Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas is tightening the naturalisation\npolicy for foreign nationals wishing to become Indonesian citizens\n(WNI). The move aims to ensure that citizenship applications are based\non a genuine desire to be part of Indonesia, rather than merely to\nsecure assets and obtain land ownership rights.<\/p>\n
Supratman noted that the Ministry of Law has recently received a\nsignificant number of ordinary naturalisation applications. Applicants\nhave come from countries including South Korea, the People\u2019s Republic of\nChina, Middle Eastern nations, and Australia. \u201cI apologise, but for\nordinary naturalisation, I am tightening it further,\u201d Supratman said\nduring an event with the Indonesian Chinese Association (INTI) at the\nHotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Friday.<\/p>\n
According to Supratman, a concerning phenomenon has emerged in these\napplications. Several applicants are foreign nationals who are married\nand run businesses in Indonesia, yet their immediate family members are\nnot applying for Indonesian citizenship. He suspects that in some cases,\nthe applications are potentially aimed solely at securing assets in\nIndonesia, particularly land ownership with freehold title. \u201cMy\nsuspicion is that it is only to secure assets, especially to be able to\nhave freehold ownership in Indonesia, and that is dangerous for all\ncitizens of the Republic of Indonesia,\u201d Supratman stated.<\/p>\n
Consequently, Supratman affirmed that the Ministry of Law will\nconduct stricter verification of the background and seriousness of\nnaturalisation applicants, including their family circumstances. \u201cI must\nreally ensure that the purpose of becoming an Indonesian citizen, for\nordinary naturalisation of foreign nationals, is not solely to secure\ntheir assets in Indonesia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Supratman also revealed that there are at least three ordinary\nnaturalisation applications that he has temporarily not signed. These\napplications will be forwarded to the President for a decision. \u201cFor\nordinary naturalisation, I will forward it to the President; the\nPresident will determine whether it is approved or not. But for those\nwho are truly serious, who are unmarried, or together with their spouse,\nwe process everything and forward it to the President,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the policy is not aimed at any specific country or\ngroup. The same scrutiny will be applied to all foreign nationals,\nwhether from East Asia, South Asia, West Asia, the Middle East, or other\nregions. \u201cThere is no distinction. All of them, if they are married, we\nmust ensure that they truly want to become Indonesian citizens,\u201d\nSupratman said.<\/p>\n
On a separate note, Supratman confirmed that there will be leniency\nfor children of mixed marriages who are late in determining their\ncitizenship. This policy was introduced because there was previously a\ntime limit for children with dual citizenship to choose their\nnationality. Supratman said this issue can be resolved through the\ndiscretion currently available and that the provisions will be further\nregulated in the Citizenship Law. \u201cFor the first case, it is easy. There\nused to be an obstacle related to a government regulation that only gave\na period of approximately four years. But since I became minister, and\nhopefully in the Citizenship Law that we will regulate later, for now\nthere is discretion,\u201d Supratman said. He assured that children who are\nlate in choosing their citizenship need not worry about their legal\nstatus. \u201cFor the first case, please apply, it will definitely be\napproved. Because it is a choice. The person was late in choosing,\u201d he\nsaid. The Ministry of Law will provide further explanation regarding\nthis mechanism through the Directorate of State Administration and the\nDirectorate General of General Legal Administration.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-tightens-naturalisation-rules-to-prevent-foreigners-using-citizenship-to-secure-assets-1786251037", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }