Global Citizenship of Indonesia Becomes a New Pathway for Permanent Residency for Former Indonesian Citizens and Their Descendants
JAKARTA – The Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections has officially launched the Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI), a new policy designed to address the issue of dual citizenship. GCI serves as a form of permanent residency without time limits for foreign nationals who have blood ties, heritage connections, historical links, or other strong relationships with Indonesia. This policy opens opportunities for participation from individuals of various nationalities who maintain such connections.
“GCI is a solution that resolves the ongoing debate over dual citizenship by granting extensive residency rights to foreign nationals who have strong ties to Indonesia, without requiring them to relinquish their foreign citizenship or violate the laws of their country. This policy also demonstrates Indonesia’s ability to adapt to global dynamics without compromising the sovereignty of its nationality laws,” said Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto.
Agus further explained that similar concepts have been implemented in several countries, such as India’s Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI). The adoption of comparable policies across various jurisdictions reinforces the credibility and feasibility of implementing GCI in Indonesia. This affirms the readiness of the Directorate General of Immigration to manage a policy focused on legal certainty, efficient services, and international competitiveness.
Eligible applicants for GCI include foreign nationals who are former Indonesian citizens, descendants of former Indonesian citizens up to the second degree, as well as legal spouses of Indonesian citizens or former Indonesian citizens. In addition, children born from lawful marriages between Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals may also benefit from GCI.
Meanwhile, this residency permit does not apply to foreign nationals originating from countries that were previously part of Indonesian territory, individuals involved in separatist activities, or those with backgrounds as civil servants, intelligence personnel, or military members of foreign states.
Applications for GCI are submitted online through evisa.imigrasi.go.id. With its all-in-one system, the GCI application process includes issuance of a Limited Stay Visa, conversion from Limited Stay Permit to Permanent Stay Permit, extension of the Unlimited Permanent Stay Permit, and the Unlimited Re-entry Permit.
“Indonesian Immigration will always remain responsive to global needs and challenges. GCI is clear evidence that our immigration policy not only provides services but continues to transform in line with the times,” concluded Minister Agus. (*)
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