Ministry of Law Reveals New Citizenship Bill to Tighten Regulations on Indonesian Citizens

The Director-General of General Legal Administration at the Ministry of Law, Widodo, has revealed that the ministry is currently drafting a new Citizenship Bill. The proposed legislation is said to tighten regulations governing the status of Indonesian citizens.

“In the Citizenship Bill, as I mentioned earlier, the current draft is more selective. So both the process of becoming an Indonesian citizen and losing Indonesian citizenship will be increasingly tightened,” Widodo stated during a press conference at the Ministry of Law office in South Jakarta on Thursday (26 February 2026).

Widodo noted that applications to become an Indonesian citizen (WNI) would henceforth involve multiple ministries and relevant institutions from the applicant’s home country. According to him, inter-agency consultation is necessary to assess the applicant’s eligibility.

“There must be many permits and approvals from other ministries and institutions, as well as confirmation from that country. Because a foreign national becoming an Indonesian citizen could also be a consideration that is not necessarily positive. It could be that they want to flee and other such matters,” he explained.

The new Citizenship Bill will also tighten regulations for individuals wishing to renounce their Indonesian citizenship status. The Ministry of Law will conduct financial status checks on the Indonesian citizen concerned.

“When someone wants to renounce their Indonesian citizenship, we must also check with the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit (PPATK), the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and other agencies including the Land and Building Authority (ATR/BPN). Whether at the time of leaving Indonesia they are not in a state of bankruptcy, not in debt, or whether there are other legal disputes, so that when they leave Indonesia it does not become a problem,” Widodo said.

Widodo described the bill as part of Indonesia’s legal-political strategy. The legislation is designed to make it clear to foreign nationals that obtaining Indonesian citizenship is not easy.

“This is one of the legal-political strategies that will be established so that it is not easy to become an Indonesian citizen, but also not easy to lose citizenship status,” he concluded.