Jakarta has quietly begun accepting applications for its new Global Citizenship of Indonesia programme, offering former citizens and those of Indonesian descent the right to live and work in the country indefinitely – a significant policy shift for a nation that does not permit dual citizenship for adults.
Indonesia has taken a notable step towards reconnecting with its global diaspora with the launch of the Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI) programme, a long-anticipated initiative that offers an alternative to dual citizenship for former Indonesians and their descendants.
Senior immigration officials have confirmed that applications are already being accepted ahead of the programme’s official launch on January 26. According to Edy Eko Putranto, Director General for Residence Permits at the Immigration Directorate, at least five applications have already been submitted and are currently under review.
Indonesia’s nationality laws have long been among the more restrictive in the region. Adult dual citizenship is not recognised, and Indonesians who take up foreign citizenship are required to formally relinquish their Indonesian status. This has left millions of people of Indonesian origin living abroad with limited legal pathways to return for long-term residence, employment, or business activity.
The GCI programme is designed to address that gap.
Rather than conferring nationality, the new scheme provides an unlimited stay permit, allowing successful applicants to live and work in Indonesia without the need for repeated visa renewals or temporary residency permits. Officials have positioned the initiative as a pragmatic solution that balances constitutional constraints with the economic and cultural benefits of deeper diaspora engagement.
“We are involving a team to make those reviews first. We have to find out whether these many people are eligible or not,” Edy told state news agency Antara, adding that all applications will be subject to thorough screening before approval.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE – AND WHO IS NOT
Eligibility for the Global Citizenship of Indonesia programme is relatively broad, but not without clear limits. Former Indonesian citizens are eligible to apply, as are the children and grandchildren of Indonesians who have since taken up foreign nationality. Spouses of Indonesian citizens may also apply, as can children born from marriages between Indonesians and foreign nationals.
At the same time, the government has been careful to define exclusions. The programme does not apply to nationals of countries that were formerly part of Indonesian territory, a provision likely aimed at avoiding legal and political complexities in border regions. Applicants with any history of involvement in separatist movements are explicitly barred, as are individuals who have served as civil servants, intelligence officers, or members of the military in another country.
These exclusions underline the state’s continued emphasis on national security and sovereignty, even as it seeks to soften the edges of its citizenship regime.
Officials have not disclosed the identities or countries of residence of the first applicants, but the programme is expected to draw interest from Indonesians in Australia, the Netherlands, the United States, and parts of the Middle East, where large diaspora communities have been established over several generations.
The policy shift comes amid growing recognition within government circles that Indonesia’s overseas community represents an underutilised asset. Estimates suggest that millions of people worldwide have Indonesian ancestry, many of whom maintain strong cultural, linguistic, or family ties to the country despite holding foreign passports.
In that sense, the GCI programme reflects a broader regional trend. Indonesian officials have openly acknowledged that the scheme was inspired by India’s Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) programme, which grants people of Indian origin a lifelong, multiple-entry visa with broad rights to live and work in the country. India currently counts more than four million OCI cardholders worldwide, and the programme is widely credited with strengthening economic links, remittances, and investment flows.
Indonesia’s version is more limited in scope, but the underlying logic is similar: encourage return migration, attract skills and capital, and foster long-term engagement without reopening politically sensitive debates around dual nationality.
For applicants, the practical implications could be significant. An unlimited stay permit would simplify everything from opening bank accounts and registering businesses to purchasing property and enrolling children in schools. For Indonesia, the hope is that the policy will translate into increased foreign direct investment, knowledge transfer, and deeper people-to-people ties.
Whether the GCI programme will scale up meaningfully remains to be seen. Much will depend on application criteria, processing timelines, and how the policy is implemented in practice. Still, the early start to accepting applications suggests a degree of confidence within the Immigration Directorate, and a willingness to move beyond purely symbolic outreach to the diaspora.
