Automatic citizenship

Automatic citizenship

From Kompas

With reference to the question of Darwoko about the status of
children born in Germany (Kompas, May 7), based on the principle
of lineage (ius sanguinis) and the Indonesian law, there is no
reason to prevent a German-born child from gaining Indonesian
citizenship as long as the parents are Indonesian citizens.

However, this case becomes complex as Germany introduced a new
citizenship law in 2000, with a substantial change from the
principle of lineage to that of birthplace (ius soli), meaning
that German citizenship is obtained according to the fact that a
child is born in Germany.

This law stipulates that foreign citizens' children born in
Germany will obtain German citizenship if one of their parents
has legally resided in Germany for at least eight years, by
possessing the certificate of entitlement to residence or the
unlimited residence permit for at least three years.

The Consulate General of Indonesia in Hamburg, which often
handles such cases, has no objection to the registration of
children born in Germany with Indonesian parents. But automatic
German citizenship will deprive the children of residence permits
if they are granted Indonesian citizenship.

In Darwoko's case, various factors have to be considered. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contacted him for more data and
the Hamburg consulate general for clarification.

SJACHWIEN ADENAN
Director of Citizen Protection
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jakarta