Indonesia

Last Updated: 2026-03-31

Official Portal: Directorate General of Immigration

Embassy Finder: Indonesian Diplomatic Missions

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	5 consecutive years or 10 non-consecutive years of residence
Language requirement	Must speak Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
Civics test	Knowledge of Pancasila (state philosophy) and the 1945 Constitution
Processing time	12—36 months
Naturalization fee	IDR 500,000—5,000,000 (approximately USD 30—310) plus legal costs
Dual citizenship	Permitted only for minors (under 18) with mixed parentage; must choose at age 18
Citizenship by birth in Indonesia	Limited — parents must be Indonesian or child would otherwise be stateless
Citizenship by descent	Children of Indonesian fathers or mothers acquire citizenship
Governing law	Law No. 12 of 2006 on Citizenship (Undang-Undang Kewarganegaraan)

Dual Citizenship

Indonesia does not permit dual citizenship for adults. However, the 2006 Citizenship Law introduced a limited dual citizenship provision for children of mixed Indonesian-foreign parentage.

Article 6 of Law No. 12/2006:

A child who possesses dual citizenship (e.g., born to an Indonesian parent and a foreign parent whose country grants jus sanguinis or jus soli) may hold both citizenships until age 18 or until they marry, whichever comes first.
After turning 18 (or upon marriage), the individual must choose one nationality within 3 years. If no choice is made, Indonesian citizenship is lost.
The choice is made by submitting a written declaration to the Minister of Law and Human Rights.

For adults:

An Indonesian citizen who voluntarily acquires foreign citizenship automatically loses Indonesian citizenship.
A foreign national who naturalizes as Indonesian must renounce all other nationalities.
There is no exception for investors, entrepreneurs, or citizens of specific countries.

Reform discussions: There have been recurring proposals in the Indonesian parliament (DPR) to expand dual citizenship to adults, particularly to serve the Indonesian diaspora. As of 2026, no such reform has been enacted.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Indonesia does not have general jus soli. Birth in Indonesian territory does not automatically confer citizenship.

Exceptions (Article 4):

A child born in Indonesia to parents who are both stateless or of unknown nationality acquires Indonesian citizenship.
A child of 5 years or younger found in Indonesian territory whose parents are unknown is presumed to be Indonesian.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

The 2006 law was a significant reform, extending citizenship transmission to both parents equally (previously patrilineal only).

Article 4: A child acquires Indonesian citizenship at birth if:

The father is Indonesian at the time of birth, OR
The mother is Indonesian at the time of birth (regardless of the father’s nationality).
This applies whether the child is born in Indonesia or abroad.

For children born abroad: Registration at an Indonesian diplomatic mission is required to ensure documentation, though citizenship accrues by operation of law.

By Adoption

A foreign child under 5 years of age adopted by Indonesian citizens acquires Indonesian citizenship (Article 21). The adoption must comply with Indonesian law and be confirmed by a court order. If the child holds another nationality, the limited dual citizenship provisions for minors apply until age 18.

By Marriage

Marriage does not confer automatic citizenship. A foreign spouse of an Indonesian citizen may:

Submit a declaration of intent to acquire Indonesian citizenship to an official (Article 19).
Must have been married for at least the period preceding the application.
Must have resided in Indonesia for 5 consecutive years or 10 non-consecutive years.
Must renounce foreign nationality.

Gender equality note: The 2006 law corrected a historical injustice — under the previous 1958 law, Indonesian women who married foreign men lost their citizenship. Under the current law, both spouses have equal pathways.

By Naturalization

Requirement	Details
Age	18 years or older (or married)
Residence	5 consecutive years or 10 non-consecutive years in Indonesia
Health	Physically and mentally healthy
Language	Must speak Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
Civics knowledge	Knowledge of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution
Income	Must have a permanent job or fixed income
No dual citizenship	Must not hold citizenship that would result in dual nationality upon acquiring Indonesian citizenship
Tax compliance	Must have paid taxes to the Indonesian state
Renunciation	Must renounce foreign citizenship
Oath	Oath of allegiance before a court
Fee	Application and processing fees (varies; legal representation typically required)

Naturalization is granted by Presidential Decree and is discretionary.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

An Indonesian citizen may renounce citizenship by submitting a declaration if they have acquired or will acquire another nationality. The renunciation must be approved by the President. The person must not be rendered stateless.

Involuntary Loss

Ground	Details
Acquisition of foreign citizenship	Automatic loss upon voluntarily acquiring citizenship of another country (Article 23)
Acceptance of foreign oath	Accepting an oath or declaration of loyalty to a foreign state
Foreign military or state service	Entering the service of a foreign military or foreign state without permission
Fraud	Citizenship obtained by fraud, false statements, or concealment
Failure to choose at age 18	Children with limited dual citizenship who fail to choose Indonesian citizenship within 3 years of turning 18

Restoration of Nationality

Article 31—35: Former Indonesian citizens may apply for restoration through the Minister of Law and Human Rights. Restoration is granted by Presidential Decree.

Conditions:

The applicant must not be currently holding another nationality (must have renounced any foreign citizenship).
Must be residing in Indonesia.
Application is submitted to the Minister.
Restoration does not apply to persons who lost Indonesian citizenship due to their own fraud or treason.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Indonesia is not a party to the 1954 or 1961 Statelessness Conventions.

Foundlings: Article 4(f) of the 2006 Citizenship Law provides that a child of 5 years or younger found in Indonesian territory whose parents are unknown is considered an Indonesian citizen.
Children of stateless parents: A child born in Indonesia to stateless parents acquires Indonesian citizenship (Article 4).
Statelessness risk: The strict prohibition on adult dual citizenship, combined with automatic loss provisions, can create statelessness risks for individuals who lose Indonesian citizenship before acquiring or confirming another nationality.

Document Checklist

Completed naturalization application form (from Directorate General of Immigration)

Valid passport or travel document

Birth certificate (legalized and translated into Indonesian)

Marriage certificate (if applicable)

Proof of 5 or 10 years residence in Indonesia (KITAS/KITAP records)

Proof of permanent employment or income (employer letter, tax returns)

Tax payment receipts (proof of compliance with Indonesian tax obligations)

Police clearance certificate (from Indonesia and country of origin)

Health certificate from an authorized hospital

Passport-sized photographs (multiple copies, red and white background)

Declaration of willingness to renounce foreign nationality

Proof of Indonesian language ability

Knowledge statement of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution

Sources

Law No. 12 of 2006 on Citizenship — Primary nationality legislation. Available through the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia — Citizenship provisions in Chapter X. https://www.dpr.go.id/
Directorate General of Immigration — Immigration and citizenship services. https://www.imigrasi.go.id/
Ministry of Law and Human Rights — Supervising authority for citizenship. https://www.kemenkumham.go.id/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Indonesian missions abroad and consular services. https://kemlu.go.id/

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