He added that the plan has been discussed multiple times in meetings with President Joko Widodo. The policy initiative has been coordinated by the Ministry of Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, with officials having visited India for comparative studies.
Mr Laoly told VOA Indonesia that the planned new regulation will not violate the 2006 Citizenship Law, which mandates single citizenship for Indonesian nationals.
“The most important thing is to make it easier for our diaspora to come to Indonesia, live and work here, and enjoy their homeland for a lifetime.”
WORKING TIMELINE FOR NEW REGULATION TO BE IMPLEMENTED
Mr Laoly said the scheme is expected to be introduced within the next two months, with the government aiming to enact the policy before President Joko Widodo’s term ends on Oct 20.
President-elect Prabowo Subianto – the current defence minister – is set to succeed Mr Widodo at the helm of Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
“(Mr Widodo) has requested this regulation. We hope it will be drafted within a month or, at the latest, two months,” said Mr Laoly, adding that the scheme could be a solution for the Indonesian diaspora who have been advocating for dual citizenship.
“Changing the Citizenship Law would take much longer. Is a government regulation sufficient? Yes, it is, as it does not interfere with single citizenship. The important thing is making it easier for the diaspora to return.”
Changing the law in Indonesia requires parliamentary approval.
Indonesia does not currently recognise dual citizenship for adults. The 2006 Citizenship Law only allows children of mixed marriages to hold dual nationality until they are 18 years old or married, at which point they must choose one.
Mr Widodo previously announced in 2016 that the government was considering amending the Citizenship Law to allow adults to hold dual citizenship, but this faced opposition from lawmakers citing security concerns.
POSITIVE RECEPTION FROM INDONESIAN DIASPORA
The planned government regulation has been positively received by the Indonesian diaspora in the United States.
Mr Michael Dompas – who has lived and worked in the US for over 50 years – was quoted by VOA Indonesia as saying that having dual citizenship is more about having a sense of belonging.
“This is a realistic step without the complexities of parliamentary processes. It’s a win-win. For me, the benefit is more emotional. I’ve been here for 50 years, always Indonesian. Why can’t I go home? Indonesia will always be my country.”
Meanwhile, Mr Edward Wanandi – a prominent Indonesian businessman in the US – believes the OCI-like scheme will significantly benefit Indonesia.
“The progress in discussions on dual citizenship in the last ten years has been significant. We need to support and make the best use of this (OCI). The benefits for Indonesia are huge,” said Mr Wanandi, as quoted by VOA Indonesia.
Mr Bilal Dewansyah, an immigration law expert and PhD candidate at the Van Vollenhoven Institute (VVI), Leiden Law School, Netherlands, however, told CNA that for now, the most feasible OCI-like policy implementation might be the introduction of a visa-free policy for the Indonesian diaspora.
According to Mr Bilal, granting working rights to the Indonesian diaspora remains a distant goal.
He further noted that even in the case of countries like China, special measures were necessary.
China had to create programs like the “1000 Talents,” which offered significant salary incentives to attract highly skilled overseas Chinese back to the country.
Indonesia has been facing a brain drain issue. In July 2023, immigration chief Silmy Karim said 3,912 Indonesians have renounced their citizenship to become Singaporeans from 2019 to 2022.
He added that there is an average of 1,000 Indonesians who become Singaporeans every year, with the average age being from 25 to 35, often driven by better quality of life and career opportunities.
Mr Karim said Indonesia should be concerned about this brain drain phenomenon as skilled talents have shifted their citizenship.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not have official data on the number of Indonesian diaspora overseas, including ex-Indonesians.
However, based on their latest prediction in mid-2022, there are approximately nine million Indonesians who still hold Indonesian passports overseas, with the largest number in Asia.
Mr Bilal told CNA that it is important for those returning back to Indonesia to feel a sense of belonging.
“The paramount concern for the Indonesian diaspora in my opinion is the recognition of their Indonesian identity upon their return to Indonesia. It is crucial that they are not merely perceived as ‘foreigners’.”
