Indonesia’s dual citizenship plan wins diaspora support, but is it enough to tempt them home?
President Prabowo Subianto has said the government is mulling offering limited dual citizenship to attract millions of strategically important diaspora talent who could make extraordinary contributions to the nation.
Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto recently floated the idea of limited dual citizenship for the nation's diaspora, a move aimed at attracting their talents back home. The proposal, presented in parliament on Aug 14, targets individuals excelling in various fields such as science, medicine, engineering, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, arts, and sports, including football.
Vivi Fajar, a US-based Indonesian citizen with a family in California, expressed hope that her family could benefit from the plan while maintaining her Indonesian citizenship. However, she remains uncertain whether she would meet the criteria for dual citizenship and is awaiting further details on the potential fees and taxes involved.
President Prabowo emphasized the government's intention to offer the scheme selectively, with strict security measures in place, and clarified that it would not become an automatic entitlement for all Indonesians living abroad. The proposal comes amid concerns over the loss of Indonesia's talented workforce to other countries. A 2025 survey showed that a significant portion of Indonesian millennials and Generation Z are considering emigrating due to higher income prospects overseas.
The hashtag #KaburAjaDulu ("just escape first") also gained traction on social media, reflecting the growing trend. Despite some members of the diaspora supporting the idea, they called for more transparency and clarity on the selection process and the defining of what constitutes "extraordinary talent."
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
