JAKARTA: Indonesia has opened applications for a new permit allowing former citizens to live and work in the country indefinitely, an official at the immigration ministry said. The policy, named Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI), provides an alternative for adults who cannot hold dual citizenship, as Indonesian law requires citizens to choose one nationality at the age of 18.
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The GCI program is modelled after India’s Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), which allows foreigners of Indian ancestry to visit, work, and live in India indefinitely. “GCI is a strategic solution to the issues of dual citizenship by giving an unlimited stay permit for foreign nationals with strong ties to Indonesia,” said Edy Eko Putranto, director of immigration residence permits.
Jakarta – Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi Kementerian Imigrasi dan Pemasyarakatan secara resmi meluncurkan Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI), sebuah kebijakan baru yang menjadi solusi atas isu kewarganegaraan ganda. https://t.co/191afakTod pic.twitter.com/tBEZ1SJe92
— Kanwil Ditjen Imigrasi DK Jakarta (@ImigrasiDKJ) November 19, 2025
Eligibility under the program includes former Indonesian citizens, foreign nationals of Indonesian descent up to the second degree, and children from mixed marriages. The government hopes the policy will help the Indonesian diaspora contribute to national development and remain connected to their homeland.
Hai, Sobat Imipas!
Kementerian Imigrasi dan Pemasyarakatan (Kemenimipas) terus menampilkan terobosan dalam melayani publik.
Pada kegiatan Hari Bakti Kemenimipas ke-1, Menteri Agus Andrianto secara resmi meluncurkan kebijakan Global Citizenship of Indonesia, Rabu (19/11). pic.twitter.com/ymaDhfBm0U
— Kantor Imigrasi Banggai (@imigrasibanggai) November 24, 2025
The new policy comes amid growing concerns about a ‘brain drain’, as many Indonesians leave for better opportunities abroad. Between 2019 and 2022, nearly 4,000 Indonesians became Singaporean citizens, according to the Directorate General of Immigration. With a population of 280 million, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world.
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“The ministry is essentially responding to the brain drain phenomenon by turning it into a strategic opportunity, facilitating a special right for the diaspora so that Indonesian talents can return or contribute remotely,” Putranto added. Officials hope that by making it easier for Indonesians abroad to maintain ties to the country, the nation can benefit from their skills, investment, and knowledge, strengthening both the economy and human capital.