Bringing Keris to Indonesia from Overseas

Jayaningkurnia · 19th March 2026, 02:25 PM

Thank you both for the candid sharing of your personal experiences.

Indeed when I ran a quick online search from legal point of view pusaka is exempted from the list of items considered to be weapon (and so have no carrying/transport restriction) under UU 12/1951.

That said I'll still declare the keris in my custom declaration and see how it goes - hopefully it will be uneventful. Will update you post-event

Rick · 19th March 2026, 04:49 PM

It would probably be helpful to bring a copy of your research (UU 12/1951) on the subject along with your keris.

Jayaningkurnia · 30th March 2026, 08:06 AM

Thank you Rick for the advice.

Just came back from my trip to Yogyakarta - thankfully I was able to brought in the keris rather uneventfully.

The custom officers at the Yogyakarta International Airport were polite and ask the expected questions on the source and intent of bringing the keris. They were respectful in handling the keris for inspection and send me on my way afterward. They did not ask for any paperwork.

A. G. Maisey · 31st March 2026, 06:55 AM

It did not occur to me that you might fly back into Yogya. I'd guess that Customs might be a bit easier to get along with there than in some other places.

But I really do find the location of the new airport pretty inconvenient. The old one was more or less OK for me --- I need to go to Solo after landing at Yogya --- but that journey to Solo from the new airport really is not great at all, especially after adding on the lead time at Ngurah Rai.

It has made the journey to Solo pretty difficult to do in a day from Sydney. Yeah, I could use other airlines than Garuda, but those other airlines come with pretty big negatives.

Jayaningkurnia · 6th April 2026, 03:22 AM

Hi Mr. Maisey - perhaps you want to try transiting via Singapore? Scoot offers a daily Singapore-YIA flight and there's plenty of flights between SYD and SIN. It's overnight with the transit but overall it can be a ~13h or so travel duration to Yogya. It's not a full-service though, so will not be as comfortable as Garuda.

Indeed the new airport is further away from city centre (1-1.5h drive), but there's airport shuttle trains that will get you to the Tugu Station in 40 minutes and from that station there are plenty of trains of all classes to Solo (typically takes 45mins - 1h). Of course getting a car and a driver would be more comfortable (albeit longer travel) - it'll probably be a 3 hour drive to Solo.

A. G. Maisey · 9th April 2026, 12:59 AM

Call me Alan please. Not "Mr." anything.

"Mr." is for important people, one of which I am not.

Singapore is not an option. Too long, too expensive, too inconvenient.

I want to eat breakfast at home --- Shoalhaven region, 100miles south of Sydney -- & eat dinner in Solo.

I want a plane journey no longer than 6.5 hours or so.

I want to pay no more than +/-$AUD800 for the plane ride.

Been doing this for more than 50 years, & that's the way I do it.

Sometimes I might stop over in Bali, sometimes I might not go up to Jawa Tengah at all, sometimes I might go to Malang instead of Solo. But I'm sure not going to Singapore & doing all that other travel & stuff. Not on.

Apart from all that, I always travel by private car, gave up using public transport in Jawa & Bali years ago. Daughter & husband pick me up in JT, personal driver meets me in Bali.

But thanks anyway for the suggestion.

Jayaningkurnia · 20th April 2026, 09:53 AM

Alan you are too modest - the designation is my clumsy attempt at respectful address to a senior and (one who I consider to be) a teacher in this pursuit of knowledge in tosan aji.

Travelling is indeed often tiring and bothersome, but unfortunately some things are still better experienced in person, so we travel on.

On a separate topic, I recently come across a keris claimed to be made by Pangeran Mloyokusumo of Surakarta (son of PB IX, brother of PB X). Anyone has any information on him and/or the krises he made?

19th March 2026, 04:49 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,438	Hard Copy for Backup It would probably be helpful to bring a copy of your research (UU 12/1951) on the subject along with your keris.

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19th March 2026, 02:25 PM	#1
Jayaningkurnia Member Join Date: Nov 2025 Location: Singapore Posts: 22	Thank you both for the candid sharing of your personal experiences. Indeed when I ran a quick online search from legal point of view pusaka is exempted from the list of items considered to be weapon (and so have no carrying/transport restriction) under UU 12/1951. That said I'll still declare the keris in my custom declaration and see how it goes - hopefully it will be uneventful. Will update you post-event

30th March 2026, 08:06 AM	#3
Jayaningkurnia Member Join Date: Nov 2025 Location: Singapore Posts: 22	Thank you Rick for the advice. Just came back from my trip to Yogyakarta - thankfully I was able to brought in the keris rather uneventfully. The custom officers at the Yogyakarta International Airport were polite and ask the expected questions on the source and intent of bringing the keris. They were respectful in handling the keris for inspection and send me on my way afterward. They did not ask for any paperwork.

31st March 2026, 06:55 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,233	It did not occur to me that you might fly back into Yogya. I'd guess that Customs might be a bit easier to get along with there than in some other places. But I really do find the location of the new airport pretty inconvenient. The old one was more or less OK for me --- I need to go to Solo after landing at Yogya --- but that journey to Solo from the new airport really is not great at all, especially after adding on the lead time at Ngurah Rai. It has made the journey to Solo pretty difficult to do in a day from Sydney. Yeah, I could use other airlines than Garuda, but those other airlines come with pretty big negatives.

6th April 2026, 03:22 AM	#5
Jayaningkurnia Member Join Date: Nov 2025 Location: Singapore Posts: 22	Hi Mr. Maisey - perhaps you want to try transiting via Singapore? Scoot offers a daily Singapore-YIA flight and there's plenty of flights between SYD and SIN. It's overnight with the transit but overall it can be a ~13h or so travel duration to Yogya. It's not a full-service though, so will not be as comfortable as Garuda. Indeed the new airport is further away from city centre (1-1.5h drive), but there's airport shuttle trains that will get you to the Tugu Station in 40 minutes and from that station there are plenty of trains of all classes to Solo (typically takes 45mins - 1h). Of course getting a car and a driver would be more comfortable (albeit longer travel) - it'll probably be a 3 hour drive to Solo.

9th April 2026, 12:59 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,233	Call me Alan please. Not "Mr." anything. "Mr." is for important people, one of which I am not. Singapore is not an option. Too long, too expensive, too inconvenient. I want to eat breakfast at home --- Shoalhaven region, 100miles south of Sydney -- & eat dinner in Solo. I want a plane journey no longer than 6.5 hours or so. I want to pay no more than +/-$AUD800 for the plane ride. Been doing this for more than 50 years, & that's the way I do it. Sometimes I might stop over in Bali, sometimes I might not go up to Jawa Tengah at all, sometimes I might go to Malang instead of Solo. But I'm sure not going to Singapore & doing all that other travel & stuff. Not on. Apart from all that, I always travel by private car, gave up using public transport in Jawa & Bali years ago. Daughter & husband pick me up in JT, personal driver meets me in Bali. But thanks anyway for the suggestion.

20th April 2026, 09:53 AM	#7
Jayaningkurnia Member Join Date: Nov 2025 Location: Singapore Posts: 22	Alan you are too modest - the designation is my clumsy attempt at respectful address to a senior and (one who I consider to be) a teacher in this pursuit of knowledge in tosan aji. Travelling is indeed often tiring and bothersome, but unfortunately some things are still better experienced in person, so we travel on. On a separate topic, I recently come across a keris claimed to be made by Pangeran Mloyokusumo of Surakarta (son of PB IX, brother of PB X). Anyone has any information on him and/or the krises he made?