mugwump
Does anyone truly know if approval of retirement visa permits retiree to bring household goods duty-free from his/her native domicile? Such a move would include perhaps a container full of household furniture, appliances etc. Is there a limitation or attendant limitations?
Would really appreciate information from those who have had this experience including advantages/disadvantages. Obviously costs of shipping are a known factor, but what are the rules?
Thanks for replies by persons having the experience.
Markit
Don't know what the previous guy said because about half way through I lose the will to live so if I'm repeating, tough.
In a word "NO" the retirement visa does not allow you to bring duty free or any other free to Indonesia.
,
Strangely you can bring duty free if you are on a work visa.
davita
I can talk with authority on this subject. In a word....'doneventhinkabootit'.
My wife (Indonesian) and I were married 29 years ago next month. She was presented with a combined wedding gift from her working colleagues. It was an expensive dinner service which we bought in London and shipped to Hong Kong where we lived. We retired soon after and immigrated to Canada and the plates went with us.
Some years ago we sold-up in Canada, in favour of using our retirement visa to live in Indonesia. The only thing my wife wanted to bring was her beloved dinner service. We employed UPS to pack, almost by now an antique heirloom of plates etc, and shipped to Indonesia.
We turned up at Jakarta cargo terminal when it arrived with all relevant documentation....but the customs official demanded our parcels be stripped open; finding nothing than old crockery they couldn't see any graft so demanded customs duty of 25% of value. I showed them the original receipt from London in 1987, when it was purchased, and our retirement Kitas and the LAW where we are permitted to bring in personal stuff.
The ****head supervisor wouldn't budge and demanded to see our 'boarding pass' for the flight we arrived with the Itas to obtain the retirement Kitas....some time earlier. This was obviously a shake-down and we were stuck with 'negotiating' a price to release, by then, my tearful wife's precious dinner service. I succumbed and paid...but my intent was to shoot the bastard and feed him to the gnarly dogs..
Suffice to say this evening (14 Dec 2015) we had a dinner party and the crockery everyone eat from is our wedding gift....and one of our guests was a contributer in 1987.
Meanwhile, by the time my in-law family dealt with the aftermath the customs supervisor, according to my nephews, was last seen begging using a monkey on a leash in Tangerang. They had him arrested for animal cruelty. I hope he enjoys his meal in jail on plastic plates whilst we still use the most expensive dinner-service 'graft' can buy.
The point I make is Indonesian LAW has no meaning unless one has the power to implement it..Hati! Hati!
By all means bring in your personal belongings, as is your right, but keep your boarding pass from when you got your retirement visa (who does that?). If they show any animosity then bring out your 'Uzi machine gun' and dictate who's BOSS...:icon_wink:
davita
Retirement Kitas holders are definitely permitted to bring personal possessions into Indonesia free of all duties. My friend in Umulas has a house full of furniture he imported from Hong Kong when he came to Bali on his Retirement Kitas. There are certain restrictions as to previous ownership and kinds of personal possessions...i.e. to import 5 air-conditioners would probably arouse suspicion.....and the items cannot be brought in drib and drab...only one shipment is allowed.
There is no distinction between any of the Kitas in that regard.
Holders of lesser visas than Kitas are not permitted to import personal possessions.
copy/paste from expatlivingindonesia....
[I]Household Shipments on a Retirement Visa.
If the retiree already has already been issued an ITAS card, then there should be no problem in sending personal effects/household goods to Indonesia. Problems can occur when the retiree does not have the ITAS card in hand, but has already shipped their household goods.
We suggest that you use "door to door" shipment services so that the moving company in Indonesia can sort out the paperwork and clearance for you. Just talk with your moving company in Indonesia first and discuss that that you are on a retirement visa/ITAS, so there won't be any working permit requirement applied for the shipment clearance. [/I]
This subject was covered in a previous thread on Balipod where someone imported his personal goods [B]before[/B] receiving his ITAS...that caused some issues. I believe he changed his shipment to that of his returning WNI wife...which is also permitted so long as the WNI has been out of country for 12months+
davita
paulseawind wrote1. Great story, DVT. Very well told.
2. Customs are in the gun even more these days, if you recall how a few of them tried to (recently) rort a group of 6 Chinese at Ngurah Rai for money and also took/stole an iPhone.
Those guys are demoted, dis-employed and detached from their income now, if you can believe the newspaper report.
1. Thank you...some member said reading my post makes him lose the will to live...I wish he will read more and his dream comes true...:icon_e_biggrin:
2. Jakpost just yesterday reports those 2 Customs Officers you refer are facing charges this week.....so I'll keep looking for results from that.
davita
This is a copy/paste from member Gilbert De Jong on 22 feb 2013....
shipped on retirementvisa without any problems or inflated prices after the arrival of goods.
Markit
Since GeriatricsRUs won't listen I include my communique with my shipping agency when I had the same misplaced/FECKING WRONG idea of bringing my household items from the UK:
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]1. The validity of your KITAs card must be valid in total of 12 months, regardless of the date if shipping application. However, please be reminded that the shipment [B][U]must[/U][/B] enter port of destination (Surabaya) within 3 months after your arrival date in the country, [B]per issuance date of KITAs[/B], otherwise the shipment is automatically dutiable. [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Since your KITAs was issued on July 13, 2012, thus the shipment must arrive in Indonesia at the latest on October 12, 2012.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=4][B][COLOR=#ff0000][FONT=Arial]2. According to Indonesia customs regulation, foreign citizen who are entitled to duty-free facility, are those who will be working in Indonesia for min. 12 months, proven by the IMTA/working permit valid for min.12 months. [SIZE=5][I][U]Without the IMTA, the shipment will be dutiable.[/U][/I][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR]
[/B][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][/SIZE][SIZE=4][/SIZE]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]If we are to consign the shipment to Indonesian citizen, the person should have worked/studied in the UK for min. 12 months and have below docs for clearance process:[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] [COLOR=#000000][B]1. Original Passport[/B][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica][B][FONT=Arial][B][FONT=Arial][FONT=Helvetica]2. Original Statement from Indonesian Embassy/Consulate that shipper has been living abroad for a minimum of one year, stating date of arrival, date of intended return to Indonesia and shipper intends to ship personal effects. [B][U][COLOR=red][FONT=Helvetica]Note: If shipper has 1 air and 1 sea shipment to Indonesia, they must obtain 2 statement letters form the Embassy for clearance process at airport and port.[/FONT][/COLOR][/U][/B][/FONT][/FONT][/B][/FONT][/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica][B][FONT=Arial][B][FONT=Arial][FONT=Helvetica][B][U][COLOR=red][FONT=Helvetica][/FONT][/COLOR][/U][/B][/FONT][/FONT][/B][/FONT][/B][/FONT][FONT=Helvetica][B][FONT=Arial]3. Original Inventory List legalized by Indonesian Embassy/Consulate at origin country [/FONT][/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica][/FONT][FONT=Helvetica][B][FONT=Arial]4. Letter of Assignment and Reassignment by customer's employer or sponsoring company[/FONT][/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica][B]5. Copy of Diploma for student[/B][/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT]
[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Please find attached Indonesia customs regulation for Returning Indonesian citizen for your reference.[/SIZE][/FONT]
geedee
davita wroteThis is a copy/paste from member Gilbert De Jong on 22 feb 2013....
shipped on retirementvisa without any problems or inflated prices after the arrival of goods.
Graciously Admit defeat Davita , you may live to fight another day
and revenge is sweet
The king of Karangasem has defeated the Kerobokan kitten and the Northern Narcissist
I suppose though this is what the forum is about ideas ,opinions, fantasies and facts
Markit
I would point out that Gils mom is Indonesian but lived many years in Holland.
If it make you feel any better Davita, this country is all grey areas and I fully understand and accept that that was [U][I]my own personal experience [/I][/U]and there is the distinct possibility that someone else may have a completely [B]different outcome[/B] in a similar situation!
Markit
geedee wroteGraciously Admit defeat Davita , you may live to fight another day
and revenge is sweet
The king of Karangasem has defeated the [B][COLOR=#ff0000]Kerobokan kitten[/COLOR][/B] and the [B][COLOR=#ff0000]Northern Narcissist[/COLOR][/B]
I suppose though this is what the forum is about ideas ,opinions, fantasies and facts
What the Holy Feck is this about?
mugwump
Thanks for your contributions which had tidbits of information before becoming the usual feud and meandering into complete nothingness.
Why in the hell can't this forum maintain some source of useful information w/o disintegrating into these personality clashes and abject stupidity?
davita
If you find this forum doesn't assist I suggest 'Livinginindonesiaforum' may give better results. It has a moderation team that penalises those that use a tone to disparage and belittle others who are genuinely trying to help.
Markit
What he said!!!
Muggy what part of the question/answer isn't up to your high standards?
Markit
davita wrote It has a moderation team that penalises those that use a tone to disparage and belittle others who are genuinely trying to help.
Diddums
geedee
davita wroteIf you find this forum doesn't assist I suggest 'Livinginindonesiaforum' may give better results. It has a moderation team that penalises those that use a tone to disparage and belittle others who are genuinely trying to help.
Davita - I think there is some fantastic and accurate information on this forum as well as a lot of smart people .
I also believe the owner or moderators are doing a great job.
They are smart not doing much moderation as too much moderation is a bad thing
With less moderation and just letting it go even if there are disagreements it will bring out more answers and facts.
Penalising people would make the forum less interesting.
You are a wealth of information with some great experiences,obviously a very intelligent person who is very helpful and your a nice guy.
I do believe some people have said cruel things to you , but i think a lot of it is tongue in cheek and they would have a smile on their face while doing it.
Also the other readers can easily see this if the comments are cruel.
You have also said cruel things in retaliation and just maybe that's why you get these comments as they know you bite(BUT KEEP BITING ITS FUN).
Everyone is different and that's great ,a bit of fun in the forum is what makes it.
To say people should try another forum is like standing in a retail shop and telling the customers to go somewhere else.
Just my opinion
PS The op was answered
davita
admin wroteAnd do you think that works better?
Mugwump made a complaint on a thread that I had posted. I was addressing that complaint the best I know how.
If all is well and I'm the only one that doesn't get it.....why the complaint in the first place?
Please follow the chronological order of sequence of posts and find where the complainant started to see the thread go awry.
bp-admin
[QUOTE][COLOR=#333333]It has a moderation team that penalises those that use a tone to disparage and belittle others who are genuinely trying to help.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
And do you think that works better?
[QUOTE][COLOR=#333333]I also believe the owner or moderators are doing a great job.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333]They are smart not doing much moderation as too much moderation is a bad thing, with less moderation and just letting it go [/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333]even if there are disagreements brings out more answers and facts. Penalising people would make the forum less interesting.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
Thanks and it is nice to see someone understands what we are doing. Anyone who has tried moderating a forum will know it is [B]impossible[/B] to please everyone.
All moderators have different styles and I prefer to just let threads run and if it does get out of hand nuke the whole thread and by the next day everyone will have forgotten about it anyway. Fortunately this doesn't have be done too often and I can't even remember the last time I have banned someone.
If you don't like reading someone's posts there is always the 'ignore' feature.
geedee
paulseawind wrote (Even if it [I]might[/I] have had something to do with me.)
Paulfullofwind - why on earth would you think that
Steve Rossell
I thought this thread was about Duty free goods with retirement visas.
mugwump
Markit wroteWhat he said!!!
Muggy what part of the question/answer isn't up to your high standards?
For one I do recall Gilbert a few years back stating that he was in his mid-thirties, and am scratching my head in wonder how he aged so fast. Really thought that a person had to be at least 55 y.o. to qualify for a retirement visa.
Also regret jumping the gun by posting w/o doing more research first. www. expat.or.id has an article on Retirement in Indonesia stating that household goods are duty-free for those retirees with an ITAS. As you say different people may realize different results.
Don't mean to berate, but to express exasperation when things digress so when an individual is trying to get some factual information. These threads do wander!
