ATA Carnet Indonesia: what film crews should check

By Film Permit Bali Editorial Desk

Sourced figures: prices in the table carry their source and check month. Fees change, and they are official or third-party figures, not our offers.

An ATA Carnet in Indonesia lets you bring professional film equipment in temporarily, without duty and tax, on one customs document. Indonesian customs cites regulation 228/PMK.04/2014, and ICC says Indonesia joined the system on 15 May 2015. KADIN Indonesia acts as guaranteeing association. Check customs hours at Ngurah Rai before booking a late arrival, because a dated ICC sheet lists no 24-hour office in Bali.

What is an ATA Carnet in Indonesia?

Indonesian customs describes the carnet as temporary import without duty and tax on one document, under regulation 228/PMK.04/2014. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) says Indonesia joined as of 15 May 2015 as its 75th member. For a film crew, it replaces a separate temporary import application with a single customs document that travels with the kit.

The network's size depends on who you ask: ICC says over 80 countries and KADIN says 78. If you are routing a multi-country shoot, check each country on your route with the association that issues your carnet.

The carnet has a cost of its own. The price table on this page shows one production company's estimate, which depends on the carnet and the value of the equipment. Your issuing association can give you a real figure.

Does Indonesia accept carnets for film gear?

Yes, and three sources say so from different positions. Customs lists professional equipment among carnet uses. KADIN names film crews among users. Bali Film Center, a production company, says Indonesia accepts carnets and that filmmakers must declare equipment to customs.

The conditions are where you need to pay attention. Most of the detail below comes from an ICC country sheet last modified in 2020 and printed in 2024, so check anything that affects your plan.

"Easily identified" should shape how you write the list. Describe each camera body, lens and recorder so an officer can match the object to the line. Serial numbers are the obvious way to do that, although customs and KADIN do not prescribe them. Your permit file's equipment list and your carnet should describe the same kit, so draft them together. The permit file is covered on film permit requirements in Indonesia.

The "not substantially changed" condition affects rigs. If you plan to rebuild a camera package in Bali or leave items behind for a local team, ask customs first, since customs wants goods to leave unchanged.

Who issues one?

The ICC sheet names KADIN Indonesia as the national guaranteeing association. That role means it stands behind carnets in Indonesia. KADIN also has its own carnet page, which names film crews among users. ICC refers to the "issuing association" for each carnet, which is the body a holder deals with on duration and terms.

Ask the association that would issue your carnet. An inbound producer should not plan on buying a carnet from KADIN without asking. If you are an Indonesian company taking kit out of the country, KADIN's page is the place to begin.

How long is it valid?

ICC says a carnet is valid for multiple trips for up to one year, and that the issuing association can shorten that period. Read the date on your own document rather than assuming the full year.

Validity covers the customs document only. It is not a Bali film permit and gives no right to stay, so your film permit and visa run on their own clocks. Your kit also has to leave as a temporary import. Ask your issuing association which endorsements you must collect from customs at each border, on the way in and on the way out, and what happens if a stamp goes missing.

What about arriving out of hours in Bali?

The ICC sheet says all customs offices handle carnets during office hours, 7.30 am to 5.00 pm, and names only two 24-hour offices: Tanjung Priok and Soekarno-Hatta. Bali does not appear on that list. Ngurah Rai Airport sits in Tuban, Badung regency, with the code DPS, according to Wikipedia.

Remember the date of the sheet. It was last modified in 2020, so confirm arrangements at Ngurah Rai. Read it as a prompt to make one phone call:

• Ask customs at Ngurah Rai whether an officer can endorse your carnet at your actual arrival time.
• If not, ask what happens to the kit until office hours resume, and who holds it.
• Put the same question for your departure flight, because the carnet needs attention on the way out as well.
• If you are sending kit as freight, ask your forwarder which office will clear it and when.

If you get no clear answer, a daytime arrival inside those hours lowers the risk.

Does a carnet cover drones?

Only on the customs side, if at all. A carnet is a customs document and gives you no permission to fly. Flight rests on aviation approval, the pilot and the aircraft's registration, all set out on commercial drone filming in Bali.

The customs side can take more paperwork too. Atlas Film Fixers, a production company, says bringing one may need extra customs permits, invoices and component lists on top of aviation approval and carnet paperwork. Ask your local partner before you pack one, because a local aircraft and pilot removes this question.

Batteries raise a separate airline issue. IATA says spare batteries are not allowed in checked baggage, and that carriage depends on configuration and watt-hour rating. A carnet changes none of this, so check with your carrier when you book.

What if you travel without a carnet?

Customs runs a temporary import route that requires an application before the goods enter Indonesia, with details of goods, port, location, purpose and period. The examples on that page are exhibitions, research and sport, so confirm with customs that it will handle film equipment this way. Apply before the kit travels, since the page sets the application before entry. Bali Film Center's point about declaring equipment applies either way.

Hiring most of the kit locally avoids the question. That decision belongs with the wider packing plan on bringing film equipment to Bali.

What happens if the kit does not match the carnet?

You can end up paying duty on the difference. Hoodlum says the carnet documentation must match the actual equipment on arrival exactly, and that discrepancies can result in duty being assessed on unmatched items. Hoodlum and Atlas Film Fixers both estimate customs clearance at two to five working days, with Hoodlum tying that to shipment complexity and customs workload. Those are company estimates and no customs commitment. Our suggestion: allow for them between landing and your first shoot day, and count the kit against the document before the cases leave for the airport.

What do crews ask about carnets?

Does Indonesia accept ATA Carnet?

Yes. Indonesian customs lists professional equipment among carnet uses, under regulation 228/PMK.04/2014, and KADIN names film crews among users.

Who issues ATA Carnet for Indonesia?

KADIN Indonesia is the national guaranteeing association, according to an ICC country sheet. Ask the association that would issue your carnet, as ICC describes an issuing association for each one.

How long is an ATA Carnet valid?

Up to one year for multiple trips, according to ICC. The issuing association can shorten the period, so read the date on your document.

Can I use a carnet at Ngurah Rai?

A dated ICC sheet says all customs offices handle carnets during office hours, and it lists no 24-hour office in Bali. Confirm with customs at the airport before an arrival outside those hours.

How to use ATA Carnet in Indonesia?

Complete it in English or Indonesian, describe each item so an officer can identify it, present it to customs on arrival, and take the same goods out again. Ask your issuing association which endorsements it requires.

Which sources support this page?

• Indonesian customs, ATA Carnet FAQ
• Indonesian customs, temporary import
• ICC, Indonesia joins the ATA Carnet system
• ICC, ATA Carnet
• ICC country sheet for Indonesia, modified 2020
• KADIN Indonesia, ATA Carnet
• Bali Film Center, guidelines
• Atlas Film Fixers, Bali
• IATA, lithium batteries
• Wikipedia, Ngurah Rai International Airport
• Hoodlum, Bali film production services

How do I reach the desk?

Share your arrival flight, what the kit is worth in broad terms and whether a drone is on the list. We can point you to the right questions, but customs and your issuing association decide the carnet matters. The desk has a stake here: a request may become a paid booking. A written offer states any fee, the price and the company contracting with you before you agree, and only that document commits anyone.

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