Short answer: The Raja Ampat Marine Park entry permit — the PIN card, also called the conservation fee — is IDR 700,000 for foreign visitors and IDR 425,000 for Indonesian citizens, valid for twelve months from purchase. A separate visitor entry ticket levied by the regency tourism department has been reported from 2026 at around IDR 1,000,000 for foreigners, but sources conflict on this, so confirm the current amount before you depart.
What is the PIN card and why does it exist?
The PIN card is Raja Ampat’s marine park entry permit: a physical card, issued per person, that proves you have paid the conservation levy funding the marine protected area. Rangers can and do check it. Without one you can be turned away from sites.
The money is not a tax in the abstract sense. It funds ranger patrols, mooring maintenance, monitoring work and revenue-sharing with the communities that own the reefs. Raja Ampat’s reefs hold something in the order of 75% of the world’s known hard coral species and 1,400–1,500 reef fish species — the highest reef biodiversity recorded anywhere — and the enforcement that protects that is paid for substantially by visitors.
How much does it cost in 2027?
| Item | Foreign visitor | Indonesian citizen | Validity | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine park PIN card (conservation fee) | IDR 700,000 | IDR 425,000 | 12 months | Well established — verify at booking |
| Visitor entry ticket (tourism department, reported from 2026) | ~IDR 1,000,000 | ~IDR 300,000–500,000 | Per visit (reported) | Sources conflict — confirm before departure |
| Port / harbour clearance, Sorong | Operator-billed, varies by vessel | Per charter | Standard practice | |
| Village / anchorage fees | Small, community-set | Per visit | Standard practice | |
| Misool reserve conservation contribution | Operator-specific, not publicly standardised | Per charter | Ask your operator | |
| Indonesian Visa on Arrival | IDR 500,000 (~USD 35) | — | 30 days, extendable once | Verify on the immigration portal |
We would rather flag uncertainty than assert a clean number that turns out wrong at the counter. The PIN card figures above are consistently reported across independent sources. The separate visitor entry ticket is not: different reputable sources describe it differently, and fees in the regency are revised periodically. Budget for it, then confirm the exact amount at booking.
Where do you actually buy the PIN card?
Three routes, in descending order of convenience for charter guests:
- Through your charter operator. On a private charter this is usual. You send passport details in advance, the operator purchases the permits, and the cost appears on your invoice. No queuing, no cash.
- Online via the BLUD UPTD portal. The marine park authority runs an online purchase process. Useful for independent travellers; keep the confirmation and collect the physical card on arrival.
- In person. At the BLUD office in Waisai, or at the counter next to the ferry ticket office at Sorong harbour. Bring your passport and cash — card facilities are unreliable.
The twelve-month validity is worth knowing. If you are combining Raja Ampat with a second trip inside a year, one card covers both.
What else lands on a charter invoice?
A private charter rate typically covers the vessel, crew, all meals, standard diving or snorkelling activities and equipment. Fees and levies almost always sit outside it. Expect to see some combination of: marine park PIN cards for each guest, the visitor entry ticket if applicable, Sorong port and harbour clearance, village or anchorage fees where you go ashore, conservation contributions in the Misool reserve area, alcohol, and crew gratuities.
Gratuities on Indonesian liveaboards customarily run USD 20–30 per guest per day, pooled among crew and guides — about USD 150–200 per guest for a seven-night trip. That is the largest single extra after the fees. Our note on cash, cards and tipping on a Raja Ampat charter covers how to carry it.
The full picture of what is and is not included by route sits on the 7-night Sorong-to-Sorong charter page.
Do I need the permit if I never leave the boat?
Yes, in practice. The permit is for entering the marine park, not for diving specifically. If your vessel is cruising and anchoring within the protected area — which is the entire point of the trip — every guest aboard needs one. That applies equally to a four-night short charter and to a twelve-night expedition; the fee is per person, not per night.
What should I do before I fly?
- Send passport scans to your operator early — permits are issued per named person.
- Ask for a written list of fees payable outside the charter rate, with amounts.
- Confirm whether the visitor entry ticket applies to your dates and at what amount.
- Draw cash in Sorong, not Waisai — Sorong has multiple bank ATMs, Waisai’s few regularly run dry or reject foreign cards.
- Check your Visa on Arrival eligibility on the official immigration portal; it is IDR 500,000 for 30 days, extendable once to 60.
- Keep the physical PIN card with you, not in a checked bag.
Is the fee good value?
Set against a charter that runs from USD 2,500 to USD 22,000+ per night depending on vessel class, IDR 700,000 — roughly USD 45 — is a rounding error. Set against what it funds, it is the mechanism by which a marine park in a remote regency of 1,500 islands stays patrolled. The awkwardness is administrative, not financial: knowing which fee applies, where to pay it, and in what form.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PIN card per person or per group?
Per person, issued in your name, valid twelve months from purchase.
Can I pay by card?
Online purchase works; in-person counters in Sorong and Waisai are cash-first. Assume cash.
What happens if I arrive without one?
Your operator will normally arrange it before departure. Turning up at a site without a valid permit risks being refused entry by rangers.
Do children pay?
Policies vary and are periodically revised. Ask your operator to confirm for your children’s ages when permits are purchased — see also our non-diver and family week guide.
Does the fee cover Misool’s reserve?
The marine park permit covers entry to the protected area. Conservation contributions specific to the Misool reserve are operator-specific and not standardised publicly — request the figure in writing.
Will fees change again?
Almost certainly. Raja Ampat has revised its fee structure several times. Treat any figure older than a few months as indicative.
Getting the paperwork handled for you
On a private charter you should not be dealing with permit counters at all — passports in, permits out, itemised on the invoice. Charters on this programme are operated by Komodo Luxury, part of Juara Holding Group and an Indonesian phinisi operator since 2015. For a current, itemised fee schedule against your travel dates, message WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com.
