Indonesia Sailing Permit & Cruising Licence Guide
CAIT (Clearance Approval for Indonesian Territory), CIQP (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, Port), SIB (Sailing Permit) — the actual paperwork required to operate a yacht in Indonesian waters, demystified.
Get Permit Help Browse Yachts →Indonesia yacht cruising permits comprise three primary documents: CAIT (Clearance Approval for Indonesian Territory) pre-arrival authorisation issued 3-6 weeks before entry; CIQP (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, Port) clearance at port of entry; and SIB (Surat Izin Berlayar) sailing permit per port-to-port leg. Plus marine park entry fees: Komodo USD 16-18/person/day, Raja Ampat USD 60/person valid 12 months.
The Indonesia Cruising Permit System
Yachts operating in Indonesian waters require permission to enter, navigate, and remain. The system has been progressively simplified since 2017 (when the 30-day “Yacht Permit” was introduced) but remains more documentation-heavy than Mediterranean or Caribbean equivalents.
CAIT — Clearance Approval for Indonesian Territory
CAIT is the master pre-arrival authorisation for foreign-flag yachts entering Indonesian waters. Issued by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs (Kemenko Marves). Application typically 3–6 weeks before intended arrival; cost USD 350–600 administrative fee plus agent service charge USD 800–1,200 for full handling. Validity: 60 days from issuance.
CIQP — Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, Port
The four-agency clearance handled at port of entry (Bali, Banyuwangi, Saumlaki, Sorong, Kupang are common). Each agency has its own form; combined timing 3–6 hours typically. Fees USD 100–200 administrative.
SIB — Sailing Permit (Surat Izin Berlayar)
Required for each port-to-port leg within Indonesia. Issued by harbourmaster (Syahbandar) at port of departure. Cost negligible (USD 5–15) per port. Documents what destination, route, expected arrival, and onboard manifest. Filed before each departure.
Vessel Permits for Indonesian-Flag Yachts
Indonesian-flag yachts operate under different framework — not requiring CAIT but instead operating under standard Indonesian shipping regulations (Surat Tanda Kebangsaan Kapal Indonesia for nationality, Pas Kecil for vessels under 7 GT, Pas Besar for vessels 7–500 GT, Sertifikat Keselamatan Kapal for safety, etc.).
Charter Permits
Operating commercial charter requires SIUPAL (Surat Izin Usaha Perusahaan Angkutan Laut) at company level plus various sector-specific permits. Foreign-flag yachts cannot operate in-country charter; must charter through an Indonesian charter operator or operate as private foreign vessel.
Komodo, Raja Ampat, and Spice Islands Specifics
Komodo National Park: park entry permits issued at Loh Liang or Pink Beach gateway USD 25–35/person/day for international visitors. Raja Ampat: Raja Ampat Marine Park fee USD 60/person valid 12 months; additional environmental charge USD 20/person/day. Banda Sea / Spice Islands: no separate marine park system but permits required for some areas.
Complete Permit Service
Juara Holding’s permit team handles end-to-end: pre-arrival CAIT, port-of-entry CIQP, marine park permits, leg-by-leg SIB, customs duty assessment, crew immigration. Typical full-service charge USD 2,500–4,500 per cruising season for foreign-flag yachts; USD 1,500–2,500 for Indonesian-flag charter operations.
Komodo National Park Permit Specifics (Most Common Cruising Destination)
Komodo National Park covers 1,733 square kilometres across Komodo, Rinca, Padar, and surrounding islands. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. Park entry permits are issued at park gateway stations (Loh Liang on Komodo Island, Loh Buaya on Rinca Island, Pink Beach for day visits) and are required for any vessel-borne visit beyond transit waters.
Current 2026 fee structure for international visitors: park entry IDR 250,000 per person per day (approx USD 16-18), photography permit IDR 250,000 per camera per day, ranger guide fee IDR 100,000 per group per visit (mandatory on Komodo + Rinca for safety). Diving requires additional dive permit IDR 200,000 per diver per day. Indonesian citizens pay reduced rates approximately 20% of international rates.
Multi-day passes available at discount. Yacht-charter operators typically pre-purchase season passes for guests through commercial arrangement — we coordinate this for buyers placing yachts in Komodo Luxury fleet.
Raja Ampat Marine Park Specifics
Raja Ampat Marine Park covers 4 million hectares across 1,500 islands in West Papua. Recognised for highest marine biodiversity globally. Park entry runs through a different administrative structure than Komodo — managed by Raja Ampat Regency government rather than Indonesian National Parks.
Current fee structure: Marine Park Entry Fee IDR 1,000,000 per international visitor (approx USD 65) valid 12 months. Annual environmental conservation tag mandatory. Additional dive site fees IDR 200,000 per diver per day at popular sites (Cape Kri, Manta Sandy, Blue Magic, Citrus Ridge).
Distance is a significant operational factor. Raja Ampat is approximately 1,400 nautical miles from Bali (where most yacht-charter operators are based). Repositioning costs (fuel, time, crew) are significant. Most charter operators work Raja Ampat seasonally October through March, returning to Komodo April through September.
Banda Sea + Spice Islands Specifics
Banda Sea cruising covers Banda Islands, Halmahera, Misool, Triton Bay, Cenderawasih Bay. No unified marine park system — permits required for specific protected areas (Cenderawasih National Marine Park, Misool Marine Reserve), arranged through local park offices.
Banda Sea cruising is most rewarding October through April when sea conditions are settled. Distances are significant (Banda to Triton Bay 600+ nautical miles), requiring planning charter itineraries with realistic transit time. Charter premium is justified by exclusivity — fewer than 30 charter phinisi operate this region in any season.
Wakatobi National Park Specifics
Wakatobi National Park (Sulawesi southeast) covers 1.4 million hectares with 750+ coral species and exceptional muck-diving sites. Park entry IDR 150,000/day international, dive permit IDR 100,000/diver/day. Closer to Bali than Raja Ampat — approximately 700 nautical miles, manageable seasonal repositioning.
Cruising Permit Service Cost Breakdown
For foreign-flag vessels operating a typical 30-60 day Indonesian cruising season:
- CAIT pre-arrival authorisation: USD 350-600 government + USD 800-1,200 agent fee = USD 1,150-1,800
- Port of entry CIQP: USD 100-200 administrative
- SIB sailing permit (8-12 port-to-port legs): USD 50-180
- Komodo park entry (4 person guest x 7 days): USD 450-500
- Raja Ampat marine park (4 person guest, annual): USD 260
- Indonesian flag pass (if optional): USD 350-600
- Customs duty (vessels over USD 200,000): typically waived under temporary admission
- Komodo Luxury permit handling: USD 2,500-4,500 full season
Indonesian-flag commercial yachts (PMA-owned) operate under different framework with annual licence fees rather than per-trip CAIT, typically more cost-efficient for >30 days operating per year.
Common Permit Mistakes Foreign Buyers Make
Confusing CAIT with cruising licence. CAIT is pre-arrival authorisation only; SIB per-leg sailing permits are separately required.
Underestimating CIQP arrival processing time. Allow 4-6 hours minimum at first port of entry. Bali Benoa harbour is most efficient; smaller ports can take 8 hours.
Operating commercial charter on foreign flag inside Indonesia. Foreign-flag yachts can carry their owner and guests; cannot accept paying charter passengers within Indonesia. PMA + Indonesian flag required for in-country charter operations.
Missing Komodo park ranger guide requirement. Mandatory on Komodo and Rinca for safety. Pre-arrange to avoid wait time at gateway stations.
Renewing CAIT mid-trip. 60-day validity from issuance. If trip extends, apply for extension before expiry rather than re-applying after lapse.
Speak With Our Brokerage Team
Two offices — Bali (Seminyak) and Labuan Bajo. Our team responds within 4 business hours, weekdays. Confidential consultation, no obligation.