Indonesia
Location: Southeast Asia
Visas & Permits
Visas & Work Permits
Clients, agency and talent travelling on Western passports can enter visa-free for stays of up to 30 days. Visiting shooting crews require journalist visas (valid for 30 days) after the approval of any relevant film permits.
Each visiting crew member needs to go to their local Indonesian embassy or consulate to get their passports stamped. The film permit(s) and journalist cards are then picked up, in Jakarta, by either the visiting crew, service producer or local fixer.
Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry, and may be able to assist.
Film Location Permits
To film in Indonesia, a visiting production is required to obtain a National Film Permit and specific permits to locations. The fastest and easiest way to get these is through a local accredited service producer or fixer.
Depending on the project, permit approval can take up to a month, so allow plenty of lead time. The process can sometimes be expedited at extra cost. The film permit is valid for 30 days.
A government appointed minder may be required to accompany the visiting crew during filming.
Customs
For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Indonesia is an ATA carnet country.
When to Film
When to Film
Indonesia has a year-round warm, humid tropical climate. The wet season runs from November to March. The cooler, dry season runs from April to October.
Indonesia is a predominately Muslim country, where many observe Ramadan. Many services remain open during this time, although permitting offices may be slower to respond.
Public Holidays
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Indonesia.
Costs & VAT
Locations and talent are generally inexpensive. The greatest cost is the need to bring in key crew and equipment.
Indonesia is a very large country and locations are often remote, which also adds to costs.
The standard VAT rate in Indonesia, at the time of writing, is set at 11%.
Funding & Tax Incentives
At the time of writing, this country does not have any filming incentives. However, up-to-date information on global filming incentives may be found on the Entertainment Partners' Production Incentives Map.
Treaty Documents
At the time of writing, the UK does not have a trade agreement with this country. However, up-to-date information about UK trade agreements can be found on the GOV.UK website.