Dual Nationality For Indonesian Citizens

Indonesian old citizenship law, created exactly five decades ago, has several articles which are seen as discriminatory toward Indonesian women and their husbands and children, in the case of a Indonesian woman marrying a non-Indonesian. For example, the law did not allow Indonesian women to sponsor a non-Indonesian husband for permanent resident status, as foreigners can be only sponsored by companies that employ them. So let's say, the guy looses his job, he's out of the country. Indonesian women also automatically lost their rights to own or inherit a property, unless they have prenuptial agreement before marriage (wonder if the daughter of Sultan Hamengkubowono marries a foreigner, what happens to the palace?).

But the biggest issue is the children.

Under the old law (UU No.62/1958), children born of mixed Indonesian and foreign parentage will follow the father's nationality, not the mother's, as the old law recognizes the principle of ius sanguinis (right of the blood). This causes a lot of trouble, should there be a problem in the marriage that leads to a separation. Instantly the children have to follow their father. Because of this law, transnational parents had to pay up to Rp 12 million (about USD 1,200) for a temporary living permit for each of their children every year.

But the newly-enacted citizenship law (UU no.12/2006) gives children of transnational marriages with Indonesian mothers the right to dual citizenship until they are 18 years old. At 18, they can choose whether to stay Indonesian citizens or follow their foreign fathers' citizenship. They will be then given three more years to decide on which nationality to choose.

Yes, the new law is not perfect, and still puts children on the dilemma whether to follow their father's or mother's nationality. But it's a progress indeed.

The issue of dual nationality was a hot topic in Indonesia Matters when Patung wrote about it in November 2006 (and was being updated until April 2007).

Here is the law which is cited from Embassy of Republic Indonesian in United Kingdom

Tata cara memperoleh Kewarganegaraan Ganda Terbatas RI bagi anak hasil perkawinan campuran (implementasi UU No.12 Tahun 2006)

      A.Prosedur mengajukan permohonan paspor RI (dual nationality)  bagi anak    yang lahir sebelum tanggal 1 Agustus 2006 :

      - Mengajukan permohonan dengan menyampaikan formulir pendaftaran anak untuk memperoleh Paspor RI, dan melampirkan :

1. Fotokopi akte kelahiran anak 2. Surat pernyataan dari orang tua atau wali bahwa anak belum kawin 3. Fotokopi kartu tanda penduduk atau paspor orang tua anak yang masih berlaku 4. Pasfoto anak terbaru ukuran 4X6 cm sebanyak 6 (enam) lembar dengan latar belakang merah 5. Fotokopi akte perkawinan/buku nikah atau akte perceraian/surat talak/perceraian atau keterangan/akte kematian salah seorang dari orang tua anak 6. Fotokopi akte pengakuan atau penetapan pengadilan tentang pengangkatan anak (bagi anak yang diakui atau diangkat)

      - Berkas permohonan yang sudah lengkap akan diajukan kepada Menteri   Hukum dan HAM melalui KBRI London dan keputusan pemberian paspor RI   ditetapkan oleh Menteri Hukum dan HAM.

      - Mengajukan permohonan Paspor RI dengan mengisi formulir permohonan   pembuatan paspor dan melampirkan :

1. Fotokopi Akte Kelahiran anak, yang dibuktikan sesuai dengan aslinya oleh Pejabat Penerima Pendaftaran  2. Fotokopi Akte Perkawinan/Buku Nikah atau Akte Perceraian Orang Tua anak, yang dibuktikan sesuai dengan aslinya oleh Pejabat Penerima Pendaftaran  3. Fotokopi kartu tanda penduduk atau paspor orang tua anak yang masih berlaku  4. Fotokopi paspor asing anak, yang dibuktikan sesuai dengan aslinya oleh Pejabat Penerima Pendattaran (jika sudah ada paspor asing)  5.  Pasfoto anak terbaru ukuran 4X6 cm sebanyak 4 (empat) lembar dengan latar belakang berwarna merah

       - Pihak ayah (WNA) membuat surat pernyataan tidak berkebaratan anaknya memiliki
         paspor RI (dilegalisir oleh Notary Public/Solicitor).