Indonesia launches gobal citizenship visa to lure back diaspora talent

Indonesia officially launched its Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI) visa program, offering lifetime residency to foreign nationals with blood or family ties to the country, in a bid to reverse a growing brain drain, Nikkei reports.

“The hope is that the Indonesian diaspora … can contribute to [the country]'s development,” Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto told reporters.

“Indonesia only recognizes single citizenship, but some people wish to reside in Indonesia for a [long] period,” he added. “Therefore, we’re developing GCI as a solution.”

The immigration ministry first unveiled the GCI scheme in November. Its official website states that foreign passport holders who were previously Indonesian citizens, as well as their children and grandchildren, are eligible to apply. On January 26, Andrianto confirmed that foreign spouses of Indonesian nationals are also eligible.

Applicants must demonstrate at least $15,000 in annual income (or $1,500 monthly) and provide an “immigration guarantee.” For experts recruited by the Indonesian government, an invitation letter or “urgent” government notice suffices. Other applicants must commit to investing at least $5,000 in Indonesian bonds, stocks, mutual funds, or bank deposits, or property ownership valued at a minimum of $1 million, according to the ministry website.

While foreign nationals remain barred from buying land and houses in Indonesia, they may own apartments through leasehold agreements. Ministry officials did not clarify whether the GCI’s property ownership requirement alters this longstanding restriction.

Officials cited India’s Overseas Citizen of India program as an inspiration for GCI, though India’s scheme permits land ownership except for agricultural tracts.

Andrianto said only seven applications have been submitted so far, including from some Australian passport holders. “We’ll refine the process … to avoid future problems,” he noted. Application fees start at 34.8 million rupiah ($2,078).

Jakarta has long resisted calls to adopt a dual nationality policy, such as those advocated by groups like PerCa Indonesia, representing mixed-marriage households. But concerns over a growing brain drain have intensified, as many well-educated Indonesians leave the country for better opportunities abroad, with some eventually changing citizenship. Last year, approximately 1,000 Indonesians reportedly switched to Singaporean nationality annually.

Teuku Rezasyah, associate professor of international relations at Indonesia’s President University, said the government hopes the program will foster “long term investment, global collaboration in areas of science, technology, business and education, and to boost local economies.”

PerCa Chairwoman Rulita Anggraini noted that none of its members have applied for GCI, citing a lack of clear and complete information about the program. She questioned the government’s claim that GCI solves the issue for diaspora members unwilling to relinquish foreign citizenship, and reiterated calls for dual nationality. “Children of mixed couples automatically lose their Indonesian citizenship when they turn 21,” she said, highlighting “many cases of delays or missing deadlines … due to administrative reasons.”

Hikmahanto Juwana, a law professor at the University of Indonesia, emphasized the need to amend the 2006 Law on Citizenship to support GCI implementation. “Without a revision of the law, if there is a change in leadership at the ministry, the policy can simply be changed,” he said. Juwana added that technical guidelines are necessary; otherwise, “the legal effect of GCI remains limited.”

By Vafa Guliyeva