COVID-19 Task Force Issues Latest Guidelines for International Travelers

The Task Force for COVID-19 Handling has issued a Circular Letter (SE) Number 26 of 2021 on Health Protocols for International Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“This Circular is effective from 25 December 2021 until a later date is determined. With the Circular taking effect, Circular Letter Number 25 of 2021 is revoked and declared null and void” the SE reads, which was signed by the Head of COVID-19 Task Force Suharyanto.

In order to follow up on the development of COVID-19 in various countries and the results of cross-sectoral evaluations, it is deemed necessary to adjust the control mechanism for international travel.

“To anticipate the spread of the new and future SARS-CoV-2 virus, international travelers must adhere to health protocols very strictly and pay attention to regulations or policies that have been set by the Government,” the Circular reads.

It is also stated that the purpose of the CIrcular is to implement health protocols for international travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the objective is to monitor, control, and evaluate in order to prevent more transmission of COVID-19 including the new and future variants of the virus.

“The scope of this Circular Letter is a health protocol for international travelers,” it reads.

As stated in the Circular, an international traveler is someone who has traveled from abroad in the last fourteen days.

The provisions of the health protocol contained in the Circular are as follows:

1. International travelers with the status of Indonesian Citizens from abroad are allowed to enter Indonesia while still following the strict health protocols set by the Government.
2. Foreign nationals who have lived and/or visited within fourteen days from the country/region with certain criteria are temporarily prohibited to enter the territory of Indonesia, either directly or in transit in a foreign country. These are the criteria:
   1. a country who has confirmed community transmission of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529: South Africa, Botswana and Norway;
   2. a country/region that is geographically close to significant community transmission of new variant B.1.1529: Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, and Lesotho; and/or
   3. a country/region with more than 10,000 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1529: England and Denmark.
3. The temporary prohibition for foreign nationals to enter Indonesian territory, either directly of in transit in a foreign country does not apply to:
   1. those who have no travel history and/or stay within fourteen days from the country/region as referred to in number 2;
   2. those who have meet the provisions stated in Regulation of Minister of Law and Human Rights Number 34 of 2021 on the Granting of Immigration Visas and Stay Permits in the period of COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery;
   3. those who are under an agreement scheme (bilateral), such as travel corridor arrangement (TCA); and/or
   4. those who get special consideration/permission in written from a ministry/institution.
4. All international travelers, both Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals, must comply with the following requirements:
   1. complying with the provisions of the health protocols set by the Government;
   2. showing physical or digital card/certificate on the COVID-19 full dose vaccination at least fourteen days before departure as a requirement to enter Indonesia, meeting the following conditions:
      1. Indonesian citizens are required to show a physical or digital card/certificate having received a full dose of COVID-19 vaccine as a requirement to enter Indonesia, and in the event that Indonesian citizens have not received the vaccine abroad, they will be vaccinated at a quarantine location upon arrival in Indonesia after the second RT-PCR tests are carried out with negative results;
      2. Foreign nationals are required to show a physical or digital card/certificate having received a full dose of COVID-19 vaccine as a requirement to enter Indonesia;
      3. In the event that the foreign nationals have not received the vaccine abroad, they will be vaccinated at the quarantine location upon arrival in Indonesia after the second RT-PCR tests with negative results are carried out, with the following conditions:
         1. foreign nationals aged 12-17 years old;
         2. holders of diplomatic stay permits and official stay permits; and/or
         3. holders of limited stay permits (KITAS) and permanent stay permits (KITAP).
      4. Foreign nationals who are already in Indonesia and will travel, both domestically and internationally, are required to vaccinate through a program or mutual cooperation scheme in accordance with statutory regulations;
      5. The obligation to show a physical or digital COVID-19 vaccination card/certificate as a requirement to enter Indonesia is excluded for:
         1. foreign nationals who hold diplomatic visas and service visas related to official/state visits of foreign officials at ministerial level and above and foreign nationals who enter Indonesia under the TCA scheme, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity while still implementing strict health protocols;
         2. foreign nationals who have not been vaccinated and intend to travel domestically with the purpose of taking international flights out of the territory of Indonesia are allowed not to show their COVID-19 vaccination card/certificate as long as they do not leave the airport area during transit waiting for international flights, with the following requirements:
            1. receiving permit from the local Port Health Office (KKP) to carry out domestic trips with the purpose of taking flights out of Indonesia; and
            2. showing the schedule of flight tickets to outside Indonesia through direct transit from the city of departure to the international airport in the territory of Indonesia with the final stop at the destination country.
         3. international travelers under 18 years old; and
         4. international travelers with special health conditions or comorbid diseases that cause travelers to be unable to receive vaccines, with the condition that they must attach a doctor’s certificate from the government hospital of the country of departure stating that the person concerned has not received and/or cannot receive COVID-19 vaccination.
      6. The physical of digital card/certificate is written in English, in addition to the language of the country of origin.
   3. showing negative results of RT-PCR tests in the country/region of origin with samples taken within a maximum period of 3 x 24 hours before the departure time and attaching them during the health check or when filling the Indonesian International e-HAC;
   4. showing proofs of payment confirmation for booking quarantine accommodation from the accommodation provider while staying in Indonesia if international travelers carrying out centralized quarantine with self-financing;
   5. for Indonesian citizens who come from abroad with the criteria of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), students, and certain people who carry out certain tasks
   6. upon arrival, RT-PCR retests are carried out for international travelers and they are required to undergo centralized quarantine for 10 x 24 hours;
   7. in the event that Indonesian citizens from the country/region as referred to in number 2 can still enter the territory of Indonesia, they must retest the RT-PCR tests upon arrival and are required to undergo centralized quarantine for 14 x 24 hours;
   8. the quarantine obligations as referred to in letters f and g are carried out with the following provisions:
      1. for Indonesian citizens, namely PMI, students who have completed their studies abroad, government employees returning from official trips abroad, or Indonesian representatives in international competitions or festivals in accordance with the laws and regulations on Entry Points, Quarantine Locations, and RT-PCR Obligations for Indonesian Citizens Traveling Overseas, the costs shall be borne by the Government.
      2. for Indonesian citizens outside the criteria as referred to in number i and for foreign nationals, including foreign diplomats, besides the heads of foreign missions and the families of the heads of foreign missions shall undergo quarantine in quarantine accommodation places.
   9. quarantine accommodation places as referred to in letter h.i must obtain a recommendation from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, meeting the terms and conditions of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) for cleanliness, health, safety, and environmental sustainability (CHSE) and the ministry in charge of health affairs for the Jakarta and surrounding areas or the provincial office in charge of health affairs in the regions related to the COVID-19 health protocol certification;
   10. in the event that the results of the RT-PCR retests upon arrival as referred to in letter f and letter g show positive results, then treatment is carried out at the hospital. For Indonesian citizens the cost shall be borne by the Government and for foreign nationals the cost shall be borne independently;
   11. in the event that the foreign nationals are unable to pay for the self-quarantine and/or treatment at the hospital, the sponsor, ministries/institution/SOEs that provide consideration for the entry permit for the foreign nationals may hold responsible for the said persons;
   12. for Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals, the second RT-PCR tests are carried out with the following conditions:
       1. On the 9th day of quarantine for international travelers who carry out quarantine with a duration of 10 x 24 hours; or
       2. On the 13th day of quarantine for international travelers who carry out quarantine with a duration of 14 x 24 hours.
   13. in the event that the RT-PCR retest as referred to in letter l shows a negative result, Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals are allowed to continue their journey and are advised to self-quarantine for fourteen days and apply health protocols;
   14. in the event of a positive result of the retest as referred to in letter l, treatment is carried out at the hospital. For Indonesian citizens, the cost shall be borne by the Government and for foreign nationals, the cost shall be borne independently;
   15. a written comparison of the RT-PCR test as referred to in letter l can be requested by filling out the form provided by the KKP or the ministry in charge of health affairs for the Jakarta and surrounding areas with the cost of the examination being borne by the foreign travelers;
   16. the RT-PCR comparison test as referred to in letter o is carried out by the laboratories of the Cipto Mangunkusumo Central General Hospital (RSCM), or the Gatot Soebroto Army Central Hospital (RSPAD), or the Bhayangkara Raden Said Sukanto Hospital (the National Police Hospital) or simultaneously by the KKP or the laboratory in cooperation with the quarantine accommodation;
   17. KKP of International Airports and Seaports facilitate Indonesian citizens or foreign nationals traveling abroad who need emergency medical services upon arrival in Indonesia in accordance with applicable regulations;
   18. ministries/institutions/regional governments who carry out functions related to Indonesian citizens and/or foreign nationals following up on this Circular by issuing legal instruments that are in line with and do not conflict with what referred to in this Circular and the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations; and
   19. the legal instrument as referred to in letter r is an inseparable part of this Circular.
5. Indonesian citizens with official status at echelon I level and above in government institutions, leaders of government institutions, members of the House of Representatives (DPR), the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), and judicial institutions in an official trip may carry out individual self-quarantine.
6. In the event that an official at the echelon I level and above as referred to in number 5 is not in an official trip, then the persons shall carry out a centralized quarantine.
7. In the event that an official at the echelon I level and above as referred to in number 5 is not in an official trip, dispensation may be granted for the implementation of centralized quarantine for 10 x 24 hours as referred to in number 4.f. by reducing the duration of the quarantine.
8. Foreigners with the status of head of foreign missions serving in Indonesia and their families may be given dispensation for the implementation of centralized quarantine for 10 x 24 hours as referred to in number 4.f. in the form of individual self-quarantine.
9. Exceptions from quarantine obligations may be granted to Indonesian citizens under urgent circumstances, such as: having a life-threatening health condition, a health condition requiring special attention, or grief due to the death of a nuclear family member.
10. The temporary prohibition for foreign nationals entering Indonesian territory and exemption from quarantine obligations provided that a bubble system and strict health protocols are implemented, are allowed for foreigners with the following criteria:
    1. holders of diplomatic visas and service visas;
    2. foreign officials at the ministerial level and above and their entourage making official/state visits;
    3. travelers who enter Indonesia through the TCA scheme;
    4. delegations of G20 member countries; and
    5. travelers who are honorable persons and distinguished persons. An honorable person includes a former head of a state or a former head of government of a country. Meanwhile, a distinguished person is an individual who holds a position of high social and economic value in the eyes of the international community, such as Nobel laureates, global religious leaders, global community leaders, and global economic figures.
11. The granting of dispensation for the duration of quarantine and/or for the implementation of self-quarantine as referred to in number 7, number 8, and number 10 shall be submitted at least seven days prior to arrival in Indonesia to the National COVID-19 Handling Task Force and may be granted selectively, individually and in a limited quota based on the agreement between the Task Force, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, and Ministry of Health.
12. The granting of dispensation for the duration of quarantine for Indonesian citizens with urgent circumstances as referred to in number 6 shall be submitted at least three days prior to arrival in Indonesia to the National COVID-19 Handling Task Force and may be granted selectively, individually, and in a limited quota based on the agreement between the Task Force, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, and Ministry of Health.
13. Implementation of self-quarantine as referred to in number 5 and number 6 must meet the following provisions:
    1. having a separate bedroom and bathroom for each foreign traveler;
    2. minimizing contact during food distribution or eating activities;
    3. not having physical contact with other travelers who are in quarantine or other individuals; and
    4. requiring quarantine supervisory officers to report quarantine monitoring on a daily basis to KKP officers in their region; and
    5. performing a second RT-PCR test on the 9th day of quarantine and must report the results of the RT-PCR test to KKP officers in their region.
14. On the application for dispensation from the implementation of self-quarantine as referred to in number 5 and number 6, the international traveler concerned must attach proof of compliance with the requirements for self-quarantine in the form of a separate bedroom and bathroom for each foreign traveler as well as documents that includes the identity of the quarantine supervisor validated by Ministry of Health cq KKP.
15. The strict health protocol as referred to in number 4 must meet the following terms and conditions:
    1. The use of masks must be done properly covering the nose and mouth;
    2. The types of masks used by travelers are three-layer cloth masks or medical masks;
    3. It is not permitted to speak one way or two ways by telephone or in-person throughout the trip using public transportation modes via land, railway, sea, river, lake, ferry, and air; and
    4. It is not allowed to eat and drink during the flight journey for a journey that is less than two hours, except for individuals who are obliged to take medicine for treatment which if not done can endanger the safety and health of the person concerned.
16. Every international traveler is required to use the PeduliLindungi application as a condition to enter the territory of Indonesia.
17. Every operator of transportation modes at the entry point for international travel is required to use the PeduliLindungi application.
18. Supervision of quarantine of cargo ships and crews is in accordance with more specific and technical arrangements stipulated by Ministry of Health through monitoring by the KKP at each entry point for international travel.
19. International travelers with the status of foreign nationals with the purpose of traveling without a travel history and/or staying within fourteen days from the country as referred to in number 2 may enter the territory of Indonesia with the following conditions:
    1. entering via airport entry points in Bali and the Riau Islands;
    2. in addition to the provisions/requirements, showing the COVID-19 certificate/card and the negative result of the RT-PCR test as referred to in number 4.b. and 4.c., international travelers who want to go for tourist trips are required to attach:
       1. short-stay visa or other entry permits in accordance with applicable laws and regulations;
       2. proof of ownership of health insurance with an insured value of at least US$100,000 which includes financing for COVID-19 handling; and
       3. proof of booking confirmation and payment for accommodation from the accommodation provider while staying in Indonesia. (COVID-19 Task Force/UN) (FI/LW)