Is Indonesia safe for religious-minority travellers?
Significant restrictions
Indonesia carries significant legal restrictions for religious-minority travellers — the clearest concern is anti-discrimination protection (no general protection).
What to know as a religious-minority traveller
the sourced facts that weigh most for you · concerns first
Indonesia has no general law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment or services.
Pew Research Center places Indonesia in the ’Very High’ band of its Government Restrictions Index on religion.
Blasphemy is actively prosecuted under Criminal Code Article 156a (retained as Articles 300-302 in the 2023 Criminal Code), with dozens of convictions in recent years.
Identity & recognition
Same-sex relationships
Legal · no recognitionSame-sex activity is not criminalised nationally and has no legal recognition; Law No. 1 of 1974 limits marriage to a man and woman, Aceh province bans it under sharia, and the new Criminal Code (Law No. 1/2023, in force Jan 2026) criminalises extramarital sex.
Legal gender recognition
Court/surgery gatekeptChanging legal gender is possible only via a court order after gender-reassignment surgery, per a 2009 court ruling; self-determination is not available.
Anti-discrimination protection
No SOGI protectionIndonesia has no general law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment or services.
Disability rights
CRPD 2011 + 2016 lawIndonesia ratified the CRPD in 2011 (Law No. 19/2011) and enacted Law No. 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities setting out basic rights.
Women's legal rights
Major legal gapsSignificant legal gaps remain for women — the WBL index scores 71/100 (2023). Expect unequal rules in areas such as mobility, marriage or the workplace; check local specifics before you travel.
LGBTQ+ legal equality
Few or no protectionsLGBTQ+ people face a hostile legal environment — Equaldex scores 13/100 (2026); expect few or no protections, and in some places active criminalisation. Research local law and discretion carefully.
Body & health
Abortion access
Life/health & rape onlyAbortion is prohibited except for a medical emergency or a pregnancy from rape (up to 14 weeks), under Health Law No. 17 of 2023 and Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024.
Cannabis & personal drug law
Illegal · severeCannabis is a Class I narcotic under Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009; possession and cultivation carry 4-12 years and trafficking can bring life imprisonment or death.
Faith & conscience
Government restriction of religion
Very high restrictionsPew Research Center places Indonesia in the ’Very High’ band of its Government Restrictions Index on religion.
Blasphemy & apostasy law
Actively enforcedBlasphemy is actively prosecuted under Criminal Code Article 156a (retained as Articles 300-302 in the 2023 Criminal Code), with dozens of convictions in recent years.
Speech & press
Freedom of expression
Partly free · 56/100Rated Partly Free, 56/100, by Freedom House (2025).
Your obligations on arrival
Address / residence registration
Foreign students enter on a VITAS and must convert it to a limited-stay permit (KITAS) at immigration within 30 days of arrival, then register with local police and the civil registry.
Student work rights
A student KITAS does not permit any employment; paid work requires a separate work permit and work KITAS sponsored by an employer.
Health insurance
KITAS holders staying six months or more, including students, must enrol in the national BPJS Kesehatan health scheme under Presidential Regulation No. 82/2018.
Bringing medication
Personal prescription medicines (up to ~90 days, psychotropics ~60 days) require a doctor’s letter, original packaging and a BPOM personal-use form; narcotics and cannabis/CBD products are prohibited.
Laws differ from lived experience and this is not legal advice. Each fact shows its evidence type, date and source. Full method & sources →
Emergency numbers
Travel-medical cover that works abroad with no local address, and a data eSIM so maps and messaging work the moment you land.