Indonesia to introduce ‘limited’ dual citizenship

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced plans to introduce limited dual citizenship for some Indonesians, allowing them to hold dual nationality for the first time. During his speech on the state budget for Southeast Asia's largest economy, Prabowo stated that the government would present the revision to parliament, aiming to enable millions of Indonesians living abroad to contribute to the country's development.

The policy would be designed to protect national interests. Indonesian law currently does not recognize dual citizenship for adults; minors must choose their nationality at age 18. President Subianto cited examples such as doctors, AI experts, artists, and football players as potential beneficiaries of the new dual citizenship policy.

Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad mentioned that lawmakers had already processed citizenship applications for athletes. Indonesia's diaspora, particularly those of Dutch origin, has been increasing in football teams. The government's move comes as concerns about brain drain grow, with nearly 4,000 Indonesians obtaining Singaporean citizenship between 2019 and 2022, according to Directorate General of Immigration data. With a population of 290 million, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country.