What to know about Indonesia’s new ‘global citizenship’ policy
Indonesia has introduced a landmark immigration scheme that could transform the lives of foreigners with strong personal or ancestral ties to the country.
The new Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI) programme offers permanent, unlimited residency without requiring applicants to abandon their existing nationality.
The move marks a significant shift in a country that maintains a strict ban on dual citizenship. For decades, those with mixed heritage or long-term family connections to Indonesia have been forced to choose between legal status and emotional belonging, often leaving many feeling distanced from the country despite deep roots.
The policy is aimed particularly at former Indonesian nationals and members of the Indonesian diaspora who have either lost or never held Indonesian citizenship. It also addresses long-standing challenges faced by foreigners married to Indonesian citizens, who have historically been restricted by complex residency rules.
Announcing the programme, Minister of Immigration and Correctional Affairs Agus Andrianto said the GCI was designed to resolve the longstanding debate around dual nationality.
“GCI is a solution to answer the dual citizenship policy with the broad right to stay for foreign nationals (WNA) who have strong ties with Indonesia, without changing their citizenship status and without violating the rules of other nations,” he said.
He added that the new policy demonstrates Indonesia’s capacity to keep pace with global migration trends.
“GCI is a solution addressing the polemic of dual nationality by granting extensive residency rights to foreigners closely connected to Indonesia, without changing their foreign citizenship status and without violating national regulations,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Immigration, eligible individuals include former Indonesian citizens; their descendants up to the second generation; spouses of Indonesians or former Indonesians; and children born to a legally recognised mixed-nationality marriage.
The programme will not be universally available. Those excluded include applicants from countries once within Indonesia’s territorial borders, foreign military personnel, intelligence officers and individuals involved in separatist movements.
The GCI sits alongside Indonesia’s existing visa categories, including the much-publicised Golden Visa, which targets major investors and highly skilled professionals and offers residency for five to ten years. For tourists or short-stay visitors—particularly in popular destinations such as Bali—the 30-day e-Visa on Arrival remains the standard option and can be extended once.
Minister Andrianto said the ministry would ensure that the GCI offers legal clarity, administrative simplicity and international competitiveness.
He pointed to similar schemes overseas, such as India’s Overseas Citizenship of India programme, as evidence that such policies can succeed without compromising sovereignty.
For Andrianto, this reform signalled a shift in Indonesia’s immigration philosophy.
“Indonesian Immigration will always respond to global needs and challenges. GCI is proof that our immigration policy is not static, but will continue to transform following the development of the times,” he said.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
