As recently reported by Balidiscovery.com, the Director General of Immigration and Corrections has introduced a sweeping policy change addressing problems surrounding dual nationality. The policy, entitled Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI), provides the possibility of permanent residency for foreign nationals with a blood relationship, kinship, historical connection, or other strong connection to Indonesia.
This policy is available to people from several countries with ties to Indonesia.
While the new policy is a breath of fresh air for members of the Indonesian diaspora holding foreign citizenship but who still desire to reside in the Republic, it is essential to understand that Indonesian law remains unchanged on the point that dual citizenship for Indonesian nationals remains expressly forbidden.
To firmly underline this prohibition, the Government has issued a reinforcing regulation, outlined in a Circular Memorandum (Nomor IMI.2-1054.GR.01.01 Tahun 2025), leaving no doubt about the illegality of Indonesian citizens holding dual nationality, as defined by any Indonesian holding two passports from different countries.
As reported by NusaBali.com, Eko Budiarto, the Director of Visas and Travel Documents (Kemenimipas) clarified the intent of the latest circular memorandum, saying: “In issuing this memorandum, we want to confirm that every former Indonesian citizen who requests an Indonesian passport has already fulfilled all the administrative requirements, chief among which is the absolute requirement for former Indonesian nationals to have formally renounced their Indonesian nationality before adopting the citizenship of another nation.”
In practice, the requirement to formally renounce and repudiate Indonesian nationality when adopting a third country’s nationality has been, to some extent, ignored by immigration authorities, with many keeping their “old” passport as a backup travel document.
It now appears that the Indonesian Immigration and Prisons Ministry is seeking to close this loophole in accordance with the law that forbids Indonesians from holding dual nationality.
Foreign nationals who once held Indonesian nationality will now be required to prove they have formally renounced Indonesian citizenship to become a naturalized citizen of another country.
“Through this policy, we want to ensure that every former foreign national applying for a Republic of Indonesia passport has fully fulfilled all administrative and legal obligations related to relinquishing their foreign citizenship,” said Eko Budianto, Director of Visas and Travel Documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in a statement issued in Jakarta.
Under the revised regulation covered in the latest circular memorandum, former Indonesian nationals need to present the following documents:
- Proof that all immigration documents proving their former Indonesian nationality have been surrendered and returned to the Indonesian Government.
- A formal statement issued by the relevant authority, renouncing any foreign citizenship issued, as applicable, by their original country of nationality or by the Indonesian authorities.
- Proof that their “old” passport has been returned to their country of origin.
Immigration officials are authorized to conduct rigorous verification of all documentation. They are also empowered to suspend services if discrepancies or doubts about the authenticity of the documents are found.
According to Eko, this policy aims to ensure that passport issuance is orderly, transparent, and in line with applicable regulations. Furthermore, this regulation is said to be crucial for maintaining the integrity of the immigration function, serving as a frontline defense of national sovereignty.
“This clarification policy was issued to strengthen administrative verification and ensure legal certainty in the issuance of passports to former foreign nationals, while also preventing potential misuse of Indonesian travel documents,” he explained.
The new circular, issued on 17 November 2025, applies to all Immigration offices in Indonesia and all technical units authorized to issue travel documents. These guidelines also serve as a reference for services, law enforcement, and monitoring the movement of people across borders.
“Administrative order is not only a matter of procedure, but also the protection of national interests. With this policy, we want to ensure that Indonesian passports are only issued to those who truly meet all legal requirements as Indonesian citizens,” Eko emphasized.
The Directorate General of Immigration ensures that it will continue to improve public services that are professional, accountable, and grounded in legal certainty and benefit the community.
Related Links
At Long Last: A Dual Citizenship Dilemma Fix for the Indonesian Diaspora
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