Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly disseminated information on citizenship and immigration services among the Indonesian diaspora residing in the US on the sideline of his working visit to the country on November 12-19, 2021.

“The government has an obligation to provide full service and protection to every Indonesian citizen under any circumstances, both in the homeland and overseas,” he said, according to a written statement received here on Friday.

There are about three million Indonesians in the US, comprising children of Indonesian citizens, and former citizens and their children. Some of them already have permanent citizenship, but some do not, he said.

The lack of information regarding citizenship services has made it difficult for some of them to obtain Indonesian citizenship, even though they have sought it, according to Laoly.

“This socialization is important so that Indonesian people who live abroad can get information from the main source,” he added.

To make citizenship services easier to access for Indonesian citizens living overseas, the ministry, through the Directorate General of General Legal Administration or AHU, has launched an Electronic Citizenship Administration System (SAKE), he said.

“SAKE is borderless. It is no longer limited by space and time as the application can be accessed around the world through www.ahu.go.id,” Laoly informed.

During his visit, Laoly also highlighted limited dual citizenship that specifically applies to children of Indonesian married to foreign nationals.

Dual citizenship is limited and upon turning 18, beneficiaries need to choose one of the nationalities, he explained.

The obligation to choose between two nationalities can be extended to the age of 21 years or even after the person is married, he added.

Limited dual citizenship is regulated in Law No. 12 of 2006 regarding citizenship, he said.

Source: Antara News