Dual citizenship could open the door for Indonesia’s diaspora to cont...

The story

President Prabowo Subianto is considering changes to Indonesia's citizenship laws to allow dual nationality for individuals deemed to possess extraordinary talents. While the move aims to reverse the nation's brain drain, diaspora groups and analysts question whether the selective proposal goes far enough to draw overseas talent back home.

Under the early-stage proposal, adult dual citizenship—which is currently not recognized under Indonesian law—would be restricted to individuals in specific high-demand fields. Those eligible could include scientists, doctors, engineers, artificial intelligence experts, business professionals, and athletes, with the government emphasizing that any future process would be highly selective.

However, the initiative has met with criticism from overseas groups, including the Indonesian Diaspora Network and the Indonesian Mixed Marriage Society. They argue that limiting eligibility to exceptional talent excludes millions of citizens living abroad. Advocates stress that former Indonesian citizens and children born to mixed-nationality marriages should also qualify for dual nationality, regardless of their profession.

Observers also question whether offering a second passport is sufficient to convince skilled workers to return. Fediano Pradipta Salim, an Indonesian who returned home after living in Singapore for seven years, emphasized that legal status alone is not the sole factor. "It's not enough just to say come back and be Indonesian again," he said. "You need to offer attractive jobs and career opportunities."