SEAToday.com, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) has announced that Apple's latest release, the iPhone 16, cannot be legally sold in Indonesia until it meets the required standards for local component use, known as TKDN certification.

The TKDN (Domestic Component Level) certification is a regulation ensuring that products sold in Indonesia meet a specified level of locally-sourced components. Although the iPhone 16 currently lacks this certification, Ministry of Industry Spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief clarified on Friday that certain iPhone 16 models can still enter Indonesia—so long as they are brought in by passengers, crew, or through postal services, and are strictly for personal use.

“Following the statement from the Minister of Industry, iPhone 16 series devices brought by passengers and accompanied by paid taxes may be brought into Indonesia as personal items. However, they cannot be traded and are only allowed for personal use,” said Febri.

According to Article 35 of Government Regulation Number 46 of 2021 on Posts, Telecommunications, and Broadcasting, iPhones carried in by passengers or sent through postal services qualify as non-commercial goods and are exempt from the TKDN requirement—so long as no more than two units are brought per person.

Each of these iPhone units still requires IMEI registration, a standard procedure overseen by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise. Febri also shared that between August and October 2024, approximately 9,000 iPhone 16 units entered Indonesia through passenger baggage, with the applicable taxes paid. While these units are legally permitted for personal use, any attempt to resell them would make the devices illegal under Indonesian law.

"The Ministry of Industry encourages the public to report any trading activity involving iPhone 16 units that enter as passenger baggage,” he urged.

Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita also noted that Apple has yet to secure its sales permit in Indonesia because the company has not fulfilled its commitment to invest further in the country. To proceed with an official sales permit, Apple must complete the remaining investment of Rp240 billion from a total promised commitment of Rp1.71 trillion.

As Apple works to meet these local requirements, the Ministry of Industry reminds consumers that the official sale of the iPhone 16 series in Indonesia will only be possible once Apple has fulfilled its TKDN obligations.