Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, inhibiting around 282 million citizens as of August 2024, reported the government. Despite the expeditious surge, various reasons draw the naturalisation of foreign citizens into obtaining Indonesian citizenship.
By definition, an Indonesian citizen is someone originally from Indonesia as well as someone from another nation who has been legalised by law as a citizen. Plenty of factors come into play regarding one’s citizenship in Indonesia. If this speaks to you, read along to find out the criteria, application submissions, and procedure of becoming an Indonesian citizen below!
Becoming an Indonesian Citizen
Requirements for becoming an Indonesian citizen
Before applying, it is crucial to identify who exactly is an Indonesian citizen in detail. According to the Indonesian Citizenship Law, 13 criteria are categorised as Indonesian citizens.
Every person based on laws and regulations and/or based on the agreement of the Indonesian government with other countries before this law takes effect has become an Indonesian citizen.
Children born from a legal marriage of an Indonesian father and mother.
Children born from a legal marriage to an Indonesian father and a foreign mother.
Children born from a legal marriage to a foreign father and an Indonesian mother.
A child born from a valid marriage to an Indonesian citizen mother, but the father does not have citizenship or the law of the father's country of origin does not grant citizenship to the child.
Children born within 300 days after their father dies from a valid marriage and their father is an Indonesian citizen.
Children born outside of a legal marriage to an Indonesian mother.
A child born out of a legal marriage to a foreign citizen mother who is recognised by an Indonesian citizen father as his child and the recognition is made before the child is 18 years old or unmarried.
Children born in the Indonesian territory, who at the time of birth, are unclear of their father and mother’s citizenship status.
A newborn child is found in the Indonesian territory, as long as their father and mother's identities are unknown.
Children born in the Indonesian territory, if their father and mother have no citizenship or their whereabouts are unknown.
A child born outside the Indonesian territory, to an Indonesian father and mother who, due to the provisions of the country where the child was born, grants citizenship to the child concerned.
A child of a father or mother who has been granted a citizenship application, then the father or mother dies before taking an oath or declaring a pledge of allegiance.
People not included in the 13 criteria above can also obtain their Indonesian citizenship. However, several conditions must be met, namely:
Is 18 years old or married.
At the time of application, they have resided in the Indonesian territory for at least five or 10 consecutive years.
Physically and spiritually healthy.
Able to speak Bahasa Indonesia and recognise the state foundation of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.
Never been convicted for committing a criminal act that is threatened with imprisonment for one year or more.
Not holding dual citizenship.
Possesses a job and/or has a steady income.
Pays citizenship money to the state treasury.
Application submission to become an Indonesian citizen
Application submissions are directed to the Indonesian President. This is the next step, following that the requirements have been met.
The applicant submits a written application in Bahasa Indonesia on a sealed paper, containing the details below:
Full name
Place and date of birth
Gender
Marital status
Residential address
Occupation
Original nationality
Along with that, the application must also attach:
A photocopy of the birth certificate citation or letter proving the applicant's birth - certified by an official.
A photocopy of the marriage certificate citation/marriage book, divorce certificate citation/talaq certificate/divorce certificate, or the applicant's wife/husband death certificate citation for those who are not yet 18 years old - certified by an official.
An immigration certificate issued by the immigration office whose work area includes the applicant's place of residence and states that the applicant has resided in the Indonesian territory for at least five or 10 consecutive years.
A copy of the permanent residence permit card (KITAP) - certified by an official.
Physical and spiritual health certificate from a hospital.
The applicant's statement letter is in Indonesian.
The applicant's statement letter acknowledges the state foundation of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.
A certificate of police records whose work area is around the applicant's residence.
A certificate from the representative of the applicant country that obtaining Indonesian citizenship means they do not become a dual citizen.
A certificate from the sub-district head whose work area is around the applicant's place of residence, and stating that the applicant has a job and/or a fixed income.
Proof of payment of citizenship money and application fees to the state treasury.
Six latest coloured photos in 4X6 cm.
Application procedure to becoming an Indonesian citizen
With all of the documents submitted, what’s next? Here’s an overview of the procedure for becoming an Indonesian citizen:
The application file is submitted to the Law and Human Rights Ministry, either through the Indonesian Embassy in the applicant's country of origin or the local court office.
Officials of the Law and Human Rights Ministry check the entirety of the files and conduct a substantive examination of the application within 14 days from the date the application is received.
The official forwards the files to the Law and Human Rights Minister no later than seven days after the substantive examination is completed.
The Law and Human Rights Minister conducts a follow-up examination and considers the President regarding the application, no later than 45 days from the date of receipt of the application.
After the examination, the application will be forwarded to the President which can then be granted or rejected within 45 days at the latest.
Once granted, the applicant receives a copy of the Presidential Decree and another copy to the Law and Human Rights Ministry officials.
The applicant is called according to the specified time to take an oath and pledge of allegiance in front of the official and is attended by two witnesses.
The applicant is obliged to return the immigration documents or papers in their name to the immigration office, whose working area includes the applicant's residence, within 14 days from the date of taking the oath and pledge of allegiance.
Once received, the Minister announces the names of the people who have obtained Indonesian citizenship in the country’s state gazette.
