Indonesia is preparing to change its nationality law to allow dual citizenship for some people, according to a report by Inquirer.net. The move would mark a significant shift for a country that has long required citizens to hold only one nationality.

At present, Indonesian law does not permit dual citizenship in general. Under the current framework, adults who acquire another nationality automatically lose their Indonesian citizenship, and foreigners who become Indonesian citizens must renounce their previous nationality. The planned amendment would create exceptions to that rule for certain categories of people.

Who the change would affect

The reported reform targets a limited group rather than opening dual citizenship to everyone. The main beneficiaries would be people with ties to more than one country — a category that typically includes children of mixed-nationality parents, Indonesians living abroad, and foreign nationals with strong family or residency links to Indonesia.

For years, members of the Indonesian diaspora have urged the government to relax the single-nationality rule. They argue that the current requirement forces people to choose between their heritage and practical benefits abroad, such as work rights, property ownership, and family stability. A limited dual citizenship provision would allow some of these individuals to keep their Indonesian passport alongside another.

What changes and what stays the same

Under the plan, dual citizenship would remain the exception, not the default. People outside the eligible categories would continue to follow the existing rules: Indonesian citizens who voluntarily take another nationality would still risk losing their Indonesian citizenship, and naturalisation in Indonesia would still require renouncing a prior nationality.

The exact eligibility thresholds, application steps, and deadlines have not been finalised in the reported material. The change remains a plan at this stage, which means it has not yet taken legal effect. Until parliament passes the amendment and the government publishes its implementing rules, the current nationality law continues to apply in full.

Why it matters

Indonesia is one of the world's most populous countries, with millions of citizens working and living overseas, particularly in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Gulf states. Remittances from these workers form a significant part of the economy, and the government has faced growing pressure to strengthen legal ties with its diaspora.

Allowing dual citizenship for some would bring Indonesia closer to the practice of several of its neighbours in Southeast Asia, several of which have introduced limited dual citizenship provisions in recent years, mainly for children of mixed marriages and returning professionals.

What affected individuals should do now

Anyone who believes they may qualify once the law changes should wait for official confirmation before making decisions about renouncing or applying for citizenship. The relevant authorities for Indonesian nationality matters are the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and Indonesia's diplomatic missions abroad. These institutions will publish the official text of the amendment, the eligibility criteria, and the application procedure once the reform is enacted.

This article reports on a proposed legal change. It does not constitute legal advice, and readers with individual citizenship questions should consult official Indonesian government sources or a qualified immigration professional.