Government to Revise Dual Citizenship Scheme

The Government is finalizing a draft amendment to Law (“RUU”) No. 12 of 2006 on the Citizenship of the Republic of Indonesia, as amended by Law No. 1 of 2026 on Adjustment to Criminal Penalties (“Law 12/2006”), by reviewing Article 4 and Article 41, as well as the implementing provisions under Government Regulation No. 21 of 2022 on Amendment to Government Regulation No. 2 of 2007 on Procedures for the Acquisition, Loss, Annulment, and Reacquisition of Citizenship of the Republic of Indonesia (collectively referred to as “PP 21/2022”). This initiative is intended to address administrative obstacles faced by individuals holding limited dual citizenship, particularly children.

The Director of State Administration at the Directorate General of General Legal Administration (“Ditjen AHU”) of the Ministry of Law, Dulyono, stated that the proposed revision aims to prevent children who fail to timely elect their citizenship from being automatically treated as foreign nationals and consequently required to undergo full naturalization. The RUU also proposes extending the period for electing citizenship from 18–21 years to 18–26 years, in order to avoid disruption to access to education and other facilities in other countries.

“The draft revision has been completed and is currently entering the inter-ministerial/agency endorsement stage under the 2026 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas),” he explained.

The Government also intends to tighten the mechanism for loss of citizenship to prevent misuse, particularly for applicants who still have outstanding legal obligations in Indonesia. Given that the loss of Indonesian citizenship is final in nature and difficult to reverse, especially where the individual has already obtained protection from another state, the proposed revision will require cross-agency recommendations to ensure that applicants are in a “clean and clear” legal status.