BI Lowers Limit for Forex Purchases Without Underlying to US$10,000 from 1 July
Bank Indonesia (BI) has officially tightened regulations on foreign exchange (forex) transactions against the rupiah. Starting 1 July 2026, the maximum limit for purchasing foreign currency without supporting documents or underlying transactions is reduced to US$10,000 per person per month.
This strategic move was announced directly by BI Governor Perry Warjiyo during a press conference following the Board of Governors Meeting in Jakarta on Thursday (18/6). Perry emphasised that this policy is part of strengthening prudential principles in the Money Market and Foreign Exchange Market (PUVA).
“The strengthening of prudential principles in PUVA is carried out through the implementation of a reduction in the cash purchase threshold of foreign exchange against the rupiah without underlying to 10,000 US dollars per transactor per month, effective 1 July 2026,” said Perry.
In addition to limiting cash purchases, the central bank is also tightening supervision of foreign exchange traffic, particularly for fund transfers abroad. BI has made a significant adjustment to the threshold for mandatory inclusion of supporting documents for forex transfers.
Effective 1 July 2026, every transaction involving fund transfers abroad exceeding US$25,000 must be accompanied by valid supporting documents. This rule is much stricter than the previous provision, where the obligation for supporting documents only applied to transactions above US$50,000.
Perry explained that this adjustment is crucial for maintaining domestic financial market stability amidst global dynamics. By tightening loopholes for speculation, BI hopes that exchange rate volatility can be more controlled.
On the other hand, BI remains committed to deepening the PUVA market to increase the attractiveness of foreign investment. One of its main focuses is the expansion of the Local Currency Transaction (LCT) ecosystem.
“The expansion of the PUVA ecosystem, in terms of products, pricing, participants, and infrastructure, continues to be carried out to support the wider utilisation of LCT with partner countries in facilitating trade and investment,” he concluded.