COVID-19 Task Force Issues New Regulation for International Travel During Pandemic

COVID-19 Handling Task Force has issued Circular Number 15 of 2022 on Health Protocols for International Travel during COVID-19 Pandemic.

“The Circular comes into force from March 23, 2022 until further notice. With the issuance of this Circular, Circular Number 12 of 2022 on Health Protocols for International Travel During COVID-19 Pandemic and Circular Number 13 of 2022 on Health Protocols for International Traveler Entering Indonesia through Entry Points in Bali, Batam, and Bintan During COVID-19 Pandemic are revoked and declared null and void,” the Circular reads.

One of the legal bases for this Circular is the decision of the Limited Cabinet Meeting on March 21, 2022.

The health protocol provisions stipulated in the Circular are as follows.

1. International travelers may enter the Indonesian territory through the following entry points:
   1. Airports: Soekarno Hatta Airport, Banten; Juanda Airport, East Java; Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali; Hang Nadim Airport and Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport, Riau Islands; Sam Ratulangi Airport, North Sulawesi; and Zainuddin Abdul Madjid Airport, West Nusa Tenggara.
   2. Sea Ports: Tanjung Benoa Port, Bali; Batam Port, Tanjung Pinang Port, and Bintan Port, Riau Islands; and Nunukan Port, North Kalimantan.
   3. Cross-border posts: Aruk border post and Entikong border post, West Kalimantan and Motaain border post, East Nusa Tenggara.
2. International travelers are allowed to enter Indonesia by following strict health protocols set by the Government.
3. Foreign Citizens may enter the Indonesian territory under the following conditions:
   1. complying with provisions of immigration policy stipulated by Ministry of Law and Human Rights;
   2. complying with the (bilateral) agreement scheme, including the Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA); and/or
   3. being granted special consideration/permission by Ministries/Institutions in a written from.
4. The requirements for entering the Indonesian territory through the entry points are as follows:
   1. international travelers must comply with health protocols issued by the Government;
   2. international travelers must use PeduliLindungi application and fill out Indonesia’s e-HAC;
   3. international travelers must show card/certificate for the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine received not less than fourteen days before departure with the following conditions:
      1. Indonesian citizens who have not received the vaccine must get vaccinated at the entry points after RT-PCR examination with negative results upon the arrival or at quarantine facilities after the second RT-PCR examination with negative results;
      2. foreign citizens who have not received the vaccine must get vaccinated at the entry points after RT-PCR examination with negative results upon the arrival or at quarantine facilities after the second RT-PCR examination with negative results under the following conditions:
         1. being aged between 6 and 17;
         2. holders of diplomatic residence permits and official residence permits; and/or
         3. holders of limited stay permit card (KITAS) and permanent residence permit card (KITAP).
      3. foreign citizens  who are already in Indonesia and intend to travel, both domestically and internationally, must get vaccinated through a national program or mutual cooperation (gotong royong) scheme in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations;
      4. the card/certificate of the COVID-19 second dose vaccine should be in English and in addition to the language of the country of origin;
   4. the requirement for showing COVID-19 card/certificate as referred to in the letter c does not apply for:
      1. foreign citizens holding diplomatic visas and service visas related to official/state visits of foreign officials at the ministerial level and above and foreigners who enter Indonesia under the TCA scheme, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity while still complying with strict health protocols;
      2. foreign citizens who have not got vaccinated and intend to carry out a domestic travel as a transit for international flights, provided that they do not leave the airport area during transit before the international flights, under the following requirements:
         1. having a permit issued by the local Port Health Authority (KKP) to carry out domestic travel as a transit for flights to areas outside the territory of Indonesia; and
         2. showing a flight ticket to regions outside Indonesia for direct transit from the city of departure to the international airport in the territory of Indonesia with the final point of arrival in another country.
      3. international travelers under 18 years old;
      4. international travelers with special health conditions or comorbid diseases that prevent them to get vaccinated, with the requirement that they attach a doctor’s certificate from the Government hospital of the country of origin stating that the person concerned has not and/or cannot receive COVID-19 vaccine.
   5. international travelers must show a negative result of RT-PCR test in the country/region of origin, with the test taken within a maximum period of 2 days before departure. The result must be shown at the time of the health examination or be attached in the Indonesia’s e-HAC;
   6. in the event that international travelers undergo centralized quarantine at their own expense, they must show proof of payment for booking quarantine facilities from providers during stay in Indonesia;
   7. foreign citizens must attach proof of health insurance covering payment of COVID-19 treatment and medical evacuation to the referral hospitals with a minimum coverage that is in accordance with local governments;
   8. upon the arrival, international travelers must undergo RT-PCRT retests;
   9. after RT-PCR examination upon the arrival, international travelers must go through:
      1. immigration document and customs document checks;
      2. baggage claim and baggage disinfection;
      3. directly be picked-up and dropped-off at the hotel, lodging accommodation, or residence;
      4. wait for the results of RT-PCR examination at the hotel, lodging accommodation, or residence and are not allowed to interact with others before RT-PCR examination results show a negative result.
   10. in the event that RT-PCR retests examination upon the arrival as referred to in letter h show a negative result, the provisions are as follows:
       1. international travelers who have not received the vaccine or have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine not less than fourteen days before departure must undergo 5×24 hours quarantine;
       2. international travelers who have received the second dose or the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine not less than fourteen days before departure are allowed to continue their travel;
       3. international travelers under 18 years old and/or who need special protection, the provisions for quarantine follow the provisions applied for their parents or travel companions; or
       4. international travelers with special health conditions or comorbid diseases that prevent them to get vaccinated, with the requirement that they attach a doctor’s certificate from the Government hospital of the country of origin stating that the person concerned has not and/or cannot receive COVID-19 vaccine.
   11. international travelers are recommended to monitor their health condition due to COVID-19 in fourteen days while complying with health protocols, in the event that international travelers with negative result of RT-PCR test examination upon the arrival and are allowed to continue the travel as referred to in letter j.ii and j.iv.
   12. in the event that the RT-PCR retest as referred to in letter f shows a positive result, the follow-up measures will be carried out under the following conditions:
       1. in the event that the traveler shows no symptoms or shows mild symptoms, the isolation or treatment must be carried out in isolation facilities at hotels or centralized isolation facilities determined by the Government; or
       2. in the event that the traveler shows moderate or severe symptoms, and/or with uncontrolled comorbidities, the isolation or treatment must be carried out at COVID-19 referral hospitals; and
       3. the cost of isolation/treatment for foreign citizens is borne at their own expense, while the cost for Indonesian citizens is borne by the Government.
   13. mandatory quarantine as referred in the letter j must be carried under following conditions:
       1. Indonesian citizens, namely Indonesian migrant workers; students who have completed their studies abroad; the Government employees returning from official trips overseas; or Indonesian representatives in international competitions or festivals must undergo centralized quarantine at the expense of the Government in accordance with the Decree of Head of COVID-19 Handling Task Force on Quarantine Facilities and Mandatory RT-PCR for Indonesian Citizens Traveling Overseas;
       2. Indonesian citizens not included in the criteria as referred to in number i must undergo quarantine at quarantine facilities at their own expense; and
       3. foreign nationals other than the head of the foreign representative and the family of the head of the foreign representative must undergo centralized quarantine at quarantine facilities at their own expense.
   14. in the event that international travelers who have not received vaccine or have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and undergo 5×24 hours quarantine must take the second RT-PCR test at the fourth day of the quarantine;
   15. international travelers, both Indonesian citizens and foreign citizens, are allowd to continue their travel and are recommended to monitor their health condition individually due to COVID-19 symptoms during fourteen days while complying with health protocols, in the event that the result of the second RT-PCR test shows a negative result.
   16. in the event that the RT-PCR retest as referred to in letter f shows a positive result, the follow-up measures will be carried out under the following conditions:
       1. in the event that the travelers show no symptoms or shows mild symptoms, the isolation or treatment must be carried out in isolation facilities at hotels or centralized isolation facilities determined by the Government or self-isolation at home; or
       2. in the event that the travelers show moderate or severe symptoms, and/or with uncontrolled comorbidities, the isolation or treatment must be carried out at COVID-19 referral hospitals; and
       3. the cost of isolation/treatment for foreign citizens is borne at their own expense, while the cost for Indonesian citizens is borne by the Government.
   17. in the event that foreign citizens cannot afford to pay for quarantine and/or treatment in hospitals as referred to in letter l and letter m.iii., the sponsors or Ministries/Agencies/State-Owned enterprises which provide recommendation for the entry permit for the foreign nationals must be held responsible;
   18. the RT-PCR test as referred to in letter h and letter n may be submitted for comparison test by filling out written form provided by the KKP or Ministry of Health, with the cost of test borne at their own expense;
   19. the RT-PCR test as referred to in letter r is carried out simultaneously by the Port Health Authority (KKP) in two laboratories designated for comparison examination of S-Gene Target Failure (SGTF) and comparative examination of RT-PCR results, namely Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes), Cipto Mangunkusumo Central General Hospital (RSCM), Gatot Soebroto Army Central Hospital (RSPAD), Bhayangkara Raden Said Sukanto Hospital (Polri Hospital) or other Government laboratories (Environmental Health Engineering Center, Regional Health Laboratory, or other government referral laboratories)
   20. the KKP International Airports and Seaports must provide facilities for international travelers who need emergency medical services upon arrival in Indonesia in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations;
   21. Ministries/Agencies/regional governments that administer functions related to international travelers must follow up on the Circular by issuing a legal instrument in line with the provisions of laws and regulations; and
   22. the legal instrument as referred to in letter u constitutes an integral part of the Circular.
5. quarantine accommodation facilities as referred to in number 4.m.ii. and number 4.m.iii. must obtain a recommendation from COVID-19 Handling Task Force, comply with terms and conditions set by the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) for cleanliness, health, safety, and environmental sustainability (CHSE), obtain COVID-19 health protocol certificate issued by the Ministry in charge of health affairs for facilities located in Jakarta and its surrounding areas, or COVID-19 health protocol certificate issued by provincial office in charge of health affairs in the regions.
6. Dispensation in the form of exemption from mandatory quarantine may be granted to Indonesian citizens with urgent circumstances (such as: having a life-threatening health condition, having a health condition that requires special treatment, or having a deceased nuclear family) after showing a negative result of an RT-PCR retest upon arrival at the entry point of the overseas travel.
7. Application for dispensation in the form of exemption for mandatory quarantine as referred to in number 6 must be submitted not lees than three days prior to arrival in Indonesia to the National COVID-19 Handling Task Force and may be granted selectively, on an individual basis, and with a limited quota based on the agreement between COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, and Ministry of Health
8. The strict health protocols as referred to in number 4 comprise the following conditions:
   1. using a three-ply cloth mask or medical mask that covers nose, mouth and chin;
   2. changing masks regularly every four hours, and disposing of used masks in the provided facilities;
   3. washing hands regularly using water and soap or hand sanitizer, especially after touching objects touched by other people;
   4. maintaining a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from other people and avoid crowds;
   5. not speaking by telephone or in person throughout the trip using public modes of land, rail, sea, river, lake, ferry, and air transportation; and
   6. not eating and drinking during the flight less than two hours, except for individuals who are obliged to take urgent medicine.
9. Every operator of transportation mode at the entry point of overseas travel must use the PeduliLindungi application.
10. The monitoring for quarantine of cargo ships and crews must be carried out in accordance with the specific and technical arrangements stipulated by Ministry of Health, with the monitoring conducted by Port Health Authorities for each entry point. (COVID-19 Task Force/UN) (AP/MUR)