay a bean on leaving Indo to Timor Leste.

Both ATA Carnet and the Carnet de Passages en Douane can be used to import vehicles.

ATA Carnet covers temporary importation for commercial or professional uses (e.g., trade shows, professional sports, etc.) Hence they are typically arranged by chambers of commerce.

Carnet de Passages en Douane covers temporary importation for personal uses. They are typically arranged through auto clubs.

Carnet problems
 

I believe that taking one of the popular entry ports into Indonesia with a motorcycle, you probably won't have problems. People are doing that all the time, e.g. Peninsular Malaysia to Sumatra, most likely West Timor to East Timor.

Leaving Indonesia appears to be a lot easier than getting in (not surprising).

Based on my experience, also Sheen Kua last year (By Bike to Malaysia) there's a good chance you will have trouble in Borneo. If you assert that the carnet system has in fact been ratified by Indonesia, I highly recommend taking official documentation stating same. Otherwise it comes down to your word against the custom official, in his office. A letter to that effect from the consulate would probably help a lot.

As per previous advice, a letter of invitation from an Indonesian bike club will also grease the wheels.

My agent paid RP1M in "fees", although officially there are no fees at all. I would try to avoid agent next time - it pretty much a guarantees that you will pay fees, whereas you may well get through cleanly by yourself. Trouble is, going by cargo boat makes it difficult/impossible to enter without an agent. Much cheaper to skip Borneo altogether.

None of this is an issue if you are entering by ferry, which means that Borneo cannot be your "port of entry" into Indonesia. Have heard from a regular rider (local) that road crossing from Sarawak to Kalimantan is even more "expensive" than my experience, but I'm almost certain he was not travelling under a carnet, so that option remains to be documented.

cheers
Colin

Sheen certainly had a bad experience, but left himself wide open by heading for Tarakan rather than the accepted port of entry at Nunukan.

This is all old school, and the sorts of things needed back when you used to require special permission, police escorts etc. to ride big bikes through Indonesia. These days customs officials know perfectly well what a carnet is.

I think it's fairly unlikely that if you have a valid passport, visa and carnet in your possession, and you're unlucky enough to strike a corrupt official, that a letter of invitation from anyone is going to make much difference. The only paper people like this care about is currency.

Not sure why you'd need to use a cargo boat out of Tawau. We did the reverse using a passenger ferry. In fact I'm pretty sure Glen Heggstad did Tawau to Nunukan by ferry. Either way, there's no escaping the fact that transporting a big bike is going to cost you, especially when the locals sense they've got you over a barrel. Just how much depends on your bargaining skills. We're by no means experts and paid Rp200K per bike plus a ferry ticket each which covered everything. There was no agent involved, everything was done directly through the ferry company. It was a difficult experience, but everyone knew exactly what they were doing.

It's worth stressing again that if you have a carnet it's doubtful you will have any customs problems at the Sarawak/Kalimantan border. The only problem we encountered was an insurance salesman who tried to block our entry when we refused to buy fully comprehensive cover from him. The customs, immigration and police all had a great laugh when I threatened to run him over if he didn't move out of the way.

Definitive answer re carnet in Borneo
 

Hi Ann,

Trust you are well. I was going to reply earlier but I decided to get a definitive answer. Following is the response from Indonesian Consulate in Sydney, regarding the matter of whether Indonesia has fully ratified the international vehicle carnet system.

As you advised, you went the other way - that makes all the difference, I think. I asked a detective in Nunukan (whom I met socially) why security was so strict coming into Nunukan and he said it is because of high traffic in Sabu Sabu ("ice) from Malaysia. I was taken from the border control line line into a quarantine room and my luggage unpacked. Nothing impolite or unprofessional but the guards with machine guns made it clear there was no choice in the matter.

I asked the customs official (at the customs office - not at the border) if any additional fees were needed to get my bike through and he said "no". Everybody there was very polite and they seemed very willing to help me, without expecting anything in return. That's why I took their advice seriously and decided to post it here.

I can't speak with any authority on Sarawak to Kalimantan as I did not do it. Brandon Miles used to take ride groups that way and says it's easy enough, but he paid more than me (though he did it without a carnet). It's probably more straightforward as there is no boat involved and no doubt a lot more vehicles.

As to the letter I got from the Consulate in Malaysia, it was well worth the cost - only one hour of my time. There were two occasions when police started telling me I should not be traveling with my bike, and the letter instantly removed their concerns, with no money changing hands. I highly recommend this.

Anyway, folks will make their own decisions. I will certainly be getting a letter from a motorcycle organisation if I go again, as per advice below.

cheers
Colin

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Dear Colin,

I also followed the discussion on this matter on http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/, and I believe that you require a letter from the Indonesian motorcycling club (IMI) to obtain a letter to bring a vehicle into Indonesia.

In line with this, since Indonesia has not yet ratified the international vehicular carnet system, I would advise you to contact IMI to have the recommendation/invitation to bring your Motorcycle to Kalimantan.


<name withheld by Colin>

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