A New Zealand citizen entering Indonesia for tourist and business purposes requires a valid visa. Visitors are issued a visa on arrival at a cost of US$25 for 30 days. Anyone planning to work in Indonesia should apply in advance of arrival for a work visa from the Indonesian Embassy in Wellington.

If you are going to be a regular visitor, it will pay to have a look at getting an APEC Business Travel Card which provides accredited business people with streamlined access to participating APEC countries. Immigration New Zealand has more information. 

Indonesia’s seasons are defined by a wet northwest monsoon which prevails from December to March and by a dry east monsoon, from June to September.

The hottest months are April and May when the average daily minimum is 24°C and the maximum 31°C; during the coldest months, January and February, temperatures range between an average 23-29°C.  The wettest months are January and February.

Humidity is consistently high, particularly during the wet season. 

English has replaced Dutch as the main second language, and is widely spoken in government and business circles.  The main language is Bahasa Indonesia. 

For information on language and interpreters see Culture and language solutions. 

Indonesia has three time zones:

• Waktu Indonesia Barat – Western Indonesia Time, to GMT plus seven hours, applicable to all provinces in Sumatra and Java and the Provinces of West and Central Kalimantan. 
• Waktu Indonesia Tengah – Central Indonesia Time, to GMT plus eight hours, applicable to the provinces of East and South Kalimantan, all provinces in Sulawesi, Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara. 
• Waktu Indonesia Timur – Eastern Indonesia Time, to GMT plus nine hours, applicable to the provinces of Maluku and Papua.

Western Indonesia (Sumatra and Java) is five hours behind New Zealand except during daylight savings (late September to early April) when the difference is six hours.

To find out the current time in Indonesia, go to timeanddate.com.  

Normal office hours for white collar workers are 8am to 5pm (with a one-hour break) from Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturday. A working week of five eight-hour days is increasingly common and foreign companies prefer this schedule.

Public holidays

• New Year’s Day
• Islamic New Year
• Chinese New Year
• Seclusion Day (Hindu New Year)
• Birthday of Prophet Muhammad 
• Good Friday
• Ascension Day of Jesus Christ
• Vesak Day (Buddha’s Birthday)
• Lailat Al Mi’raj (Ascension of the Prophet)
• Indonesian Independence Day
• Id Al Fitri (End of Ramadan)
• Id Al Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
• Christmas Day

For an up to date list of when these days fall, see worldtravelguide.net. 

The rupiah (Rp) is the basic monetary unit in Indonesia.  Coin denominations range from 25 - 1000 rupiah. Notes range from 1000 to 100,000 rupiah.

To get up to date currency rates see xe.com.

Leading foreign currencies (including the New Zealand dollar) can be exchanged for rupiah with banks and authorised money exchangers present at airports and in all of the major cities. Credit cards are also in common use in hotels, supermarkets, department stores and tourist centres.

You can bring foreign currencies or other types of foreign exchange into Indonesia. When leaving Indonesia, you can take out all the foreign exchange you brought in.  However, United States currency needs to be clean and crisp to be exchanged and the rates may vary if the serial number is not recent.

Tipping is not common. Hotels and most restaurants add a service fee to their bills. For taxis add around 10 percent as a tip. 

Dress conservatively - Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim culture.
The safest option for a visiting businessman in Jakarta is to wear a suit jacket and tie, and remove them if it seems appropriate. A suit and tie are essential, however, during formal meetings with high-ranking government officials.

Because of the extreme heat and humidity, business dress is often casual. Standard formal office wear for men includes dark trousers and a light-coloured long-sleeved shirt and tie, without a jacket. Many businessmen wear a short-sleeved shirt without a tie.

Women must be sensitive to Muslim beliefs, and, consequently, wear blouses that cover at least their upper arms. Skirts should be knee length or longer. 

There have been a number of terrorist bombings in Indonesia since 2002, including attacks on the Police Headquarters, Parliament, UNESCO’s Jakarta office building, an American fast-food franchise at Jakarta Airport, the JW Marriott Hotel and the Australian Embassy.

It is impossible to predict whether there will be further bombings, and if so, where these might be.

If you are planning to visit Indonesia, consult the New Zealand Government’s travel advisory website for travel updates.

Business visitors to Indonesia cannot be guaranteed safety. However, there are several things you can do to improve your safety:

• exercise extreme caution in public places, such as night clubs, bars, Western-style restaurants and fast food outlets, shopping malls, outdoor recreational areas, public and commercial buildings, transport terminals, and places of worship.
• stay away from those areas of Indonesia where there are insurgencies and inter-communal problems.
• be particularly careful throughout Java and Bali and in cultural and tourist locations in other islands.
• be particularly vigilant at schools catering for expat children. There have been some terrorist threats against these schools. These schools have very high levels of security in place so do not expect to make a casual visit. Always make an appointment.
• be aware that most good hotels, upscale commercial buildings, and other important locations already have substantial security procedures in place. Procedures include the inspection of the undersides and boots of vehicles permitted on to the premises and bag inspections and metal-detection scanning for individuals.

There are also several ways to enhance your personal safety:

• avoid travelling alone at night.
• stay sober and alert. 
• when taking a taxi, use one from a reputable firm or a hotel limo, preferably booked by telephone or arranged in advance by your travel agent or hotel.

Notify the New Zealand Embassy and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) in Jakarta of your travel plans, contact them on arrival, tell them where you are staying, and let them know when you have safely arrived home or at your next destination. That way, they can contact you if they receive specific security warnings.

Exporters may contract NZTE to transport and escort them to business calls in Jakarta (on a first come, first served booking basis). NZTE’s driver is in constant contact by radio and phone with sources of information about delays, crowds, and any security issues.

Where possible on longer journeys, travel in convoy.

At airports, check in and go to the airside (ie through security) promptly. Do not linger near to the street. On arriving, spend as little time on the landside (outside security) as possible – get your bags, get into your transport, and leave.

Demonstrations are part of the Indonesian political culture. Most are peaceful but it is best to avoid large crowds on the streets.

Credit card fraud continues in Asia and you are advised not to lose sight of your credit cards during transactions.

Have nothing to do with groups involved in gambling. (Some foreigners have been held against their wills after becoming involved in illegal gambling, with a ransom demanded for their release.)

Steer clear of any apparently abandoned bags, boxes, etc in public places or buildings.

Be prepared for electricity blackouts.  

Consult a travel doctor prior to travelling and ensure that your vaccinations against diseases such as hepatitis and tetanus are up to date.

Bring and use insect repellent. Treat Indonesians with respect and keep your eyes wide open. Remember that the vast majority of Indonesians are good people who want you to be safe in their country and who themselves are strongly opposed to terrorism.

New Zealanders are therefore advised to conform to any restrictions and instructions issued by the local authorities to contain the spread of the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Dengue fever is currently endemic throughout most of Asia, including Indonesia.

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by certain types of tropical mosquitoes (distinguished by their black and white stripes) which are active in the day time. It is prevalent in tropical urban areas after rainfall.

One strain causes severe internal bleeding which is fatal if not treated. The incubation period is about a week after being bitten. Symptoms are very painful and include severe headaches, rashes, cramps, and bone and muscle pains. Fatalities usually occur when people mistake dengue fever for flu, and fail to seek early medical advice.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise advises exporters to Asia to be particularly aware of the symptoms of dengue fever, and to wear insect repellent when outdoors in any area where there may be sources of still water (even as apparently innocuous as water saucers around pot plants).

For health reasons, avoid local food stalls. 

Get general advice on how to start to export in the Export guide.

(Additional sources used on this page: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, RSM AAJ Associates, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Executiveplanet.com)