Dual Citizenship & Indonesian Law

A deep dive into why Indonesia generally doesn't allow dual citizenship and the exceptions for children.

Single Citizenship Principle

Indonesia strictly follows the single citizenship principle (Asas Kewarganegaraan Tunggal).

Law No. 12 of 2006

The current legal framework governing who is considered an Indonesian citizen.

Children of Mixed Marriage

Children born to one Indonesian parent may hold dual citizenship (Affidavit) until the age of 18.

The Choice at 18

By age 18 (or 21 at the latest), mixed-parentage children must choose one citizenship and renounce the other.

Affidavit Passport

The special document (a limited Indonesian passport) given to dual-citizen children for easy travel.

Loss of Citizenship

Voluntarily acquiring another citizenship, swearing an oath to another country, or joining a foreign military leads to automatic loss of WNI status.

KITAS for Ex-WNI

Former Indonesian citizens (Ex-WNI) can apply for a special KITAS/KITAP category to live in their homeland.

Diaspora Card (KMILN)

A card issued to the Indonesian diaspora to provide certain facilities without requiring citizenship.

Golden Visa & Residency

The new Golden Visa offers a path for long-term residency that doesn't require giving up original citizenship.

Marriage to Foreigners

Indonesian citizens don't lose their citizenship automatically when marrying a foreigner unless they take the other country's passport.

Property Ownership

Foreigners (even those with Indonesian spouses) have different property ownership rights than full WNI citizens.

Inheritance Laws

Understanding how citizenship affects the ability to inherit freehold land (Hak Milik) in Indonesia.

Naturalization Path

Foreigners can become WNI after living in Indonesia for 5-10 years, but must renounce their original citizenship.

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