Becoming an Indonesian citizen - Help needed

**Deltamars** · 05-04-11, 19:08

I was born in 1971 in Germany, my parents were married. My father is Indonesian and my mother is Germany, I reside in Germany. For some reason my father omitted to obtain an Indonesian passport for me and I was only made aware recently that I could have applied for an Indonesian passport.

Having obtained advice from a local government source in Germany I was told I could have dual citizenship, which is unusual, however, it looks like the new Indonesian rules only allow dual citizenship for children up to 21 years of age or anyone deciding to do so within 3 years after marriage.

I would very much like to obtain Indonesian citizenship, without losing German citizenship. Has anyone been in a similar situation and succeeded? Any advice welcome.

**Davita** · 05-04-11, 19:15

Dual Citizenship, other than for children of mixed marriage parents, is not permitted by the RI Government.

My wife was an Indonesian National but obtained Canada Citizenship when we immigrated there. She lost her Indonesian Citizenship and passport.

**Deltamars** · 05-04-11, 19:53

Originally Posted by Davita

Dual Citizenship, other than for children of mixed marriage parents, is not permitted by the RI Government.

My wife was an Indonesian National but obtained Canada Citizenship when we immigrated there. She lost her Indonesian Citizenship and passport.

Thanks. Since I am the child of mixed marriage parents I was hoping to obtain Indonesian citizenship, particularly since one of the sections of the relevant law apparently allows the application up to 3 years after marriage, ie separately to the age requirement.

Then again I read somewhere that the application had to be made until August 1 2010. You may be right and there is no way to obtain Indonesian citizenship after all. I has hoping the marriage provision would be a way to circumvent the age barrier.

**adindas** · 05-04-11, 20:47

As far as I know it is only for the children of mixed married could have dual nationalities if they apply for. After a certain age (becoming an adult) they need to decide whether to maintain his Indonesian nationaly or not. Maintaining his indonesian nationality will also mean, he needs to give up his other nationalities, as dual nationalities are not allowed after a certain age in Indonesia.

In your case, because you were born in 1971 I do not think you could get Indonesian nationality without the need to give up your German nationality. Also in order to get indonesian citizenship you still need to qualify for that, not automatic.

Other forum members might add or please provide correction if necessary.

Originally Posted by Deltamars

I was born in 1971 in Germany, my parents were married. My father is Indonesian and my mother is Germany, I reside in Germany. For some reason my father omitted to obtain an Indonesian passport for me and I was only made aware recently that I could have applied for an Indonesian passport.

Having obtained advice from a local government source in Germany I was told I could have dual citizenship, which is unusual, however, it looks like the new Indonesian rules only allow dual citizenship for children up to 21 years of age or anyone deciding to do so within 3 years after marriage.

I would very much like to obtain Indonesian citizenship, without losing German citizenship. Has anyone been in a similar situation and succeeded? Any advice welcome.

**Davita** · 05-04-11, 23:47

Deltamars....It isn't a question of getting Indonesian Citizenship.
Even if you qualify you would need to surrender you German Citizenship to achieve Indonesian.
I don't think it wise to do that.

**bule_gila** · 06-04-11, 18:37

I'm Canadian and my wife is Indonesian. Our children have Canadian and Indonesian citizenships. When they are of age, they must choose one citizenship, according to the law of Indonesia (canadian law says they can have both). I believe that this law will change as we have seen many changes to immigration law in the past few years.

@ davita

You should have gotten your wife Permanent Residence status instead. With this, she does not have to give up her Indonesian citizenship and she can travel back to indonesia for as long as she wishes, as long as you are with her for the duration of the trip, without losing her PR status. The only hasstle with PR status is when you have to travel through the USA (she will need a visa) but other than that, PR is exactly the same as citizenship

**Pimpin** · 06-04-11, 18:44

It's been a while but with PR status, in the beginning, what two years, one can't be out of Canada for more than six months or they lose it. They can travel back to Canada for a day then out for another six months. Pardon me if I don't have the times exactly right but I'm not far off, at least if they haven't changed anything since 96. Also I have never heard the Canadian marriage partner having to be accompanying the partner with PR status outside of Canada to retain said status.

Care to correct me if I'm wrong?

**Chewy** · 06-04-11, 19:16

The spouse does not have to leave with the Pr holder . My friends wife has one and she travels home to Japan twice a year and has never had a problem leaving or coming back .

**atlantis** · 06-04-11, 20:00

Back to topic,

Originally Posted by Deltamars

I was born in 1971 in Germany, my parents were married. My father is Indonesian and my mother is Germany, I reside in Germany. For some reason my father omitted to obtain an Indonesian passport for me and I was only made aware recently that I could have applied for an Indonesian passport.

Having obtained advice from a local government source in Germany I was told I could have dual citizenship, which is unusual, however, it looks like the new Indonesian rules only allow dual citizenship for children up to 21 years of age or anyone deciding to do so within 3 years after marriage.

I would very much like to obtain Indonesian citizenship, without losing German citizenship. Has anyone been in a similar situation and succeeded? Any advice welcome.

I am afraid you don't have much legal alternative.

As it has been said, Indonesia does not recognise full dual citizenship but only a conditionnal one. It is automatic for kids born after August 1st 2006 from one of the parents being a foreigner and the other one being Indonesian. However, they are granted this right only untill the age of eighteen (they will three years to make their choice) or untill they get married (they will have to do their choice before the day of their marriage and not in a delay of three years after the marriage), whichever comes first.
Being born in 1971, even if not married, you don't qualify for a naturalization process under the stipulation of the article 41 UU 12/2006. On top of that, as you rightly noted, kids born before August 1, 2006 and being under the age of 18, who were qualifying had untill August 1, 2010 to register (the Citizenship Law was giving 4 years to register, past the date of promulgation of the Law).

The fact that your father is/was Indonesian unfortunately doesn't give you more rights, at the moment, about citizenship or residency than say, your german neighbour.

Going through a naturalization process would not be impossible, but it is not gonna be easy in your actual situation. It's a long process. Should you marry an Indonesian, it would become easier, but it would still require a 5 years residency period before submitting an application.

Sorry if it ain't good news.

**Davita** · 06-04-11, 22:12

Originally Posted by bule_gila

I'm Canadian and my wife is Indonesian. Our children have Canadian and Indonesian citizenships. When they are of age, they must choose one citizenship, according to the law of Indonesia (canadian law says they can have both). I believe that this law will change as we have seen many changes to immigration law in the past few years.

@ davita

You should have gotten your wife Permanent Residence status instead. With this, she does not have to give up her Indonesian citizenship and she can travel back to indonesia for as long as she wishes, as long as you are with her for the duration of the trip, without losing her PR status. The only hasstle with PR status is when you have to travel through the USA (she will need a visa) but other than that, PR is exactly the same as citizenship

Thank you Bule-gila....I was aware of the implications when we both accepted Canadian Citizenship... but I should mention that we did that some 20 years ago. Returning to Indonesia 20 years ago was not considered healthy!!!

But it is useful information.
Keeping Indonesian Citizenship is still problematic for world travel but much easier for those residing in RI and staying within Asia.

@ Pimpin
You are absolutely correct in your post.

@Atlantis
Thanks for keeping 'on topic'..... I only used my situation to indicate clarity to the OP's question.