Law Minister to Review Fee Hikes for Renouncing Indonesian Citizenship and Naturalisation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas will re-examine the increases in fees for renouncing Indonesian citizenship (WNI) and for naturalisation through internal deliberations.

Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday, he said the evaluation would be carried out given the considerable public criticism and input regarding the fee increases.

“In the near future, I will hold a meeting with the Director-General of General Legal Administration (AHU) and the Director-General of Intellectual Property. Things are buzzing at the AHU Directorate-General at the moment, especially over citizenship matters,” Supratman said.

He said the increase in non-tax state revenues (PNBP) for citizenship services, as set out in Government Regulation (PP) No. 30 of 2026, was purely a proposal from the Ministry of Law to the President.

Accordingly, if there were any mistakes, he affirmed that as minister he would bear responsibility for not double-checking the proposal.

Nevertheless, the Minister of Law insisted that all proposals submitted by his ministry had gone through thorough review.

“That is why, if there are any errors, I will convene another meeting to carry out an evaluation,” he said.

Supratman explained that the increase in citizenship PNBP tariffs was not a sudden decision, let alone one driven merely by the state seeking profit or intended as an obstacle.

In determining the increases, he said the Ministry of Law had first benchmarked the rates against those of other countries.

In several other countries, he revealed, applicants must typically submit requests to renounce their citizenship or seek naturalisation through a form.

To obtain that form, he said, applicants must pay, even though approval is not guaranteed.

He went further, noting that in the United States, losing citizenship is subject to an exit tax similar to Value Added Tax (VAT).

“We don’t have that here — people only pay once the application is approved,” the minister said.

Under PP 30/2026, changing citizenship from foreign national to Indonesian carries a fee of Rp75 million, naturalisation based on marriage costs Rp25 million, while applying for a decree on the loss of citizenship at one’s own request costs Rp5 million.

The regulation takes effect on 1 August.