Buying US$25,000 Will Face New Rules, Becoming Stricter!

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Bank Indonesia (BI) will tighten the limit on US dollar purchases from all US$50,000 per month per person to US$25,000 per month per person. This plan was announced by Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo during a press conference at the State Palace on Tuesday night (5/5/2026).

This policy is taken to maintain exchange rate stability and efforts to manage domestic foreign currency needs, particularly US dollars.

“Therefore, dollar purchases up to or above US$25,000 must use underlying, yes. That is what we will strengthen, this will be strengthened domestically,” said Perry.

Regarding the dollar purchase limit, BI requires the presence of underlying. Thus, Perry is confident this step can maintain rupiah exchange rate stability. However, Perry did not specify exactly when this regulation will take effect.

Previously, BI decided to lower the US dollar purchase limit from the previous US$100,000 per person per month to US$50,000 per person per month. This policy was only decided in mid-March and effective April 2026.

As a note, in 2015, BI once changed the maximum value limit for foreign exchange purchases through spot transactions conducted without specific needs (underlying), from the previous US$100,000 per month per customer/foreign party to US$25,000 or equivalent per month per customer.

At that time, BI said the restriction step was taken to maintain rupiah exchange rate stability given the many demands for foreign exchange not directly related to real economic activities (without underlying transactions), which could cause imbalances in demand and supply in the foreign exchange market, and lead to speculative activities.

Thus, this is not the first time Indonesia’s central bank has restricted US dollar purchases.