Indonesia Offers Unlimited Stay Permits to Former Citizens as Dual Citizenship Alternative

Post by : Saif

Indonesia has launched a new immigration policy that allows former Indonesian citizens and their descendants to live and work in the country for an unlimited period. The policy offers a new option for people who have left Indonesia and gained foreign citizenship, as the country still does not allow dual nationality for adults.

Under Indonesian law, anyone holding two passports must choose one nationality when they reach the age of 18. This rule has long been seen as a challenge for Indonesians living abroad who want to stay connected to their homeland. Many members of the Indonesian diaspora have built lives in other countries and have taken foreign citizenship for work, study, or better opportunities. However, they have often lost their legal right to live in Indonesia permanently.

To address this problem, the government has introduced the Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI) permit. This new policy is inspired by India’s Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) system, which gives people of Indian descent the right to live and work in India without needing full dual citizenship. Indonesian officials say this system will help maintain connections with former citizens who still wish to contribute to the country.

Is Edy Eko Putranto, the Director of Immigration Residence Permits, explained that the GCI would be open to several groups. Eligible applicants include former Indonesian citizens, foreign nationals with Indonesian ancestry up to the second generation, and children of mixed-nationality marriages. The permit will allow them to stay, work, and settle in Indonesia without requiring them to give up the citizenship of their current country.

Putranto said that the new policy is a “strategic solution” to the challenges caused by the dual citizenship ban. He added that the Indonesian diaspora could play a valuable role in supporting national development, especially as many Indonesians living abroad are highly educated or skilled. By offering a long-term stay permit, the government hopes that these individuals can return to Indonesia, invest in the country, or contribute from wherever they live.

In recent years, calls for dual citizenship have grown stronger in Indonesia. Many leaders, academics, and community groups say that the country is losing valuable talent because people who move overseas often choose to give up Indonesian citizenship permanently. This has led to concerns about a “brain drain,” where skilled workers leave the country to find better jobs and living conditions elsewhere.

Government data shows that nearly 4,000 Indonesians gained Singaporean citizenship between 2019 and 2022. Singapore is a popular destination because of strong economic opportunities, higher salaries, and strong support systems for skilled workers. With a population of 280 million people, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, but it faces increasing competition from other nations that actively attract skilled professionals.

Putranto said that instead of losing these talented individuals, the government now wants to turn the situation into an opportunity. By offering a special right to return or stay long-term, Indonesia hopes that former citizens will feel encouraged to reconnect with the country culturally, professionally, and personally. People who are unable or unwilling to give up foreign citizenship can now still take part in Indonesian society through the GCI programme.

The new system has been welcomed by many Indonesian communities overseas. Some believe it is a step forward in acknowledging the contributions of the diaspora and their importance in shaping Indonesia’s future. Others hope that this policy may eventually open the door to wider discussions on dual citizenship, which remains a sensitive issue in national politics.

For now, the Global Citizenship of Indonesia permit gives thousands of former citizens a chance to return home without sacrificing the citizenship they have built abroad. It also signals a change in Indonesia’s approach to global mobility and the value of its diaspora in a rapidly changing world.

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