Antara, Jakarta – The Immigration and Correctional Affairs Ministry on Wednesday introduced the Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI) program, a new residency policy designed to resolve long-standing issues surrounding dual citizenship in the country.
The scheme, launched by the Directorate General of Immigration, offers permanent, unlimited residency to eligible foreign nationals with strong historical, familial, or emotional ties to Indonesia, without requiring them to relinquish their existing citizenship.
"GCI is a solution to the dual-citizenship debate. It grants broad residency rights to foreigners who have deep ties to Indonesia while respecting their current citizenship and remaining fully compliant with national laws," Immigration Minister Agus Andrianto said in a statement.
Indonesia adheres strictly to a single-citizenship system, which has long been a barrier for former Indonesians and their descendants seeking to maintain meaningful links to the country. The GCI initiative aims to bridge that gap by extending participation to a wide group of foreign nationals connected to Indonesia.
Eligible applicants include former Indonesian citizens, second-generation descendants of former citizens, legal spouses of Indonesians or ex-Indonesians, and children from legally recognized marriages between Indonesian nationals and foreign citizens.
However, the scheme excludes individuals from countries that were once part of Indonesia's territory, those involved in separatist activities, and foreign civil servants, intelligence personnel, or military members.
Applications for GCI must be submitted online via evisa.imigrasi.go.id, using an integrated system that covers issuance of limited-stay visas, conversion to permanent residency, unlimited extensions, and multiple re-entry permits.
Indonesia's new approach mirrors similar frameworks abroad, such as India's Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) program. Agus said the international success of such schemes reinforces the credibility and feasibility of Indonesia's version.
"The Indonesian immigration system will remain responsive to global challenges. GCI is proof that our policies are not only service-oriented but continuously evolving to meet international standards," he said.