In short. There are three nationwide networks: Telkomsel, Indosat (IM3, Tri) and XL Axiata (XL, Axis), all with coverage in tourist areas. Since 1 July 2026, new numbers are registered with a face check against the population database. A foreigner is not in it, so the SIM is registered at an operator outlet with a passport and a KITAS, if you have one. "Already registered" cards from kiosks carry someone else's name. For a tourist staying up to 90 days, the operator registers the IMEI of a phone brought from abroad when you buy the SIM. Those who stay longer register it at customs. For tourists Telkomsel has a starter package by pre-order: 25 GB, 25 minutes in the country and 25 international minutes for 30 days at 100,000 rupiah, and a tourist eSIM at GraPARI with a passport and IMEI. Topping up the balance extends the life of the number, and you can build up to 365 days.
Operators. Indonesia has three nationwide networks: Telkomsel, the largest operator in the country, with the Simpati tariffs and the youth brand by.U; Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison with the brands IM3 and Tri; and XL Axiata with the brands XL and Axis. In Bali all three have coverage in tourist areas. The difference is noticeable in the mountains, in the north and on neighbouring islands: before moving to a remote place, ask neighbours what works exactly there.
What changed on 1 July 2026. Under Regulation No. 7 of 2026 of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, new numbers are registered with a face check against the population database, as Detik explained. For a foreigner the list of documents is a passport, KITAS or KITAP. A foreigner is not in the population database, so registration happens at an operator outlet or an official partner. The employee records the name, passport or KITAS number, nationality, and place and date of birth. This is a Telkomsel rule, and XL and Axis have the same. Numbers activated before 1 July 2026 do not need to be re-registered. The regulation also limits the number of numbers per ID: according to Kompas, no more than three at one operator.
Where to register. Telkomsel outlets are called GraPARI. In Bali they are in Denpasar at Jalan Teuku Umar 6, in Renon at Jalan Raya Puputan 33, in Kuta on the second floor of Mall Bali Galeria, and on the bypass towards Nusa Dua. Check addresses and hours on the GraPARI search page: they change. Bring your passport, your KITAS if you have one, and the phone itself. Street kiosks with top-ups sell "already registered" cards on other people's documents. Such a number can be blocked at any moment, and it cannot be restored without the owner's documents.
IMEI. A phone brought from abroad does not work on Indonesian networks without IMEI registration. Under the Ngurah Rai customs rules, a tourist who will stay in Indonesia for no more than 90 days registers the IMEI at an operator outlet, usually together with buying a SIM. Those who stay longer register it at customs: at the airport on arrival it is free, later with a duty. See the guide on customs.
For tourists. Telkomsel has a tourist starter package by pre-order on the site: 25 GB, 25 minutes of calls inside the country and 25 international minutes for 30 days at 100,000 rupiah, issued in Bali and in Mandalika on Lombok. A tourist eSIM is issued at GraPARI and at Telkomsel counters with a passport and an IMEI number. You get a QR code and scan it in the phone settings under "Cellular", "Add eSIM". It works only on phones that support eSIM.
Top-ups and how long a number lives. Prepaid works like this: the number has a balance, called pulsa, and internet packages, each with its own expiry date. Topping up the balance extends the activity of the number, and under Telkomsel rules you can build up to 365 days. When the activity expires, the number goes into a grace period, which at Telkomsel is 30 days: incoming calls and messages work, outgoing do not, and internet works until the package runs out. If you do not top up during the grace period either, the number is blocked. For a while it can still be restored through GraPARI or with the command *888*89#, and after that it is given to another person. If you leave for several months, buy a package with a long validity in advance, because your bank, GoPay and WhatsApp are tied to the number.
What this means for you. Tourist: go to GraPARI with your passport for a tourist package or eSIM, and 25 GB is enough for a month of maps, messengers and video. If you live on a KITAS: register the number once on your own documents at an outlet, set a reminder to top up the balance and do not buy cards from kiosks in someone else's name. If you stay longer than three months: register your phone's IMEI at customs on arrival, while it is still free.