Fun Easy English - Travel abroad Indonesia.

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Indonesia

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION

Indonesia is an independent republic consisting of more than 16,500 islands spread over 3,000 miles. The country encompasses the world’s longest archipelago, spreading out 3,400 miles along the Equator. Indonesia’s total land area covers about 736,000 square miles. The main islands are Java, Sumatra, Bali, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi ( Celebes), Papua, and Maluku. The capital city of Jakarta lies in the lowlands of West Java. The country has approximately 234,000,000 people and more than 300 ethnic groups.

The U.S. diplomatic mission in Indonesia consists of approximately 220 American staff and 500 family members in addition to an average of 150 temporary duty officials who visit the Embassy each month. Annually, there are approximately 150,000 US tourists to Indonesia.

PEOPLE

Indonesia's approximately 245.5 million people make it the world's fourth-most populous nation. The island of Java, roughly the size of New York State, is the most populous island in the world (124 million, 2005 est.) and one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Indonesia includes numerous related but distinct cultural and linguistic groups, many of which are ethnically Malay. Since independence, Bahasa Indonesia (the national language, a form of Malay) has spread throughout the archipelago and has become the language of most written communication, education, government, business, and media. Local languages are still important in many areas, however. English is the most widely spoken foreign language. Education is compulsory for children through grade 9. In primary school, 94% of eligible children are enrolled whereas 57% of eligible children are enrolled in secondary school.

Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom apply to the six religions recognized by the state, namely Islam (88%), Protestantism (5%), Catholicism (3%), Buddhism (2%), Hinduism (1%) and Confucianism (less than 1%). In the resort island of Bali, over 90% of the population practices Hinduism. In some remote areas, animism is still practiced.

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

A passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Indonesia and an onward/return ticket are required to enter Indonesia. Indonesian authorities regularly deny entry to Americans who arrive with less than six months validity on their passports. The U.S. Embassy cannot obtain entry permission for Americans in this situation. Travelers will be required to depart for Singapore or a nearby country to obtain a new U.S. passport.

American citizens are required to have a visa to enter Indonesia. U.S. citizens may apply for a visa on arrival at the airports in Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya, Medan, and a few other major cities. Visas on arrival are available at a limited number of seaports but are not available at any land border crossing. Travelers should check carefully when planning travel between Indonesia and other countries in the region to be sure their return to Indonesia is through a designated visa on arrival port or airport. Travelers will not be allowed to enter or return to Indonesia at an entry that does not have visa on arrival facilities. Indonesian visas require an entire passport page. Travelers without a blank visa page may be denied entry. Additional visa pages may be added at most U.S. Embassies and Consulates, or domestically through a Passport Agency. .All airline passengers, including children, are subject to a Rupiah-denominated departure tax, which must be paid in cash. The international departure tax as of August 2007 is 100,000 Rupiah; domestic departure taxes are lower and vary by airport. Visitors may be granted a 3-day visa on arrival for a fee of $10 or a 30-day visa on arrival for a fee of $25. Recent experience has shown that some visitors are granted a 7-day visa on arrival for $10. All visas on arrival are non-extendable. Travelers must exit the country to be able to purchase another visa on arrival. Travelers are strongly advised to purchase the 30-day visa on arrival to avoid problems if travel plans change unexpectedly. Travelers who overstay visas on arrival are subject to a fine of US $20 per day, as of early 2007. Indonesia strictly enforces its immigration/visa requirements. Several Westerners, including Americans, have been jailed for visa violations and overstays. Violators may also be subject to substantial fines and deportation from Indonesia for immigration and visa violations. Immigration officials have also detained people for conducting business, academic, or other non-tourist activities while in tourist visa status. Volunteer work with local or international NGOs is not permitted on tourist visa status. Penalties for such immigration/visa violations incur a prison sentence of up to 5 years and a fine of Rupiah 25 million. Travelers are encouraged to contact an Indonesian consular office to determine the appropriate visa category before traveling to Indonesia.

U.S. citizens may also apply for a visa at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, DC or at an Indonesian Consulate in the U.S. A visitor's visa for business purposes and social/cultural stays of longer duration require a letter of intent/sponsorship from the Indonesian employer and/or sponsor. For up-to-date information, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia: 2020 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036, phone: (202) 775-5200 or via Internet: http://www.embassyofindonesia.org. Indonesian Consulates are located in Los Angeles (213) 383-5126, San Francisco (415) 474-9571, Chicago (312) 920-1880, New York (212) 879-0600, and Houston (713) 785-1691. Visit the Embassy of Indonesia web site at http://www.embassyofindonesia.org for the most current visa information.

QUICK FACTS

Geography
Area: 2 million sq. km. (736,000 sq. mi.), about three times the size of Texas; maritime area: 7,900,000 sq. km.
Cities: Capital--Jakarta (est. 8.8 million). Other cities--Surabaya 3.0 million, Medan 2.5 million, Bandung 2.5 million.
Terrain: More than 17,500 islands; 6,000 are inhabited; 1,000 of which are permanently settled. Large islands consist of coastal plains with mountainous interiors.
Climate: Equatorial but cooler in the highlands.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Indonesian(s).
Population (July 2006 est.): 245.5 million.
Annual population growth rate (2006): 1.3%.
Ethnic groups: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, others 26%.
Religions: Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist and other 1%.
Languages: Indonesian (official), local languages, the most prevalent of which is Javanese.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Enrollment--94% of eligible primary school-age children. Literacy--90% (2005).
Health: Infant mortality rate--28/1,000 (2005). Life expectancy at birth--68 years (2005).
Work force: 94.2 million (2005 est.). Agriculture--46.5%, industry--11.8%, services--41.7%.

Government
Type: Independent republic.
Independence: August 17, 1945 proclaimed.
Constitution: 1945. Embodies five principles of the state philosophy, called Pancasila, namely monotheism, humanitarianism, national unity, representative democracy by consensus, and social justice.
Branches: Executive--president (head of government and chief of state) elected by direct popular vote. Legislative--The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which includes the 550-member House of Representatives (DPR) and the 128-member Council of Regional Representatives (DPD), both elected to five-year terms. Judicial--Supreme Court.
Suffrage: 17 years of age universal and married persons regardless of age.

Economy
GDP (2005): $281.3 billion; (2006 est.): $351.9 billion.
Annual growth rate (2005): 5.6%; (2006 est.): 5.5%.
Inflation (2005): 10.5%; (2006 est.): 13.2%.
Per capita income (2005): $3,600 (est., PPP).
Natural resources (10.4% of GDP): Oil and gas, bauxite, silver, tin, copper, gold, coal.
Agriculture (13.4% of GDP): Products--timber, rubber, rice, palm oil, coffee. Land--17% cultivated.
Manufacturing (28.1% of GDP): Garments, footwear, electronic goods, furniture, paper products.
Trade: Exports (2005)--$86.2 billion including oil, natural gas, appliances, textiles. Major exporters--Japan, U.S., China, Singapore. Imports (2005)--$63.9 billion including food, chemicals, capital goods, consumer goods. Major importers--Japan, China, Singapore, and Thailand.

USEFUL LINKS

U.S. Government