List of Countries Permitting Dual Citizenship: Many of Indonesia's Neighbours Do
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - As global mobility and cross-border job opportunities increase, the phenomenon of dual citizenship has become a major focus for international students, workers, and investors.
In 2026, more than 120 countries worldwide will officially allow their citizens to hold dual citizenship. This legal status provides access to mobility, political rights, and economic opportunities in two different countries without relinquishing their original citizenship.
A person can acquire dual citizenship through several means, including being born in a country, through descent, through naturalisation, through marriage, or through investment programmes in certain countries.
What about Indonesia?
The Indonesian government does not recognise dual citizenship for adults. This system is enshrined in Law No. 12 of 2006 on Indonesian Citizenship, which states that the principle of Indonesian citizenship is single, except for children under certain conditions.
According to Article 6 of Law No. 12 of 2006, children with limited dual citizenship (resulting from mixed-parentage marriages) are allowed to hold two passports until the age of 18 or until they marry. Before reaching this age, they are still recognised as Indonesian citizens as long as they are officially registered through Indonesian representatives abroad or related agencies.
When the child reaches the age of 18 or marries, they must choose one citizenship within a certain period (usually until the age of 21, as stipulated by law). If they do not choose, their Indonesian citizenship status may be lost.
The issue highlighted by the Endowment Fund Management Agency (LPDP) is relevant because the public is concerned about the citizenship status of children of LPDP scholarship recipients. However, this issue remains sensitive because Indonesia does not recognise dual citizenship for adults and limits dual citizenship to children up to a certain age. In the context of scholarships funded by public taxes, this debate has evolved and shows that the issue of citizenship is not just an administrative matter, but also relates to commitment, responsibility, and the legal ties between individuals and the state.