Bringing Keris to Indonesia from Overseas

Jayaningkurnia · 17th March 2026, 02:47 AM

I will be travelling back to Indonesia (Yogyakarta) over the lebaran holiday and am thinking of bringing some krises back to Yogyakarta (to be left there) from Singapore.

I have read past threads on the topic (which was from several years ago), which advice to pack securely (sheathed, in checked-in luggage) and declare to custom upon arrival. Also general advice to be polite and patient. Is there any other specific procedures or precaution I should take? Or generally it would be better to use courier/logistic services (UPS? FedEx?)

For context, am Indonesian heritage and fluent bahasa speaker.

Thank you in advance

JustYS · Today, 04:01 AM

Hi Jayaningkurnia,

I never bring Keris to Indonesia, therefore the following is just my assumption.

You might want to google UU DARURAT 12/1951 since you are fluent in Indonesian it should not be a problem.

Here I attached one of the clause that specifically (in my opinion) exempt keris to be classified as weapon.

If my interpretation of this clause is correct, it means there should not be any specific procedures to bring keris to Indonesia.

A. G. Maisey · Today, 04:13 AM

I have taken keris into Indonesia, through Bali, a few times, it has never been a pleasant experience. The last few times Customs have asked for a police letter giving me permission to bring keris in.

About 3 years ago I took half a dozen or so keris in to get work done on them. I got two young Customs gentlemen who looked as if they should still have been in school --- who knows? Maybe they were, maybe they were on work experience.

Anyway, they asked for the police letter, so I pulled out the B709B police document from Australia, pretended to lose my temper, waved it in their faces pointed to the "Police" on the document and they waved me through very politely.

However, I have been looking after a keris for nearly 50 years for a family in Solo, waiting until somebody in the family was prepared to take it back & take responsibility for its care. Last year I finally was advised of a candidate, but rather than take it myself, I gave it to an Australian government employee who has very good connections & special powers. In a few weeks he will deliver to a relative of mine in Solo & my relative will ensure that it gets to where it needs to be.

In short:- I've always been able to bluff my way through, you might not be so lucky, or alternatively, they might take no notice of you. Try to get some sort of document from police or Indonesian Consulate/Embassy where you are now.

A. G. Maisey · Today, 04:18 AM

Wish I'd known about little bit of law a long time ago Yohan.

But on the other hand, educating Customs officers is probably no more pleasant than dealing with them in other ways.

JustYS · Today, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Wish I'd known about little bit law a long time ago Yohan.

But on the other hand, educating Customs officers is probably no more pleasant than dealing with them in other ways.

Yes Alan it always good to know the law but like you said sometimes the reality is another thing.

I’ve had a similar experience when bringing my keris to Australia. Two young custom officers look at my customs declaration (in which I ticked weapon) and my B709B form then he pointed out at the B709B form and asked me what is this? I was quite surprised and answered well it was a certification from the police to allow me to import this dagger. He turned to his colleague and asked have you seen this before? His colleague shook his head and left, after while he came back with by the look of it a more senior officer who looked at my form and said ah yes it’s a police permit. He then told me for this kind of dagger normally you don’t need this form but it’s good that you have it and he let me through.

What a relief

A. G. Maisey · Today, 05:30 AM

The senior officer was correct Yohan, you should not need the B709B, before, about 20 years or so back, you did need this doc for everything, but as a follow on from the Port Arthur black op and after John Howard bought back a whole heap of firearms, NSW set out to alter knife legislation.

The first drafts of the new legislation were ludicrous, if introduced they would have resulted in kids wanting pancakes for breakfast at Maccas eating them with their fingers.

Well, a lot of people got pretty upset about this, amongst those people were members of the Antique Arms Collectors Society of Australia, of which I, & a number of legal & para legal people, & also including a judge were/are members.

Reasoned correspondence with politicians and bureaucrats followed & eventually we got new legislation where the focus had shifted from possession to use.

At the moment I think I can say that our NSW knife legislation is reasonable & intelligently drafted.

However, the early days after introduction of this new use-focused legislation were --- in my eyes --- like something out of Monty Python.

For example:- in NSW one must not carry a knife unless it is being carried for a legally identifiable reason. Seems fair to me.

However, the rural town of Goulburn is home to our police training college. One, or maybe more than one, of the instructors at this college had the idea that it would be a useful training exercise for the young gentlemen & women who were training to be police officers to raid the local stock auction & take legal action against all people at that auction who were in possession of a knife.

Australian stockmen, graziers, farmers, in fact virtually all rural workers have a pocket knife --- usually a 3 blade premium stock knife permanently attached to their belt, they put their trousers on in the morning, those trousers come fitted with a 3 blade premium stock knife.

A very great number of people were much offended by the police actions on that day.

I do not know what the final outcome of this idiocy was, but these days it does seem that our police officers have got the right approach.

As you comment Yohan, laws can be reasonable, but the way in which those laws are enforced can sometimes be idiotic.

Customs procedures at Sydney airport have changed a lot over the years, & although I do not really need the B709B these days, I normally do carry one, just in case I get an officious Customs officer.

17th March 2026, 02:47 AM	#1
Jayaningkurnia Member Join Date: Nov 2025 Posts: 12	Bringing Keris to Indonesia from Overseas I will be travelling back to Indonesia (Yogyakarta) over the lebaran holiday and am thinking of bringing some krises back to Yogyakarta (to be left there) from Singapore. I have read past threads on the topic (which was from several years ago), which advice to pack securely (sheathed, in checked-in luggage) and declare to custom upon arrival. Also general advice to be polite and patient. Is there any other specific procedures or precaution I should take? Or generally it would be better to use courier/logistic services (UPS? FedEx?) For context, am Indonesian heritage and fluent bahasa speaker. Thank you in advance

Today, 04:01 AM	#2
JustYS Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 155	Hi Jayaningkurnia, I never bring Keris to Indonesia, therefore the following is just my assumption. You might want to google UU DARURAT 12/1951 since you are fluent in Indonesian it should not be a problem. Here I attached one of the clause that specifically (in my opinion) exempt keris to be classified as weapon. If my interpretation of this clause is correct, it means there should not be any specific procedures to bring keris to Indonesia. Attached Images Last edited by JustYS; Today at 04:06 AM. Reason: Incomplete

Today, 04:18 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,192	Wish I'd known about little bit of law a long time ago Yohan. But on the other hand, educating Customs officers is probably no more pleasant than dealing with them in other ways. Last edited by A. G. Maisey; Today at 05:04 AM.

Today, 04:13 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,192	I have taken keris into Indonesia, through Bali, a few times, it has never been a pleasant experience. The last few times Customs have asked for a police letter giving me permission to bring keris in. About 3 years ago I took half a dozen or so keris in to get work done on them. I got two young Customs gentlemen who looked as if they should still have been in school --- who knows? Maybe they were, maybe they were on work experience. Anyway, they asked for the police letter, so I pulled out the B709B police document from Australia, pretended to lose my temper, waved it in their faces pointed to the "Police" on the document and they waved me through very politely. However, I have been looking after a keris for nearly 50 years for a family in Solo, waiting until somebody in the family was prepared to take it back & take responsibility for its care. Last year I finally was advised of a candidate, but rather than take it myself, I gave it to an Australian government employee who has very good connections & special powers. In a few weeks he will deliver to a relative of mine in Solo & my relative will ensure that it gets to where it needs to be. In short:- I've always been able to bluff my way through, you might not be so lucky, or alternatively, they might take no notice of you. Try to get some sort of document from police or Indonesian Consulate/Embassy where you are now.

Today, 05:30 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,192	The senior officer was correct Yohan, you should not need the B709B, before, about 20 years or so back, you did need this doc for everything, but as a follow on from the Port Arthur black op and after John Howard bought back a whole heap of firearms, NSW set out to alter knife legislation. The first drafts of the new legislation were ludicrous, if introduced they would have resulted in kids wanting pancakes for breakfast at Maccas eating them with their fingers. Well, a lot of people got pretty upset about this, amongst those people were members of the Antique Arms Collectors Society of Australia, of which I, & a number of legal & para legal people, & also including a judge were/are members. Reasoned correspondence with politicians and bureaucrats followed & eventually we got new legislation where the focus had shifted from possession to use. At the moment I think I can say that our NSW knife legislation is reasonable & intelligently drafted. However, the early days after introduction of this new use-focused legislation were --- in my eyes --- like something out of Monty Python. For example:- in NSW one must not carry a knife unless it is being carried for a legally identifiable reason. Seems fair to me. However, the rural town of Goulburn is home to our police training college. One, or maybe more than one, of the instructors at this college had the idea that it would be a useful training exercise for the young gentlemen & women who were training to be police officers to raid the local stock auction & take legal action against all people at that auction who were in possession of a knife. Australian stockmen, graziers, farmers, in fact virtually all rural workers have a pocket knife --- usually a 3 blade premium stock knife permanently attached to their belt, they put their trousers on in the morning, those trousers come fitted with a 3 blade premium stock knife. A very great number of people were much offended by the police actions on that day. I do not know what the final outcome of this idiocy was, but these days it does seem that our police officers have got the right approach. As you comment Yohan, laws can be reasonable, but the way in which those laws are enforced can sometimes be idiotic. Customs procedures at Sydney airport have changed a lot over the years, & although I do not really need the B709B these days, I normally do carry one, just in case I get an officious Customs officer.