Buying plants from Indonesia can feel risky: the plants travel a long way, and the paperwork is new to most buyers. This guide explains what to expect, from import permits and the phytosanitary certificate to customs, delivery and our guarantee.
How an order works at Labijo:
- Check your country’s import rules, and get an import permit or EORI number if you need one.
- Send us your order or wishlist. We confirm availability and send a quotation.
- After payment, we prepare the export documents. This takes about 7 to 14 business days.
- A quarantine officer inspects the plants and issues the phytosanitary certificate.
- We pack the plants, hand them to the courier and email you the tracking number. Delivery takes about 2 to 3 days to nearby countries such as Singapore, and about a week to the US or Europe.
- Your customs clears the parcel and it is delivered to you. US orders of 13 or more plants go to a USDA inspection station first.
Browse our latest rare plants. If you are in the US, you can also visit our US rare plant shop and warehouse.
Import Permit / EORI Number
Before you place your order, you need to check the import permit requirement in your home country. Our table of plant import permits by country covers the US, Canada, the EU, the UK, Singapore, Australia and more. An import permit is a legal document that the national government issues allowing the importation of specific goods into its territory.
If you live in the US, apply through USDA APHIS (eFile, form PPQ 587). It usually takes less than an hour, and every US order from Labijo needs one, whatever the number of plants.
For some countries in Europe, you also need an EORI number (Economic Operators’ Registration and Identification number) instead of the import permit.
You can check the regulations in your country before importing plants. Sometimes they have additional declarations request for the phytosanitary certificate.
Phytosanitary Certificate
When buying plants from Indonesia, every country expects each package to have a Phytosanitary certificate.
But what is Phytosanitary certificate?
It is a document with the identity of the plants, including the genus, type, and health inspection of the plants. The seller will provide phytosanitary services.
Some sellers will charge extra to proceed with the document, but Labijo will do so for free.
For US customers, since Q4 2023, you must have an import permit to get phytosanitary certificate. A quarantine agency in Indonesia required us to attach an import permit during the processing the phyto. Without the permit, we can’t get the phyto and can’t ship your plants.
If you buy 12 plants or fewer, the parcel can be shipped straight to your address, except to California. You still need the permit, because we need it to get the phytosanitary certificate. If you buy 13 or more plants, read the section below.
For our Thai fellows, we will help you get non-GMO documents. So the plants will get through customs easily.
Import Process
Since more than 50% of our customers are in the USA, we can share with you how the import process in the USA works.
Do I need an import permit? YES! Since Q4 2023, everyone from the US needs to have an import permit to buy plants from Indonesia. Even if you order less than 12 plants, you still must have them.
Why? The quarantine agency in Indonesia required an import permit to get the phytosanitary certificate documents. Without an import permit, we can’t get the phytosanitary certificate.
Don’t need to worry about this change, you can get an import permit easily in USDA Aphis Efile and pick PPQ 587. Usually, you only need less than 30 minutes to get the permit.
If you buy 13 or more plants, the package must go to a USDA plant inspection station first, using the green and yellow label that comes with your permit. See shipping plants into the US for the details.
Read more about : Import Plants to the USA
Find the Right Seller
The next step before you buy plants from Indonesia is to find the right seller. There are plenty of sellers out there.
When the seller is active on social media, that is better. It means that they keep updating their stocks, and it is highly likely that they are online, so they can respond at any moment.
Most online sellers will do their best to assist you in obtaining your plants. If something bad happens, they will find a solution in the quickest and best way possible.
Shops like Labijo are trusted because, as plant parents and nurseries, we understand the weird way to know the plants are still on the way before getting home.
Patience
After Labijo got your payment, we will process the export permit to the authorized agent. This process itself would take 14 working days.
Once we get the permit, we will pack your orders and send them to the quarantine office to inspect that the plants are healthy and free of any bugs or fungi. This process could take 1-2 days.
If anything is going well, your order will be handed to the shipping company. Their long trip begins. We will send you the tracking number, so you check where the package is.
Add extra patience when the tracker says your package is in customs. Neither the tracker nor we can say anything because the entire inspection will be controlled by customs. This includes checking phytosanitary certificates, tax calculations, and import permits/EORI numbers.
Trying to call the customs will not help anything, it doesn’t make their work faster or slower. The one that helping is only when a document (import permit/EORI number and phytosanitary are available)
Replacement Policy
Sometimes, we will get tough luck. Some plants do not arrive in their best condition. It is unusual to happen but possible.
Minor damage:
- Yellow leaves: It is minor damage, you can just cut the yellow leaves and throw them away. The yellow leaves are not going to green anymore.
- Crisps leaves: Crisps leaves usually only happen in the minor part. It will be okay if the major parts are still green, it means that your leaves are still healthy.
- Weak leaves: It is normal since they come from a big trip without the sun in few days. You can put your plants in freshwater for few days until they are fresh again and ready to put in the pot.
Minor damage is not covered by the replacement policy.
Major damage:
- Root/Bulb rot: Unfortunately, your plants can’t survive during the trip. If it is the case, we replace them once, shipped with your next order, when you report it within 48 hours of delivery with an unboxing video and photos.
- Freezing plants: When the plants are frozen during winter shipping and start to rot.
Dead plants are replaced, not refunded: we do not give cash refunds.
FAQ
Can I get my tracking number?
Yes. We email the tracking number as soon as the parcel ships. If you cannot find it, check your spam folder.
Why is my package still in customs after a few days?
Customs inspections can take several days, and neither Labijo nor DHL can speed them up. What helps is having the right documents ready: your import permit or EORI number and the phytosanitary certificate.
What if my plants go missing?
Loss in transit is beyond our control, but we will work with the courier (DHL) to trace the parcel and help you as much as we can.
Customs asked me to pay taxes. Why?
Some countries charge import tax on purchases from abroad above a certain value, and the threshold differs by country. Customs sends you the bill before releasing the plants. If you do not pay it, customs will destroy the package, and our replacement policy does not apply.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send us an email!
