iPhone 16 allowed into Indonesia for personal use and not for sale, government says

JAKARTA (The Straits Times/ANN): Travelers to Indonesia can bring their iPhone 16 into the country, but the sale of the phones is prohibited, the Indonesian Ministry of Industry said.

The iPhone 16, which was launched in September by US tech giant Apple, cannot be sold in Indonesia because the company failed to meet Indonesia’s local investment targets.

However, according to the Jakarta Globe, phones can be brought into Indonesia if they are intended for personal use or sent by courier.

Ministry of Industry spokesman Febri Hendri Antoni Arif reportedly said in a statement on October 26: “The iPhone 16 imported by passengers and subject to taxes are personal effects that cannot be sold and are intended solely for the passenger’s personal use.”

According to Jakarta Globe, each passenger can bring a maximum of two iPhone 16s to Indonesia.

Between August and October, approximately 9,000 iPhone 16s were imported into Indonesia as personal luggage with taxes paid. But the phones will be considered illegal if sold in Indonesia.

iPhone 16s that arrive in Indonesia via the postal service for non-commercial purposes are also allowed as they do not need to meet a local investment purpose.

According to The Jakarta Post newspaper, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said on October 22 that Apple still needs to meet its commitment to invest 1.71 trillion rupiah (S$144.6 million) in Indonesia, which is required before it can obtain a license. for local phone sales. .

Agus said then that Apple had invested Rs 1.48 trillion so far.

On October 11, Apple said it “is deeply committed to Indonesia and excited to deliver all of our latest products, including the iPhone 16 lineup, to our customers as quickly as possible,” The Jakarta Post reported.