Moving from Indonesia to France (2026): Relocation Guide
Key takeaways
- Begin with the pet. Indonesia is not on the EU’s list of approved third countries, so a dog or cat needs a rabies antibody titration test (blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, result 0.5 IU/ml or higher) followed by a mandatory three-month wait before entering the EU. With microchip, vaccination, titre and wait, budget four to five months.
- Close out Indonesia properly. KITAS/KITAP holders process an Exit Permit Only (EPO) at Imigrasi, and household goods leave as an export through Bea Cukai.
- Claim the franchise de déménagement. France’s duty and tax exemption lets you import used personal property free of charge if you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and owned and used the goods for at least 6 months.
- Sea freight from Jakarta (Tanjung Priok) to Le Havre or Marseille typically takes about 40-50 days, and often longer in 2026 with Cape of Good Hope routing.
- Validate your visa within 3 months. A VLS-TS long-stay visa is validated online with OFII on arrival and acts as your first residence permit.
1. Leaving Indonesia: what to close out
If you have lived in Indonesia on a limited stay permit (KITAS) or permanent stay permit (KITAP), you must process an Exit Permit Only (EPO) before you leave for good. The EPO cancels your izin tinggal (ITAS/ITAP) so your residency status ends cleanly on departure. It runs through your local Imigrasi office, or via your sponsor, usually within about three working days. Leaving without an EPO can complicate future Indonesian visa applications, so treat it as essential. Because your permits are linked to your sponsor, coordinate the timing with them and with your final working day.
Your household goods leave Indonesia as an export cleared through Bea Cukai (Customs and Excise). Your mover normally prepares the export declaration and manifest, but keep copies of your passport, KITAS/KITAP, EPO and a detailed valued inventory in English (and, for France, ideally French). Antiques, artwork and cultural items may need additional clearance, so flag them early.
Handle the local admin too: settle utilities and your Indonesian phone contract, recover your rental deposit, close local accounts once salary and deposits clear, and gather school, medical and vaccination records plus employment references. Certified copies and sworn French translations of key documents will smooth your dealings with French landlords, banks and the prefecture.
2. How your household goods ship to France
Most Indonesia-to-France moves travel by sea freight from Tanjung Priok (Jakarta) or Tanjung Perak (Surabaya) to Le Havre (serving Paris and the north) or Marseille-Fos (serving the south). A full container (FCL) suits a whole household; shared groupage (LCL) is cheaper for smaller volumes but slower because it waits for consolidation. Plan on roughly 40-50 days port to port for the direct sea leg, with 2026 sailings often longer because many carriers still route around the Cape of Good Hope. Add time for door collection, customs at both ends and inland delivery.
Air freight to Paris (Charles de Gaulle) or Lyon takes days rather than weeks and suits a small box of essentials, documents and valuables, but costs several times more per cubic metre. Many families combine a small air shipment with a sea container for the rest.
Whatever the mode, keep a clear, valued packing list. French relief depends on the goods being demonstrably used personal effects, so every carton should correspond to an inventory line.
3. France customs & transfer-of-residence relief
When you transfer your main residence from a non-EU country such as Indonesia to France, you can import your used personal property free of customs duty and import VAT under the franchise de déménagement (duty and tax exemption on transfer of residence). To qualify you must have stayed in a third country for at least 12 months, have used the goods privately for at least 6 months before the move, and be transferring your main residence (not furnishing a second home).
Two French conditions catch people out. First, your belongings must have borne customs and/or tax charges in the country of origin to qualify for the exemption. Second, you must import the goods within 12 months of the transfer of residence (the importation can happen in several instalments), and you must not sell, lend or otherwise part with the exempted goods for 12 months after their entry into France. You will submit a detailed inventory, proof of at least 12 months’ residence abroad, proof of your new French residence, and a franchise declaration. Your mover or a customs agent usually files this, but check it. Authoritative detail is on the French Customs (Douane) transfer of residence page and on service-public.gouv.fr.
4. Arriving: registration, residence, driving, healthcare
Residence and visa. As an Indonesian citizen (a third-country national) you generally arrive on a long-stay visa. A VLS-TS (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour) acts as your residence permit for its 4-12 month validity, so you do not need a separate first-year permit. You must validate it within 3 months of arrival, entirely online via the ANEF website, which registers you with OFII (the French immigration and integration office) and settles the associated tax. Before the VLS-TS expires, you apply at the prefecture, about three months ahead, for a multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle).
France has no single town-hall population registration like Germany’s Anmeldung, but validating your visa, opening a bank account and setting up utilities together establish you locally.
Healthcare. Once you are settled and meet the residence condition, you can join the French health system (assurance maladie) via PUMa and apply for a carte Vitale; keep private or travel cover for the interim while your file is processed.
Driving licence. You may drive on your Indonesian licence, accompanied by an official French translation or an international driving permit, for up to one year after establishing residence. Whether you can then exchange it for a French licence depends on a reciprocity agreement between France and Indonesia; if none applies, you must pass the French test. Check your department’s prefecture rules and the ANTS portal soon after arrival, as the exchange window is time-limited.
5. Pets
The pet timeline is the longest single task in this move, so start it before you book anything. Because Indonesia is not on the EU’s list of approved third countries, your dog or cat cannot simply arrive with a vaccination record. The EU entry sequence must run in strict order:
- Microchip (ISO-standard) implanted first, so the rabies vaccination that follows counts.
- Rabies vaccination after the microchip is in place.
- Rabies antibody titration test: a blood sample taken at least 30 days after vaccination, sent to an EU-approved laboratory, showing 0.5 IU/ml or higher.
- A mandatory three-month wait counted from the date of the successful blood sample, before the animal may enter the EU.
- An EU animal health certificate completed by an official veterinarian before travel.
To leave Indonesia, your pet also needs an Agricultural Quarantine (Barantin / Balai Karantina Pertanian) export health certificate arranged with a government-approved vet, plus the export recommendation and permit, and departure-airport quarantine should be notified in advance. Even in areas of Indonesia considered lower-risk for rabies, the EU still requires the titre because Indonesia as a whole is unlisted. Adding vaccination, the 30-day minimum before the blood draw, the three-month wait and paperwork, allow around four to five months. Animals from unlisted countries must enter the EU through an approved traveller point of entry, so confirm your airline and route carry live animals into France, typically as manifest cargo. Check the current rules before booking on the EU pet travel pages.
6. Money, banking & tax basics
Opening a French bank account (compte courant) usually needs proof of a French address and often your validated visa or residence document, though several banks and digital providers let you start earlier. A French account is essential for rent, salary and utilities, and for the RIB that many services require. Keep your Indonesian account open until final transfers clear, and use a reputable currency service for larger transfers.
On tax, once you establish your tax residence in France you are generally taxed on worldwide income there. France and Indonesia have a double taxation agreement, so income is not taxed twice, but your exit year from Indonesia and your first French filing, including any severance, can be complex. Take professional advice on both sides and keep records of asset values on your move date. Retain every customs, shipping, visa and residence document, as these support both your franchise relief and your tax residency position.
How Flyto handles your Indonesia to France move
Flyto Relocation runs the whole corridor: EPO and export coordination in Indonesia, sea or air freight from Tanjung Priok or Surabaya, and French clearance with your franchise de déménagement prepared correctly so your belongings are not held for duty. We operate our own hubs across Northern, Central and Southern Europe, so your container is received, cleared and delivered by our own network rather than a chain of unknown subcontractors. We also project-manage the pet timeline, which for an unlisted country such as Indonesia is the part most likely to derail a move if it starts late. Give us your dates and inventory and we will map the critical path backwards from your French move-in day. Get a quote and we will build your plan.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the pet process take from Indonesia to France?
Plan for about four to five months. After the microchip and rabies vaccination, the antibody blood test can only be drawn at least 30 days later, and then a mandatory three-month wait applies before EU entry, per the EU pet travel rules.
Why does my dog need a rabies blood test to enter France?
Because Indonesia is not on the EU’s list of approved third countries, the antibody titration test (0.5 IU/ml or higher) plus the three-month wait are compulsory in addition to microchip and vaccination. See the EU rules on travelling with pets.
What is the franchise de déménagement?
It is France’s duty and tax exemption for importing used personal property when you transfer your main residence from outside the EU, subject to 12 months abroad and 6 months’ ownership. See French Customs.
Do I need to process an EPO before leaving Indonesia?
Yes. KITAS/KITAP holders must obtain an Exit Permit Only to cancel their stay permit before leaving for good, or risk complications with future Indonesian applications. See Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi.
How soon must I validate my VLS-TS visa?
Within 3 months of arriving in France, online with OFII via the ANEF portal; it then serves as your residence permit for the year. See France-Visas.
How long is shipping from Jakarta to France?
Direct sea freight to Le Havre or Marseille is typically around 40-50 days port to port, and often longer in 2026 due to Cape of Good Hope routing; air freight is far faster but much more expensive.
Related moves
Sources
- European Union (Your Europe) — Travelling with pets and other animals in the EU
- French Customs (Douane) — Deductibles when transferring your main residence to France
- Service-Public.gouv.fr — Moving personal property to France (customs)
- France-Visas — Long-stay visa (VLS-TS)
- Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi (Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration) — Exit Permit Only
- Embassy of Indonesia — Animal quarantine requirements and procedure
- French Ministry of Agriculture — Importing a pet animal into France
- SeaRates — Jakarta to Le Havre sea freight transit times
Hiring an international mover? See our full International removals to Indonesia service — Flyto’s own European hubs, vetted local partners and one English-speaking coordinator, door to door.