Jakarta. Indonesia plans to amend its citizenship law to allow limited dual citizenship for selected individuals with skills considered strategically important to the country.

President Prabowo Subianto made the proposal on Friday while presenting the government’s 2027 state budget to the parliament in Jakarta. He said the policy would be aimed at attracting highly skilled members of the Indonesian diaspora and other exceptional talent back to the country without requiring them to give up their existing citizenship.

“Today, the government will propose changes to the law to allow limited dual citizenship for those with exceptional talent who can make an extraordinary contribution to the national interest,” Prabowo said.

Indonesia currently generally does not recognize dual citizenship for adults. Under the existing citizenship framework, Indonesians who voluntarily obtain another nationality can lose their Indonesian citizenship, although limited dual-nationality arrangements exist for children under certain circumstances.

Prabowo said Indonesia has millions of people in its diaspora living across the world, including professionals with expertise that could support the country’s development.

They include scientists, doctors, engineers, artificial intelligence specialists, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists and athletes, he said.

Some members of the diaspora have taken foreign citizenship for reasons including international career opportunities, family considerations or work and service abroad.

Prabowo said Indonesia should not force highly skilled people to choose between pursuing global opportunities and maintaining their ties to their home country.

“We do not need to force our best talents to choose between opportunities to contribute globally and their ties to the homeland,” he said.

Selective and Controlled
Prabowo said the proposed policy would not amount to blanket dual citizenship for Indonesians living overseas.

Instead, eligibility would be selective and subject to strict criteria, including an integrity assessment. The government would also establish clear rights and obligations for dual citizens while taking into account Indonesia’s national security and interests.

The policy, Prabowo said, would help Indonesia bring back expertise from its diaspora and attract other highly skilled individuals who could contribute to national development.

“The limited citizenship policy will call back the best capabilities of our diaspora and also the best talents to strengthen the Indonesian nation,” he said.

The proposal comes as Indonesia seeks to strengthen its pool of highly skilled workers in areas including technology, research, health and advanced industries.

Indonesia has previously granted citizenship to a number of foreign-born or foreign-national athletes through naturalization, including players who have represented the Indonesian national soccer team.
The government has been preparing a revision of Indonesia’s citizenship law to accommodate the proposed policy.

Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas said on July 23 that the government was proposing a limited dual-citizenship framework as part of amendments to the Citizenship Law, specifically to address the country’s need for members of the Indonesian diaspora with strategically important expertise.

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