Every visitor to Raja Ampat must buy a marine park entry permit before going on the water. As of June 2026 it costs IDR 1,000,000 for foreign nationals and IDR 500,000 for Indonesian citizens, is valid for one calendar year, and is sold as a physical tag plus a registration card you keep with you. The fee funds conservation patrols, ranger salaries, and community programs across the islands.
This permit goes by several names locally: the marine park tag, the conservation fee, the entry PIN, or just “kartu masuk.” They all refer to the same thing. Below is exactly how to get it, what it costs, how long it lasts, and where the money goes.
What is the Raja Ampat marine park entry permit?
The permit is a mandatory conservation fee collected by BLUD UPTD Pengelolaan Kawasan Konservasi Perairan Kepulauan Raja Ampat, the regional management body for the Raja Ampat marine protected areas. The waters here sit inside a network of marine protected zones covering roughly 2 million hectares, and the entry tag is how the region pays to keep those reefs patrolled and intact.
When you pay, you receive two items:
- A laminated entry card (often called the PIN card) printed with your name, nationality, and the validity period.
- A small physical tag, sometimes worn on a lanyard, that boat crews and rangers can check on the water.
Keep both. Dive operators, homestay owners, and patrol boats may ask to see your card, and you cannot legally dive or snorkel inside the protected zones without one.
How much does the permit cost in 2026?
Prices are set by regional regulation and are reviewed periodically, so always confirm the current figure with your operator before you travel. As of June 2026:
| Visitor type | Entry permit fee | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign national | IDR 1,000,000 (approx. USD 62) | 1 calendar year |
| Indonesian citizen (KTP holder) | IDR 500,000 (approx. USD 31) | 1 calendar year |
A few things worth knowing about the price:
- The USD figures above are rough conversions at an exchange rate near IDR 16,200 to USD 1 (June 2026) and will drift with the rupiah.
- The fee is per person, not per group or per boat.
- Children’s pricing is not always published clearly; ask the management post directly, as policies for minors have changed in past years.
- The permit is non-transferable. It is tied to your name and passport or KTP number.
Where can you buy the marine park tag?
There are three reliable ways to get the permit. Most travelers use one of the first two.
1. Through your tour operator or liveaboard. This is the simplest route. If you book island-hopping, snorkeling, or a liveaboard trip, the operator usually arranges the permit for you and includes it in the package or collects the fee separately. Confirm in writing whether the permit is included in your quoted price, because some operators list it as an extra.
2. At an official entry post on arrival. The two long-standing collection points are:
- Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat on Waigeo island, near the harbor where the public ferry from Sorong arrives.
- The marine park office network in the Dampier Strait area, accessible to those staying around Mansuar, Kri, and the surrounding homestay islands.
If you arrive independently by ferry, you typically settle the permit at or near the Waisai arrival point. Bring your passport.
3. Online or pre-arranged registration. In recent years the management body has moved toward digital registration in some cases, where you register and pay ahead and collect the card on arrival. Availability of online payment has been inconsistent, so do not rely on it as your only plan. Treat it as a convenience, not a guarantee, and confirm with your operator first.
| Where to buy | Best for | What to bring |
|---|---|---|
| Tour operator / liveaboard | Most visitors on a booked trip | Passport, payment, booking reference |
| Waisai entry post | Independent ferry arrivals | Passport, cash (IDR) |
| Online / pre-registration | Travelers who plan far ahead | Passport scan, digital payment |
A practical tip: carry enough Indonesian rupiah in cash. ATMs in Waisai exist but can be unreliable, and card facilities at entry posts are limited. Paying the conservation fee in cash avoids a lot of friction.
How long is the permit valid?
The entry permit is valid for the calendar year in which it is issued, not for a rolling 12 months from your purchase date. In practice this means:
- A tag bought in February 2026 is valid through the end of 2026.
- A tag bought in December 2026 expires within weeks, even though you only just paid.
If your trip straddles the new year, ask the issuing office how they handle the crossover. Because you only need to buy one tag per year, repeat visitors and long-stay travelers benefit most from the annual structure. For a single one-week holiday, you simply pay once and you are covered for the whole trip.
What does the entry fee actually fund?
This is not a generic tourist tax that disappears into a general budget. The conservation fee is ring-fenced for marine management in Raja Ampat. According to the regional management body, the money supports work in several areas:
- Ranger patrols and enforcement against illegal fishing, including bomb and cyanide fishing that once damaged reefs here.
- Salaries and operations for conservation staff and patrol boat crews.
- Community programs that channel a share of revenue back to local villages and Indigenous (adat) communities who hold customary rights over these waters.
- Monitoring of reef health, manta ray populations, and protected zones.
- Infrastructure such as mooring buoys that stop boats from dropping anchor on coral.
The model is often cited as one of Indonesia’s more functional examples of tourism directly paying for conservation. When you buy the tag, a meaningful portion is designed to reach the communities who live alongside the reefs, which is part of why local support for the protected areas has held up over the years.
Permit checklist before you travel
Run through this short list so the permit never becomes a problem on the ground:
- Confirm the current fee with your operator, since prices are reviewed periodically (figures here are as of June 2026).
- Ask whether the permit is included in your tour or liveaboard package, in writing.
- Bring your physical passport, not just a photo, for registration.
- Carry cash in rupiah sized to cover the fee plus a buffer.
- Keep the card and tag on you throughout the trip for spot checks.
- Check the validity window if your travel dates cross into a new year.
Frequently asked permit questions
Do I need a permit just for snorkeling near a homestay?
Yes. The protected zones cover the waters around the popular homestay islands, so snorkeling and diving both require the tag, regardless of where you are staying.
Can one permit cover my whole family?
No. Each person needs their own permit tied to their own passport or KTP. There is no family or group rate published as of June 2026.
What happens if I am caught without one?
You can be required to buy the permit on the spot, and operators risk penalties for carrying unregistered guests. It is far cheaper and simpler to sort it out before you get on the water.
Is the fee refundable if my trip is cut short?
Generally no. The conservation fee is treated as a contribution to marine management, not a service you can cancel for a refund.
The marine park permit is a small line item against the cost of getting to Raja Ampat, and it is one of the few tourist fees anywhere that visibly pays for the thing you came to see. Budget for it, carry your card, and you are set. For more planning details, see our Raja Ampat boat tour FAQ.