The Greater Jakarta Area has been under a state of quasi-quarantine for a couple of weeks, with travel practically limited to within Jakarta and satellite cities Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi to discourage residents from leaving and outsiders from entering for no good reason, as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
On May 15, a week before Eid, Governor Anies Baswedan passed a Gubernatorial Regulation (Pergub) prohibiting Jakarta residents to leave the Greater Jakarta Area and outsiders from coming in while the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) protocol is in place.
After having served to limit interregional COVID-19 transmission over the Eid long weekend, Anies yesterday reiterated that the travel limitations are still in place. However, exemptions are in place for people who work in these sectors or fall into these categories:
- Health
- Food and beverage supply
- Energy
- Information and communication technology
- Finance
- Logistics
- Hotel industry
- Construction
- Strategic industries
- Basic services, utilities, and vital national interests
- Daily needs provision
Those exempted from the travel limitations are required to present an Entry and Exit Permit (SIKM) at road entry points set up throughout the Greater Jakarta Area. There have been reports that SIKM is also required for air travel, but that has yet to be officially announced.
You can apply for an SIKM here, and for those who don’t speak Indonesian, here are the steps in English:
- Obtain a letter of approval from Neighborhood Chief (RT) and Community Unit Chief (RW)
- Obtain a medical note stating good health, legally stamped
- Prepare an out-of-city work order
- Prepare a colored passport photo
- Prepare a photocopy of KTP (ID card)
Non-Jakarta residents must obtain all of the above and a letter of approval from their sub-district/village of origin and a letter stating Jakarta address for emergency reasons.
Once all of the required documents are ready, head over to the SIKM website and click “Urus SIKM.” There, you will submit the documents digitally, fill out an application form, and choose from the single pass or multiple pass SIKM.
If everything is in order, the SIKM will be sent digitally to you within one working day, which can then be printed and presented to checkpoint officers.
Please note that forging an SIKM is a crime punishable by up to 12 years in prison and/or a fine of up to IDR12 billion (US$812,309). Applying for an SIKM is free of charge.
PSBB in Jakarta ends on June 4, but Governor Anies has hinted at extending the partial lockdown protocol beyond the date as there have been no substantial signs that local transmissions are decreasing in the capital.
