Indonesia SIM Card for Tourists: Telkomsel, XL, IMEI Rules and Registration

The IMEI rule, in plain words

Indonesia blocks phones that are not registered with the government’s IMEI database from using local networks. For visitors there are two ways around that:

The 90-day temporary route is only available to foreigners. Most tourists never need permanent registration. It matters if you are staying longer, or if you bought a phone abroad that you plan to keep using here.

Up to two devices per passenger can be registered at customs on arrival. You can still register at a customs office within 60 days, but then the US$500 exemption no longer applies and import duty, VAT and income tax are charged on the phone’s value.

Roaming on your home SIM and travel eSIMs do not need IMEI registration.

Tourist SIM options

Telkomsel tourist SIM (pre-order). Telkomsel’s foreigner page lists a SIMPATI tourist pack at Rp100,000 with 25GB, 25 local and 25 international call minutes, valid 30 days. It is pre-ordered online and collected at pickup points in Bali or Mandalika (Lombok), and your phone must be unlocked. Telkomsel’s own FAQ still shows Rp150,000 for a similar pack, so expect the price at the counter to vary.

XL tourist eSIM. Bought online, delivered as a QR code by email, 30 days, from Rp46,000 for 14GB to Rp168,000 for 150GB. XL asks for your passport and your phone’s IMEI. Details in the eSIM guide.

Airport and street kiosks. You will see SIM sellers in the arrivals area and on every tourist street. Prices are higher than official outlets and published nowhere we could verify. If you use one, check the pack is registered to your passport and that data works before you pay.

Registration got stricter in July 2026

Since 1 July 2026, new SIM registrations in Indonesia use facial biometrics checked against the national population database. Starter packs are sold inactive until registration succeeds. Foreigners register with a passport and a valid stay permit document. How exactly this is applied to visitors on a visa on arrival or visa exemption is still unclear, and outlets handle it differently.

What that means for you:

• Buy at an official operator store or a pickup point named on the operator’s website.
• Bring your passport, and your visa or e-VOA document.
• Expect a face scan and allow 15–30 minutes.
• Do not buy a pre-registered SIM from someone else. It is registered to another person’s identity and can be blocked.

Telkomsel or XL?

Opensignal’s July 2026 report gave Telkomsel the best coverage and XL the best speeds and reliability. Choose Telkomsel if you are heading to Nusa Penida, Flores, Sumba or rural Sumatra; XL is fine — often faster — in Bali, Jakarta and Java’s cities. XL merged with Smartfren and now operates as XLSMART; the XL brand is unchanged for customers.

Questions travellers ask

Where can I buy a SIM card at Bali airport?

Operator counters and kiosks sell SIMs in the arrivals area, but their prices are not published and are usually higher than official outlets. Telkomsel’s pre-ordered tourist SIM can be collected at its Bali pickup points.

How do I register an Indonesian SIM card?

At the shop with your passport (and visa or e-VOA). Since July 2026 registration can include a face scan. The shop also activates the 90-day access that lets your foreign phone use the SIM.