Palace on Limited Dual Citizenship: If Approved, It Must Be Selective

President Prabowo Subianto has proposed amending the law to allow limited dual citizenship for exceptional talent. State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the idea is still being studied. “It has only been presented as a thought, which then asks us to study it together. It has not yet reached the stage of what the scheme would look like, but what is certain is that thought,” Pras told reporters at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Saturday (15/8/2026). Pras said that even if approved, obtaining dual citizenship would not be as easy as imagined. He said there needs to be very selective rules. “Of course, if we later agree together, it would be very, very selective. It is not that a policy would then apply to everyone or could be obtained easily; it is not like that,” he said. Previously, the proposal was delivered by Prabowo before members of parliament in his speech during the plenary session on the State Budget Bill at the parliamentary complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday (14/8). This rule, Prabowo said, is intended for Indonesian diaspora who have expertise and can make a major contribution to national interests. “Today I convey to the House, the Indonesian government’s suggestion, our suggestion, that we allow dual citizenship for certain talents needed by the Indonesian nation,” Prabowo said. Prabowo said Indonesia has millions of diaspora spread across various countries. Among that diaspora, according to Prabowo, are scientists, doctors, engineers, artificial intelligence experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, and world-class athletes. “Some were forced to take another citizenship because of career needs, family, or their service abroad. We must not force Indonesia’s best talent to choose between the opportunity to work in the world and their ties to the homeland,” he said. Therefore, the government will propose a legal amendment to open limited dual citizenship opportunities for citizens with exceptional talent. “Today, the government will submit to this honourable chamber a legal amendment to open limited dual citizenship for those who have exceptional talent and can make extraordinary contributions to national interests,” he said. “This policy will be designed selectively, measurably, accompanied by integrity tests, clear obligations, and full protection of state security and interests,” he added.