For certain regulated goods imported into Indonesia, one of the documents that may be required is a Surveyor Report, commonly known in Indonesia as a Laporan Surveyor (LS).
A Surveyor Report is issued based on the results of a Verification or Technical Inspection of Imports, known as Verifikasi atau Penelusuran Teknis Impor (VPTI).
The inspection is carried out by an authorized independent surveyor to verify certain information relating to the goods before or during the applicable import process.
However, a Surveyor Report is not required for every imported product.
Whether an importer needs an LS depends on several factors, including:
- Product category;
- HS Code;
- Applicable import regulations;
- Import licensing requirements; and
- Whether VPTI is required for the specific commodity.
Therefore, importers should first review the applicable import regulations before arranging a Surveyor Report.
So, how does the Surveyor Report process work in Indonesia?
What Is a Surveyor Report?
A Surveyor Report (Laporan Surveyor/LS) is a document issued by an authorized Surveyor after completing Verification or Technical Inspection of certain imported goods.
Depending on the applicable regulation, the verification may include checking information such as:
- HS Code;
- Product type and description;
- Quantity or volume;
- Product specifications or criteria;
- Country of origin;
- Country and port of loading;
- Supporting import documents; and
- Other information required under the relevant import regulation.
Therefore, an LS should not be understood simply as a commercial quality inspection report.
Its main purpose is to document the results of the verification or technical inspection required under Indonesia's import regulations.
1. Check Whether the Product Requires a Surveyor Report
Before starting the LS application process, the importer should first identify whether the product is subject to Import Prohibitions and Restrictions (Larangan dan Pembatasan/LARTAS) or other specific import controls.
Indonesia regulates certain imported products through commodity-specific import requirements.
Depending on the product, an importer may be required to obtain documents such as:
- Import Approval (Persetujuan Impor/PI);
- Surveyor Report (Laporan Surveyor/LS);
- Technical recommendation;
- Technical consideration;
- Other import licenses or supporting documents.
However, these requirements do not apply equally to every commodity.
Therefore, the first step should be to identify the product's HS Code and product description and compare them with the applicable import regulations.
2. Check Whether Import Approval or Technical Documents Are Required
For some regulated commodities, an Import Approval (PI) may be required before the goods can be imported.
In certain cases, supporting documents from another government institution may also be required as part of the Import Approval process.
For example, depending on the commodity and applicable regulation, an importer may need:
- A technical consideration;
- A recommendation;
- A verification report;
- Commodity balance data; or
- Other supporting information.
Some technical documents may be issued by the Ministry of Industry or another competent government institution.
Therefore, importers should not assume that a Technical Consideration is required for every LS application.
The requirement must be checked based on the specific commodity and current import regulation.
3. Register with an Authorized Surveyor
After confirming the applicable import requirements, the importer can proceed with registration through an authorized Surveyor that handles VPTI for the relevant commodity.
Survey companies involved in import verification services in Indonesia include organizations such as KSO Sucofindo–Surveyor Indonesia (KSO SCISI) and other Surveyors appointed or authorized in accordance with applicable regulations.
The appropriate Surveyor may depend on the commodity and the scope of the VPTI service.
Therefore, companies should verify that the selected Surveyor is authorized to handle the specific type of goods being imported.
4. Prepare the Company and Import Documents
The documents required for registration and LS processing may vary depending on:
- The commodity;
- Import regulation;
- Surveyor;
- Type of import license; and
- Inspection requirements.
In practice, documents that may be requested include:
- NIB (Business Identification Number);
- NPWP (Tax Identification Number);
- Identification document of the company's authorized representative;
- Import Approval, when required;
- Technical Consideration or other technical documents, when required;
- Power of Attorney if the application is handled by a third party;
- Identification document of the authorized third-party representative;
- Company bank account information; and
- Commodity-specific declarations or supporting documents.
For certain products, additional declarations may also be required.
For example, products related to refrigeration systems may require specific documentation regarding refrigerants or controlled substances, depending on the applicable regulation.
Because documentary requirements can differ between commodities, companies should confirm the latest checklist before submitting the application.
5. Create an Account in the Surveyor's System
After the registration documents have been reviewed and accepted, the importer or its authorized representative can obtain access to the Surveyor's electronic system.
The account is generally used to manage activities such as:
- Submitting inspection requests;
- Uploading import documents;
- Monitoring the verification process;
- Receiving requests for additional information;
- Reviewing verification information; and
- Following the Surveyor Report issuance process.
Companies should make sure that all account and company information matches their official import licensing documents.
6. Submit a Verification Request
The next stage is to submit a Verification Request (VR).
A Verification Request is an application submitted by the importer to request Verification or Technical Inspection of the imported goods.
Depending on the applicable regulation, the verification may be conducted in:
- The country of origin;
- The country of loading;
- The port of loading; or
- Another location permitted under the applicable import rules.
The VR usually contains information relating to the planned shipment.
This may include:
- Importer information;
- Exporter or supplier information;
- Product description;
- HS Code;
- Quantity;
- Country of origin;
- Port of loading;
- Destination port;
- Import Approval number, when applicable;
- Invoice information; and
- Packing list information.
The accuracy of this information is important because inconsistencies may affect the verification and LS issuance process.
7. Surveyor Reviews the Verification Request
After the Verification Request is submitted, the Surveyor reviews the application and supporting documents.
If the information is incomplete or inconsistent, the applicant may be asked to provide corrections or additional documents.
If the request is accepted, the Surveyor can proceed with the next stage of the verification process.
Depending on the Surveyor's operational procedure, the applicant may receive a Verification Order (VO) or other confirmation relating to the scheduled inspection.
8. Verification or Technical Inspection Is Conducted
The Surveyor then performs the required verification or technical inspection.
The scope of verification depends on the commodity and applicable regulations.
In general, the inspection may include verification of:
- Product identity;
- HS classification;
- Product specifications;
- Quantity or volume;
- Country of origin;
- Loading information;
- Supporting documents; and
- Other required technical information.
Certain commodities may require additional inspection, sampling, laboratory testing, or other technical verification.
Therefore, the scope of VPTI is not necessarily identical for every imported product.
9. Final Documents Must Be Consistent
After the inspection is completed, the importer should ensure that the final shipment documents are consistent with the verified information.
Important documents may include:
- Commercial Invoice;
- Packing List;
- Import Approval;
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill;
- Product information;
- HS Code; and
- Other required supporting documents.
Any difference in product type, quantity, HS Code, shipment details, or licensing information may need to be reviewed before the Surveyor Report can be finalized.
Therefore, importers should coordinate closely with the exporter, supplier, freight forwarder, and Surveyor.
10. Surveyor Report Is Issued
Once the verification has been completed and the required final documents are available, the Surveyor processes the issuance of the Laporan Surveyor (LS).
The LS records the results of the Verification or Technical Inspection.
Depending on the applicable import regulation, the Surveyor Report may be used as:
- A supporting customs document; or
- An import requirement subject to post-border inspection.
The LS is submitted electronically through the relevant government systems and integrated with Indonesia's import licensing and customs ecosystem.
Importers should ensure that the information contained in the LS is consistent with their customs declaration and other import documents.
Is One Surveyor Report Valid for Multiple Shipments?
In general, an LS is associated with the shipment covered by the verification.
Importers should therefore not assume that one Surveyor Report can automatically be reused for multiple shipments.
A new shipment may require a new Verification Request and a separate Surveyor Report, depending on the applicable regulation.
This is particularly important for companies that import the same product regularly.
Planning the LS process for each shipment can help prevent delays in the supply chain.
Important Points Before Applying for a Surveyor Report
Before submitting a Verification Request, importers should review several important items.
Check the HS Code
The HS Code is one of the most important elements in determining whether a product is subject to specific import controls.
An incorrect HS classification may result in incorrect licensing requirements.
Check the Import Approval
If an Import Approval is required, make sure that the information in the PI matches the planned shipment.
This may include:
- Product;
- HS Code;
- Quantity;
- Importer;
- Validity period; and
- Other licensing information.
Check the Validity of Supporting Documents
Technical recommendations, considerations, licenses, and other supporting documents should remain valid when required for the import process.
Coordinate with the Supplier Before Shipment
Many VPTI processes involve verification before the goods are shipped to Indonesia.
Therefore, exporters and manufacturers should be informed about the inspection requirements before loading.
Shipping goods before completing a required verification process may create compliance problems.
Ensure Consistent Shipment Documents
Information in the Invoice, Packing List, Import Approval, LS, and customs declaration should be reviewed carefully.
Inconsistent information may delay document processing or customs clearance.
Why Is the Surveyor Report Important?
For goods that are required to undergo VPTI, the Surveyor Report forms an important part of import compliance.
It helps document that certain information relating to the imported goods has been verified according to the applicable requirements.
For importers, proper management of the LS process can help reduce the risk of:
- Document discrepancies;
- Incorrect import licensing;
- Delays in LS issuance;
- Customs clearance problems;
- Post-border compliance issues; and
- Additional logistics costs.
For this reason, companies should identify LS requirements before arranging shipment rather than waiting until the goods are already on their way to Indonesia.
Need Assistance with Surveyor Report Processing in Indonesia?
Managing an LS application may involve several stages, from HS Code identification and import licensing review to Verification Request submission and coordination with the Surveyor.
PT. Alpha Romeo Teknologi can assist companies with regulatory preparation for importing products into Indonesia, including:
- Review of Surveyor Report requirements;
- HS Code and import requirement analysis;
- Import Approval requirement review;
- Technical document identification;
- Preparation of supporting documents;
- Verification Request assistance;
- Coordination for VPTI;
- Import document review; and
- Regulatory consultation for imported products.
By reviewing the requirements before shipment, importers can prepare the necessary documents and verification process more effectively and reduce the risk of delays during importation.