Yasonna Laoly Supports Dual Citizenship to Bring Home Talent
Yasonna H Laoly, deputy chairman of the House of Representatives’ Special Committee on the International Civil Law Bill (Pansus RUU HPI), has welcomed President Prabowo Subianto’s proposal to grant limited dual citizenship. He believes the policy could attract specific talent needed by Indonesia.
According to Yasonna, the proposal is a progressive step to maintain Indonesia’s ties with its diaspora while attracting world-class scientists, health workers, technology experts, entrepreneurs, artists and athletes to contribute to national development.
“The President’s proposal on limited dual citizenship deserves our appreciation and support. Many diaspora members and Indonesia’s best talent possess knowledge, experience and international networks, but face a dilemma because they must choose between working abroad and maintaining their citizenship ties with Indonesia,” Yasonna said in a written statement received by Republika on Friday (21/8/2026).
President Prabowo delivered the proposal in the Government Statement on the 2027 State Budget Bill and its Financial Note before the House of Representatives on 14 August 2026.
“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,” the President said.
The President also stressed that the policy would be designed selectively and measurably, accompanied by integrity checks, clear obligations, and protection of national security and interests.
Yasonna believes the policy direction shows that dual citizenship is not intended to be granted freely and generally. The policy must be oriented towards tangible benefits for the state while considering aspects of loyalty, national security, political rights, public office, and the possibility of legal conflicts between countries.
“The main principle must be the national interest. The state must establish objective criteria regarding who may obtain dual citizenship, what contribution is expected, and what rights and obligations attach to recipients,” asserted the former Minister of Law and Human Rights.
Previously, Deputy Minister of Law Professor Eddy O.S. Hiariej stated that the Ministry of Law is drafting a Citizenship Bill that regulates the granting of dual citizenship on a limited and special basis.
“Dual citizenship will be granted on a limited and special basis,” Eddy said.
The Deputy Minister explained that the government is preparing limited dual citizenship arrangements for children of mixed marriages between Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals, as well as children of Indonesian parents born in countries that adhere to the principle of ius soli. The government is also proposing specific dual citizenship for people who have rendered extraordinary service or possess strategic expertise needed by Indonesia, such as athletes, scientists, health workers and technology experts.
Yasonna reminded that limited dual citizenship for children is already recognised in Law Number 12 of 2006 on Citizenship of the Republic of Indonesia. Therefore, the revision of the law must be able to resolve various problems still faced by children of mixed marriages, including the deadline for choosing citizenship and the mechanism for regaining Indonesian citizenship for those who miss the deadline.
As deputy chairman of the Special Committee on the International Civil Law Bill, Yasonna also sees citizenship policy as linked to various cross-border legal relations, particularly mixed marriages, personal status, child custody, inheritance, property ownership and the exercise of civil rights.
“Citizenship policy must be aligned with immigration law, civil administration, taxation, and the principles of international civil law. The granting of dual citizenship must not create uncertainty about which country’s law applies to a person,” he said.
Yasonna urged the government and the House of Representatives to discuss the revision of the Citizenship Law openly, involving the diaspora, mixed-marriage families, academics, legal practitioners, and institutions dealing with defence, security, taxation, immigration and civil administration.
“With careful, selective and responsible regulation, limited dual citizenship can become a strategic instrument to attract global talent, strengthen ties with the diaspora, and enhance Indonesia’s competitiveness, without reducing sovereignty and national interests,” he concluded.