TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Law minister says dual citizenship unnecessary

Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, August 31, 2016

Share This Article

Change Size

Law minister says dual citizenship unnecessary Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo (front left) speaks with Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly (front right) during a plenary meeting to pass the Regional Elections Law at the House of Representatives on June 2. (Antara/Yudhi Mahatma)

L

aw and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly has said a revision of the Citizenship Law to allow dual citizenship is unnecessary as the existing visa system accommodates members of the Indonesian diaspora in traveling back and forth to the country.

Indonesians who have settled abroad and become foreign citizens often say they want dual citizenship to enable them to visit and work in Indonesia. However, Yasonna said Government Regulation (PP) No. 26/2016 signed by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on June 27 had facilitated Indonesians living abroad.

The regulation, which is an amendment of PP No. 31/2013, as an elaboration of the law on immigration, stipulated that applicants could obtain stay permits for multiple visits with five years’ validity, Yasonna said.

"They can stay for half a year in Indonesia [and return abroad] and if they want to come back here there's no need to apply for a visa anymore," Yasonna said on Tuesday.

Therefore, Yasonna said, there was no urgency for the country to revise the Citizenship Law, adding that the idea of allowing dual citizenship in the country should be carefully studied and analyzed as it was not in line with Indonesia's conservative views toward citizenship.

Earlier in 2015, Jokowi promised that his administration would seek ways to allow Indonesian citizens and their families living abroad to hold dual citizenship. The President was urged to immediately amend Law No. 12/2006 on citizenship, which currently does not allow citizens to hold dual citizenship. (bbn)

{

Your Opinion Counts

Your thoughts matter - share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.