Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas Stresses Indonesian Citizenship Transfer Process Is Not Easy
Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas has stressed that the process of relinquishing or obtaining Indonesian citizenship (WNI) is not a simple matter. The statement was made in response to public discourse surrounding the latest citizenship regulations.
Speaking at the DPR building in Jakarta on Tuesday (21/7), Supratman explained that foreign nationals (WNA) seeking Indonesian citizenship must meet strict criteria, particularly regarding the duration of their stay. "For those who want to become citizens, they must reside in Indonesia for five consecutive years or ten non-consecutive years. They must certainly be individuals with financial capability," he said.
Regarding applications to relinquish WNI status, the government implements a multi-layered verification mechanism involving 15 ministries and agencies. This step is taken to ensure that applicants have settled all their obligations to the state before changing citizenship.
"We must ensure that individuals wishing to relinquish their citizenship have no outstanding tax liabilities and are not involved in any ongoing criminal cases. This must be verified by 14 to 15 ministries or agencies," Supratman stressed.
Based on current data, applications from foreign nationals to become Indonesian citizens range between 1,000 and 1,500 people. Conversely, requests to relinquish WNI status are recorded at around 300 people. Supratman emphasised that these figures are not automatically approved, as they must pass a thorough verification process.
The Minister’s statement also addressed public concerns regarding the increase in naturalisation and citizenship renunciation fees stipulated in Government Regulation (PP) Number 30 of 2026. Under the regulation, the fee for changing citizenship from WNA to WNI is set at Rp75 million, while naturalisation through marriage is charged at Rp25 million. Meanwhile, an application for a decree of loss of citizenship by personal request is subject to a fee of Rp5 million.
The Minister of Law urged the public not to worry about the fee adjustments. According to him, the policy has undergone various careful considerations and does not have a direct impact on the general public at large.