Indonesia’s limited dual-citizenship plan wins diaspora support, but details remain unclear

For Vivi Fajar, the possibility of limited dual citizenship could give her family a way to keep close ties with Indonesia while gaining the benefits of U.S. citizenship. She has lived in the United States for two decades with her Indonesian husband and their three children, but never seriously considered applying for an American passport until the proposal emerged.

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I am excited but cautious, waiting for the details regarding the fee, tax, and others.

Indonesia is considering the scheme for overseas citizens with skills the country sees as strategically important. The list mentioned by President Prabowo Subianto includes scientists, doctors, engineers, artificial intelligence experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists and athletes, particularly footballers.

Fajar, who works as an insurance administrator, said she was excited but cautious. She is waiting for details about fees, taxes and other conditions, and does not know whether she would qualify as an “extraordinary talent.” Her husband works as a software engineer, which could also be relevant under the proposed system.

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Indonesia has a diaspora numbering in the millions. Among them are outstanding scientists, doctors, engineers, artificial intelligence experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, and athletes, particularly footballers, as well as world-class professionals.

Prabowo presented the plan during his annual parliamentary address on Aug. 14, while proposing Indonesia’s 2027 budget. He said millions of Indonesians live abroad and argued that they should not have to choose between global opportunities and ties to their homeland. Indonesian law currently does not recognise dual citizenship for adults. Children with two passports must choose a nationality at 18, with a three-year grace period ending at 21.

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Some have had to adopt other nationalities due to career needs, family considerations, or their work abroad. We must not force Indonesia’s best talent to choose between opportunities to pursue their work on the global stage and their ties to their homeland.

The proposal has attracted broad support among diaspora members contacted by CNA, but also requests for transparency. Secretary of State Prasetyo Hadi said on Aug. 15 that the idea was only being put forward for joint examination and that officials had not yet defined how it would work. Even if approved, he said, citizenship would be granted selectively, not as a blanket right.

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It has merely been put forward as an idea, with a request that we examine it together. We haven't reached the stage of defining what the scheme would look like.