Bringing Keris with you to Indonesia and back

[Anthony G.]

Apparently we are not allow to bring keris out of Indonesia unless there is a form of certification as what I was told by local native in the past. Keris is still consider a weapon and for sure do not hand carry but check in with baggage.

[jagabuwana]

Originally Posted by Anthony G.

Apparently we are not allow to bring keris out of Indonesia unless there is a form of certification as what I was told by local native in the past. Keris is still consider a weapon and for sure do not hand carry but check in with baggage.

I've not encountered this before Anthony. I've brought back an old badik from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta airport in 2018 and a new keris from Denpasar Ngurah Rai in 2019.
I wasn't quizzed at all about either of them by the customs guy at either Indo airport.

I'm an Aus citizen, but I probably had a much easier time seeing as I'm of full Indonesian heritage and I speak Bahasa Indonesia well enough. ​

The guy at Jakarta did ask me about the badik but I told him it was a "warisan", an inheritance. We chitchatted warmly and off I went.

I don't recall having my check-in luggage opened and checked at all at Denpasar.

I was WAY more worried about what they'd do with my stuff upon arrival at Sydney airport. I declared both items as "wooden articles" , but not as weapons. I was worried about the badik because its old and I didn't want them to think the timber dress was a biosecurity risk. They took a look at both. No issues.

If I were to do it again I'd declare wooden articles and weapon just to be safe.

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Declare. Be patient. Be unfailingly polite. Do not on any account lose either your cool or or your temper. You'll probably be OK.

This is very much worth emphasising. Be polite bordering deferent. Takes you a long way in Indonesian cultures, as a foreigner.

Showing frustration, impatience or exasperation will result in a bad time for you.

[A. G. Maisey]

Jaga Old Mate, you got a rails run, the ethnic heritage is like a Gold Card maybe.

What I wrote is absolutely true and accurate with no embroidery.

I've got a whole basketful of spine tingling stories about Indonesian Customs, yeah, it does vary, no doubt about that but +100 visits to Indonesia, means I've been through Indonesian Customs, in & out, +200 times.

Get a nice relaxed sort of officer you've got no problems, get somebody else you can have a nightmare on your hands.

I've got a few about Australian Customs officers too, but into Australia depends upon port of entry, because edged weapon laws vary state by state, and it is state law on possession that is dominant. For NSW you just get a B709B certificate from the police before you go. Strangely enough, this police form can smooth the way through Bali Customs too.

Jaga, what Anthony has said is the strict letter of the law, it has been run past me a few times during those private office sessions I mentioned, but the people on the ground are more realistic and I have never been forced to comply. I believe that if all you have are a handful of dubious items they'll just wave you through. When you get the private office routine the major objective is not law enforcement --- if you get my drift.

[Anthony G.]

Money makes the world go merry go round..............

[milandro]

would it not be advisable to send via a courier ahead of time and them collect over there and then send back the same way? I have bought from there and sending was not difficult (for the person who knows how to do these things).

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by milandro

would it not be advisable to send via a courier ahead of time and them collect over there and then send back the same way? I have bought from there and sending was not difficult (for the person who knows how to do these things).

Tricky, and indeed time has changed. Recently I have a Balinese forged a keris and when preparing to send to Singapore, no couriers in Bali wants to ship it. Reason: sharp weapon.

[milandro]

my source tells me that UPS does that while DHL doesn’t

[Marcokeris]

In my case, when i returned to Italy from Indonesia i always brought with me, in the big suitcase, at least 2 kris and i never had any problem both on boarding (Bali, Medan, Yogya or Jakarta) and on arrival in Milan. When I boarded, I told the baggage control officer that there were kris, bought as souvenirs, in the big suitcase. I have done this at least 30 times with no problems.... In Milan, unlike in Rome, baggage control is practically non-existent

[milandro]

Originally Posted by Anthony G.

Tricky, and indeed time has changed. Recently I have a Balinese forged a keris and when preparing to send to Singapore, no couriers in Bali wants to ship it. Reason: sharp weapon.

Singapore may have their own “ problems” about this and the problem is there and not in Indonesia.

The Keris collector ( youtube channel) says that Singapore has special rules about this. Krises are classed as weapons there. You need to apply for a license to import weapons.

Please watch this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYEAG-s5xok


as for legislation in other countries this may or may be not always treating the kris as a weapon.

In the NL for example they are classed as “ forbidden” because they are double edged and longer than what the law allows for , however since they are also “ antiques” and a ritual object their possession is allowed albeit not clearly defined in the law. I can also transport a kris in the car provided it is sheathed and best kept in a closed bag.

In Italy , of course Marco would know this, official rules should also allow to have a maximum of 8 such “ weapons”, unless you have a special collector license, if you have less than 8 you are supposed to declare this to the police... I am not sure many people do this but that is what one should be doing.

In the last few years the OFFICIAL rules have changed a lot, that doesn’t mean that everyone complies

https://www.perizieantiquariato.it/l...da-collezione/

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by milandro

Singapore may have their own “ problems” about this and the problem is there and not in Indonesia.

The Keris collector ( youtube channel) says that Singapore has special rules about this. Krises are classed as weapons there. You need to apply for a license to import weapons.

Please watch this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYEAG-s5xok


as for legislation in other countries this may or may be not always treating the kris as a weapon.

In the NL for example they are classed as “ forbidden” because they are double edged and longer than what the law allows for , however since they are also “ antiques” and a ritual object their possession is allowed albeit not clearly defined in the law. I can also transport a kris in the car provided it is sheathed and best kept in a closed bag.

In Italy , of course Marco would know this, official rules should also allow to have a maximum of 8 such “ weapons”, unless you have a special collector license, if you have less than 8 you are supposed to declare this to the police... I am not sure many people do this but that is what one should be doing.

In the last few years the OFFICIAL rules have changed a lot, that doesn’t mean that everyone complies

https://www.perizieantiquariato.it/l...da-collezione/

I knew this person personally but I do not wish to comment anything about him or the video.

As long a person follows protocol, declare correctly, honestly and also without a criminal records; it is not an issue to import keris thou export is challenging.

The issue is regardless of export and or import purpose, the carriers do not wish to deliver it due to classification of weapons. But some carriers do so.......