Managing mailboxes or PO boxes in Indonesia

Cheryl · 2025-09-17T07:25:45+02:00

Explore tips and insights on managing mail and PO boxes in Indonesia. Learn from expats about delivery reliability and setting up your mailbox.

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModeratorYesterday 05:25:45

14298

Hello everyone,

Something as simple as receiving mail can become a whole new experience when you settle in Indonesia as an expat. Mailing management can indeed be different from what you are used to. In order to help other expats and soon-to-be expats, we invite you to share your insights.

How do you receive mail in Indonesia? Do you have a traditional mailbox, a PO Box, or another system?

How was it to set it up and what are the formalities?

Is the postal service reliable and secure?

How do you handle missed deliveries or forwarding your mail?

Do you have any tips you would like to share to newcomers and fellow expats?

Share your insights and experience.

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheryl
禁漫天堂 Team

wyngrove60 Serial expat

Member since 08 May 2021

wyngrove60Serial expatYesterday 08:41:17

385

Indonesian Post or more accurately the Customs department is a big problem in Indonesia. It's not about not getting your packages, it's about having to pay huge import taxes of up to 40% otherwise you cannot get your package. Even if you post something overseas to your home country and it is undelivered and returned (sending address is in Indonesia) you still need to pay 40% of the value of what's inside.

Quite a few years ago I bought 2 cartons of food online from the UK from two different companies and had to pay 40% tax to get those packages. Fortunately me and the family loved these foods so we didn't worry about the big bill we needed to pay to the post office in order to get them. But if you are missing food from home such as from the UK, then better to just fly to Kuala Lumpur for a couple of days to stock up on your favourites. We buy stuff like marmite, OXO, Bisto, shortbread biscuits, food from Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and even Morrisons.

I suppose letters and postcards don't require us to pay anything. But parcels, even small packets require us to pay bucks to Indonesian Customs/Post office.

No idea about PO Boxes. Why would you need a PO Box? Just use your home address.

If I know I have people coming to visit us who live in the US, UK , France or Japan, then I just have things sent to them and they hand carry the stuff and give to me personally.

Is the postal service in Indonesia reliable? Yes I think so.

As for missed deliveries, we don't really get them. If delivered by courier then they'll call us. If the package is being delivered by the postman and we are out he will WhatsApp us to let us know.

If there are expats who are worried about receiving mail from overseas and might be away from home, then better to have the mail sent to their office. Using a PO Box (if that service exists here) seems troublesome.