How to Get Indonesia Citizenship
Key facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Not accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Not acceptedNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically.
- Available routes
- Region
- Asia
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Indonesia, subject to the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been continuously resident in Indonesia for 5 years or intermittently for 10 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation of citizenship of another country required.
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Ability to speak Bahasa Indonesia
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
Oath of loyalty required.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person has never been prosecuted for acts of crime and sentenced to prison for 1 year or more.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person is employed and/or has a steady income
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Indonesia, subject to the conditions below. Citizenship must be granted under the law of Indonesia once an application meets the legal conditions.
Person is the spouse of a citizen. Ordinary naturalisation conditions do not apply except those relating to residence and renunciation of citizenship of another country.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Indonesia. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Indonesia, without any authority making a decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in wedlock to a citizen or out of wedlock to a mother who is a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born in wedlock to a citizen or out of wedlock to a mother who is a citizen. If the person also acquired another citizenship, s/he needs to choose between the different citizenships upon reaching the age of 18 or upon marriage.
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Indonesia, the rules below set out what applies. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Indonesia, without any authority making a decision.
Person is a minor or unmarried, present and living in Indonesia, and his or her parents have acquired citizenship. In case acquisition results in dual citizenship, the child must choose either citizenship within 3 years after reaching the age of 18 or upon marriage.
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Indonesia is the basis of this route. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Indonesia, without any authority making a decision.
Child is below the age of 5 and is adopted by Indonesian citizens.
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of Indonesia, the rules below set out what applies. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Indonesia, without any authority making a decision.
Person is born in wedlock within 300 days after the citizen father died, or the person is born to a father and mother who were granted citizenship and died before they had sworn their allegiance.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Indonesia, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person lost citizenship under modes of loss L02, L13a or L15. No other conditions.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Indonesia, without any authority making a decision.
Foundlings
Person is a newborn who is found in Indonesia and whose parents are undetermined.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Indonesia to parents who are of undetermined citizenship, stateless or of undetermined whereabouts.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Indonesia. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has rendered services that have enhanced the status of Indonesia (i.e. outstanding contributions to humanity, science and technology, culture, environment or sports), or acquisition of citizenship is in the country's interest (i.e. the person has or may be able to give outstanding benefit towards the nation's sovereignty and enhance the country's progress, especially its economy). Other conditions: renunciation of citizenship of another country.
Not available in Indonesia: Birth in the country, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is coded as not accepted in Indonesia, for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically
Person voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship.
Compare with neighbours
Among the 10 countries in South-eastern Asia with a residence route, the most common requirement is 10 years, while Indonesia sets 5 years.
Check where Indonesia sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cambodia | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Laos | 10 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Malaysia | 10 years | Required, no test | New citizens only |
 Philippines | 10 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Thailand | 5 years | Required, no test | New citizens only |
 Vietnam | 5 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 8, 9, 14.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Indonesia Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/indonesia/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/indonesia/">How to Get Indonesia Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become an Indonesian citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Indonesia requires 5 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does Indonesia allow dual citizenship?
No. Indonesia does not accept dual citizenship as a general rule, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Indonesian citizenship?
Indonesia requires language skills without naming a particular test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Indonesian citizenship?
Civic knowledge is not assessed as part of the naturalisation process for Indonesian citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Indonesian citizenship?
Indonesia requires you to renounce your current citizenship for Indonesian citizenship.
Can I get Indonesia citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Indonesia. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Indonesia citizenship by descent?
Yes, Indonesia has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Indonesia citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Indonesia.
Related pages
Also see: Indonesia passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.