iPhone fans in Indonesia will have to wait a little longer. Sales of the iPhone 16 are not yet allowed because the government has not yet issued a release permit.
Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said the delay in approval was due to unmet investment commitments. Of the targeted investment, only Rp 1.48 trillion ($94.3 million) has been realized, which is still short by Rp 240 billion ($15.3 million). As a result, the Ministry of Industry cannot issue the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) for this new iPhone until Apple meets its full investment commitments.
The certification period for the local content requirement (TKDN) for Apple products has expired. The company has not yet applied for a renewal, and this certification cannot be renewed until the investment requirements are met.
For reference, the TKDN requirement is set forth in Ministry of Industry Regulation No. 29 of 2017. This regulation requires a minimum TKDN of 40% for mobile phones, handheld computers and tablets sold in the Indonesian market.
Read also: Apple vs. Domestic Law: Indonesia Blocks iPhone 16 Sales Due to Investment and Certification Issues
If an iPhone 16 is on sale in Indonesia, it is illegal!
Anyone who brings an iPhone 16 into Indonesia for commercial sale is committing an illegal act. This has also been confirmed by Febri Hendri Antoni Arif, the spokesman for the Ministry of Industry.
Nevertheless, the official distributor site iBox has already displayed a banner for the regular and Pro iPhone 16. This usually indicates an upcoming release, but there is still no confirmed availability date for the iPhone 16 at iBox. Apple Indonesia has also hinted at the possible release of this series, despite the current delay issues.
Still allowed for personal use
The iPhone 16 brought into Indonesia through postal services for personal use is still allowed. The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) has stated that iPhone 16 devices brought by passengers, crew or sent by mail for non-commercial purposes are allowed to enter Indonesia.
Febri explained that the iPhone 16 falls under the category of "postel" (postal and telecommunication goods), which is allowed under Article 35 of Government Regulation No. 46 of 2021 on Postal, Telecommunication and Broadcasting Services. However, there is a limit of two units per passenger.
This regulation also stipulates that items carried or sent by postal services for personal and non-commercial purposes are exempt from technical standards, including the 35% local content requirement (TKDN). IMEI registration for such items is handled by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.
