The Debate over Dual Citizenship

Addressing members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) at its Annual Session, President Prabowo Subianto opened the door to dual citizenship for certain groups. Several parties, however, have called for careful consideration and clear limits on who would be eligible to hold two citizenships.

"Today I put before the Assembly the Indonesian government's recommendation, our recommendation, that we allow dual citizenship for certain talents the Indonesian nation needs," the president said at the MPR RI Building in Jakarta on Friday (14/8/2026).

Prabowo argued that many talented Indonesians living abroad have achieved success as engineers, artists, athletes, researchers, doctors and entrepreneurs. Under Indonesia's single-citizenship system, he said, many of them have had to give up their Indonesian citizenship.

The president pledged that any such policy would involve strict selection to ensure the status is granted only to those who meet the necessary criteria. “This policy will be designed to be selective and measured, with integrity testing, clear obligations, and full protection for national security and interests,” Prabowo said.

Indonesia has not always prohibited dual citizenship. Muhammad RM Fayasy Failaq, S.H., M.H., a constitutional law lecturer at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), explained that Indonesia once allowed dual citizenship for ethnic Chinese Indonesians under a 1958 agreement with China.

"China at the time had a policy that essentially held that everyone of Chinese descent, wherever they were in the diaspora, carried Chinese citizenship," said Fayas on Friday (21/8/2026).

The arrangement was established through Law No. 2 of 1958, which regulated a dual-citizenship agreement between Indonesia and China involving ethnic Chinese Indonesians. It was later revoked early in the New Order era through Law No. 4 of 1969.

Under the current system, limited dual citizenship is available to children born to mixed Indonesian-foreign marriages. They may retain both citizenships until they turn 18 or marry, as stipulated in Law No. 12 of 2006 on Citizenship. Fayas noted that they must choose their citizenship no later than three years after turning 18.

Fayas said the limited dual citizenship proposed by Prabowo would differ from the arrangement under the existing law. While the current provision is intended primarily for children of mixed marriages, the new proposal could extend eligibility to a broader group of people based on their potential contribution to Indonesia.

“The thinking behind the earlier policy was legal and administrative certainty for children of mixed marriages. The newer one is aimed more at developing various sectors, including the economy, investment and education,” he explained.

Fayas said any policy allowing dual citizenship would need clear restrictions, including limits on political participation, military service, and employment in state institutions. Such restrictions, he added, would need to be backed by strict eligibility requirements and carefully deliberated by the legislature.

One question, for example, is whether dual citizenship holders would be allowed to serve in the military of another country. Under Indonesia's Citizenship Law, a person can lose their Indonesian citizenship if they join a foreign military without the president's permission.

“The question right now is whether dual citizenship holders would be permitted to serve in the military of another country. There are secrets and different ethical codes between states that must be safeguarded, especially when it comes to the military. This has not yet been made explicit in the academic paper,” explained Fayas, a lecturer in the UMS Law Program.

The proposed limited dual citizenship policy also carries social risks. Fayas pointed to the potential for discrimination.

Which can stem from that granting dual citizenship to certain groups could create the perception that the state is giving them preferential treatment. He warned that such perceptions could fuel social friction and resentment among citizens.

Similarly, UMS civic education lecturer Wibowo Heru Prasetiyo, S.Pd., M.Pd., Ph.D., said dual citizenship could contribute to polarization and create disparities in citizens' legal and socio-political status.

“The risk is disparity, because the legal and socio-political status of citizens would differ,” he said.

Wibowo also warned that dual citizenship could potentially be used to evade taxes or avoid legal obligations. With citizenship in two countries, he said, individuals could potentially seek to invoke whichever country's laws or protections are more favorable to them.

The proposal also raises constitutional and legal questions. Wibowo noted that Article 26 of the 1945 Constitution does not explicitly provide for dual citizenship, potentially creating a need to revise the existing legal framework.

“There needs to be a change to the legal framework related to citizenship. In fact, this could even require us to pursue a constitutional amendment,” said Wibowo, who heads the UMS Pancasila and Civic Education Program.

The debate over dual citizenship is rooted in the large number of Indonesians who have changed their citizenship. According to Wibowo, allowing limited dual citizenship could help prevent Indonesia from losing its top talent. Beyond retaining skilled Indonesians, the policy could also serve as a form of diplomacy and soft power while encouraging foreign investment and technology transfer.

However, producing top talent cannot stop at providing scholarships for Indonesians to study abroad. The government must also consider whether the country's best talents will have a clear career path and sufficient opportunities to develop their expertise when they return home.

“The government must have a long-term blueprint regarding what it wants Indonesia to be known for. Opportunities must be given based on a meritocratic system aligned with that blueprint. This is far more urgent than dual citizenship,” Wibowo stressed.

Wibowo saw the proposed dual citizenship policy as a short-term solution. He argued that the government should instead focus on long-term measures, including strengthening economic competitiveness, expanding equal employment opportunities, and improving the quality of domestic education.

“If this is a genuine concern of the government, then we really wouldn't need to experiment with dual citizenship, where there are threats to loyalty, the potential for legal exploitation, and other risks as well,” Wibowo asserted.

Writer: Gede Arga Adrian

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva