DPR Responds to Proposal for Limited Dual Citizenship for Exceptional Talent

Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Sufmi Dasco Ahmad has responded to President Prabowo Subianto’s proposal regarding legislative changes for limited dual citizenship for exceptional talent. Dasco said that the government has indeed frequently asked the DPR to process citizenship approvals for a number of foreign talents in the field of sports.

“Yes, so far we have sometimes received requests from the government to process citizenship approvals for, for example, players in the field of sports, football, basketball, and we then process those,” said Dasco at the DPR building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (14/8/2026).

However, Dasco said the government currently sees significant potential in the Indonesian diaspora living abroad. According to him, the government wants to facilitate these diaspora members.

“But earlier, from what I heard from the government, there are actually many diaspora members who have the potential to contribute their energy and ideas to Indonesia, but perhaps because they have lived abroad for a long time, the government also wants to facilitate citizenship here without them having to relinquish their original citizenship,” he said.

“So it has been conveyed that this will be carried out on a limited and highly selective basis,” he continued.

Previously, Prabowo Subianto proposed legislative changes for limited dual citizenship for exceptional talent. According to Prabowo, this regulation is intended for Indonesian diaspora members who possess expertise and can make a significant contribution to the national interest.

The idea was conveyed by Prabowo before members of parliament in his speech during the plenary session on the State Budget Bill (RUU APBN) at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (14/8/2026).

“Today I convey to the House, the suggestion of the Indonesian government, our suggestion, that we allow dual citizenship for certain talents needed by the Indonesian nation,” said Prabowo.

Prabowo said Indonesia has millions of diaspora members spread across various countries. Among these diaspora members, according to Prabowo, there are scientists, doctors, engineers, artificial intelligence experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, and world-class athletes.

For this reason, the government will propose legislative changes to open up opportunities for limited dual citizenship for citizens with exceptional talent.

“Today, the government will submit to this honourable chamber a legislative amendment to open up limited dual citizenship for those who possess exceptional talent and can make an extraordinary contribution to the national interest,” he said.