Mirella Pandjaitan
Aug 21, 2026
Relocating to Indonesia means figuring out a few essentials almost immediately: where to live, how to get around and, increasingly, how to get your phone connected. Choosing a local SIM is less straightforward than simply picking the cheapest data package for expats. Coverage, eSIM availability, registration requirements and whether you can maintain the number long-term all matter—particularly if you're bringing your own phone from overseas.
Indonesia's mobile landscape is dominated by Telkomsel, IM3 and XLSMART, the operator created following the merger of XL Axiata and Smartfren. For most expats, the choice ultimately comes down to where you'll be living, how much you travel and whether you want a physical SIM or eSIM.
Which SIM Card is best for expats?
IM3: Best practical urban alternative
IM3, operated by Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, is another option worth considering, if you'll spend most of your time in a major city. The operator supports eSIM and its official information confirms that foreign nationals can activate an eSIM through an IM3 outlet.
The process isn't quite as convenient as XL's foreigner-specific online eSIM option, but it can make sense for expats who prefer IM3's plans or have good coverage in their particular neighbourhood.
Telkomsel: Best for nationwide coverage
Telkomsel is arguably the safest all-round choice particularly useful for expats who spend weekends exploring the archipelago or regularly travel to more remote destinations. Telkomsel also offers 5G services in selected locations and operates a Tourist Prepaid Card aimed specifically at international visitors.
It's worth distinguishing the Tourist Prepaid Card from Telkomsel's regular services for someone settling into Indonesia permanently. The tourist product is designed for visitors, while its standard prepaid eSIM registration for foreign nationals requires a KITAS, according to Telkomsel's current information.
XL/XLSMART: Best for eSIM and high data
XL is appealing if you want to arrive in Indonesia already connected. Its foreign-national tourist eSIM can be purchased online, with passport, email, and IMEI details required during the process. The QR code is then delivered electronically, thus, not required to find a telecom shop immediately after landing.
Its tourist eSIM packages are also generous amounts of data at relatively modest prices, making XL an attractive option for digital nomads and expats who rely heavily on mobile data. XL's current online store also supports both physical SIM and eSIM purchases.
Can expats buy an eSIM in Indonesia?
Yes—and for many newcomers, an eSIM is the easiest option. An eSIM eliminates the need to carry a physical SIM card and allows compatible phones to maintain multiple numbers, which is particularly handy if you want to keep your home-country number active alongside an Indonesian one.
The catch is that not all Indonesian eSIM products are treated the same way for foreign nationals. XL currently has the clearest option for newcomers, allowing foreign customers to purchase its tourist eSIM online using their passport and IMEI information. Telkomsel provides eSIM as well, but its standard prepaid eSIM route has different requirements for foreigners, including KITAS. IM3 also supports foreign-national eSIM activation, although its process involves visiting an outlet.
In other words, if you're arriving in Indonesia before your residence paperwork is fully sorted, XL is arguably the most straightforward eSIM option. But if you're already established as a resident, Telkomsel and IM3 become more viable alternatives depending on your coverage and package preferences.
What documents do expats need to register a SIM?
This is where Indonesia's mobile-phone rules have changed significantly in 2026.
Indonesia introduced biometric registration for new SIM cards, replacing the previous system's reliance on identity numbers alone. The new system uses facial recognition to verify the identity of the person registering a mobile number, with the government describing the change as a way to strengthen subscriber identification and prevent misuse of personal data.
Registration is linked to Indonesians’ NIK and biometric data. Foreigners follow a different process, using their passport and applicable residence documentation rather than an Indonesian NIK and family-card number. The important takeaway is simple: don't register your Indonesian number using someone else's NIK or KK. Your mobile number should be registered to your own identity and documentation.
Indonesia's new biometric SIM registration
From 1st July 2026, biometric verification became mandatory for new mobile registrations nationwide. The system uses facial recognition to match the person registering the number against the relevant government identity records. The government stated the technology is intended to make SIM registration more secure and reduce fraudulent registrations using stolen or improperly obtained identity information.
The change applied to new physical SIM cards as well as eSIMs, so switching to an eSIM doesn't mean you can skip the registration process. The distinction is important: an eSIM changes the format of the SIM, not the identity requirements attached to the mobile number.
Existing subscribers who registered their numbers before the new system took effect aren’t currently required to undergo biometric registration immediately. The government has initially made biometric registration mandatory for new customers while it continues to monitor the capacity and reliability of the verification system. Hence, the old idea of simply buying a SIM from a small shop and registering it with a friend's Indonesian identity details is no longer an appropriate route.
What about the phone you bring from overseas?
There is another piece of the puzzle that is easy to confuse with SIM registration: IMEI registration. Your SIM registration identifies you as the subscriber. IMEI registration concerns the phone itself.
Bringing an iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel, or another handset purchased outside Indonesia will require you to consider whether its IMEI must be registered for long-term use with an Indonesian SIM. Yet, this is essential for expats relocating permanently rather than visitors staying for a few weeks.
Short-term foreign visitors have different provisions. Under the applicable customs rules, visitors staying in Indonesia for up to 90 days can use an Indonesian SIM with temporary operator-based IMEI access. Long-term residents should instead look into the proper customs and IMEI-registration process for their foreign-sourced device.
And this is one situation where buying an Indonesian eSIM doesn't get around the rules. The phone still has an IMEI, regardless of whether it contains a physical SIM or an eSIM.
The process involves submitting the IMEI information, receiving a registration or QR code and having the device recorded by Customs and Excise authority (Bea Cukai). You'll generally need your passport, phone details and IMEI number found in your phone's settings or by entering. The process involves submitting the IMEI information, receiving a registration or QR code and having the device recorded by Customs and Excise authority (Bea Cukai). Eligible passengers currently benefit from a US$500 personal-device exemption, subject to the applicable rules, if the process is completed while still in the customs area. Bea Cukai stated that registration can still be completed after leaving the customs area, but different conditions apply and the US$500 exemption is no longer available.
Do you need IMEI registration if you buy an Indonesian SIM?
Potentially, yes—because SIM registration and IMEI registration are completely different.
Think of it as registering two separate elements:
- SIM registration: establishes who owns or uses the Indonesian mobile number.
- IMEI registration: establishes which foreign-sourced phone is permitted to access Indonesia's cellular network.
So, buying a local SIM doesn't automatically mean your imported phone has been cleared for long-term use. If you're bringing your existing phone from overseas and plan to use it with an Indonesian number, check the IMEI requirements before assuming you're ready to go.
The same principle applies to eSIMs. An eSIM isn't a loophole around Indonesia's mobile-registration rules; the phone still has an IMEI, and the mobile subscription still needs to be registered to the appropriate identity.
Tourist SIM or long-term expat number?
This is one distinction worth making before you arrive.
If you're visiting Indonesia for a short stay, you have considerably more flexibility. You can keep using your home SIM with international roaming, purchase a tourist SIM, or use a foreign-national eSIM where available. Foreigners staying for up to 90 days also have provisions for temporary access to Indonesian networks when using a local SIM.
On the other hand, a regular Indonesian number makes more sense for long-term stays. You'll want a number you can keep active for banking, ride-hailing apps, delivery services, WhatsApp, work contacts, and other everyday services. This is also relevant for digital nomads who initially enter Indonesia on shorter stays but eventually decide to make the country a longer-term base.
So, what's the best setup for an expat?
There's no single answer for everyone, but your lifestyle makes a difference.
For an expat who travels extensively around Indonesia: Telkomsel is the strongest choice if coverage is your priority. Its nationwide network makes it particularly useful if your weekends involve leaving Jakarta or Bali for smaller cities, islands and rural destinations.
For a digital nomad who wants an eSIM: XL is arguably the most convenient starting point. Its foreigner-specific tourist eSIM can be purchased online, with the QR code delivered by email, meaning you can arrange connectivity before landing.
For someone living primarily in Jakarta, Bali, or another major city: XL, IM3 and Telkomsel are all worth considering based on the coverage around your home and workplace. In urban areas, package pricing and data allowances may ultimately matter more than nationwide coverage.
For someone who wants to keep their home number: A dual-SIM or eSIM-compatible phone can be particularly useful. You can retain your existing international number for calls or two-factor authentication while using an Indonesian SIM for everyday data, local calls and services. Just make sure your phone isn't carrier-locked and supports the SIM configuration you intend to use.
What should you do when you first arrive?
For a relatively painless setup, the order matters.
1. Check your phone's IMEI. If you're bringing a handset from overseas, find its IMEI before you travel. You can usually find it under your phone's settings or by dialling.
2. Decide whether you need a tourist or regular Indonesian number. If you're only staying temporarily, a tourist SIM or eSIM may be enough. If you're relocating, look at a regular long-term number instead.
3. Consider an eSIM before buying a physical SIM. If your phone supports eSIM and you're arriving without Indonesian residence documentation, XL's foreigner-specific eSIM is particularly convenient because the process can be completed online.
4. Complete the required SIM registration. New Indonesian SIM registrations are subject to the country's biometric verification system. Have your passport and applicable residence documentation ready if you're a foreign national.
5. Sort out your IMEI if you're using an imported phone. Don't assume that activating the SIM means the handset itself is cleared for long-term Indonesian network access.
6. Keep your number active. Once you've settled in, your Indonesian number will likely become attached to everything from WhatsApp and banking to Grab, Gojek and delivery services. If you change operators later, make sure you've updated important accounts first.
A note for digital nomads
The easiest setup may actually be two numbers rather than one. Keeping your home-country SIM active—particularly if it's needed for banking verification—while using an Indonesian eSIM or physical SIM for everyday data gives you more flexibility.
An unlocked dual-SIM phone makes this particularly simple. You can designate the Indonesian line for mobile data while keeping your international number available for incoming messages, depending on your home operator's roaming arrangements.
Just remember that having an eSIM doesn't eliminate Indonesia's registration requirements. The number still needs to be registered appropriately, and an imported phone may still need IMEI clearance.
