Indonesian immigration regulations limit passport validity for dual-nationality children until they officially declare their citizenship.
Not every child aged 17 and above is automatically entitled to an Indonesian passport with a validity of five to ten years. For dual-nationality children (Anak Berkewarganegaraan Ganda), there are special rules that restrict the validity of their passports.
“The validity of an Indonesian passport for a dual-nationality child must not exceed the age limit by which the child is required to declare their choice of nationality,” said Achmad Nur Saleh, Coordinator of Public Communication Function at the Directorate General of Immigration.
The obligation for dual-nationality children to determine their citizenship status is regulated under Law Number 12 of 2006 concerning the Citizenship of the Republic of Indonesia. Article 6 paragraph (1) explains that children who hold dual nationality — for instance, those born from mixed marriages between an Indonesian citizen and a foreign national — must declare their choice of nationality after turning 18 or once they are married. Furthermore, Article 6 paragraph (3) stipulates a clear deadline: the declaration of nationality must be submitted no later than three years after the child reaches the age of 18 or after marriage.
Saleh gave an example: if a dual-nationality child is 18 years old when applying for a new Indonesian passport, and has not yet chosen their nationality, the maximum validity of the passport that can be granted is three years, until the child reaches the age of 21, the deadline for making the nationality choice. This means they cannot obtain the full five-year or ten-year passport validity.
To apply for an Indonesian passport for a dual-nationality child, several special requirements must be met. Parents must first register the limited dual nationality status of the child before they turn 18. When applying for a passport, parents are required to attach several important documents, including the Indonesian parents’ electronic ID card (e-KTP), Family Card (Kartu Keluarga), the child’s birth certificate, as well as the parents’ marriage certificate or marriage book. If one parent is a foreign national, a valid immigration stay permit must also be submitted, along with a photocopy of that parent’s passport.
Saleh reminded parents and dual-nationality children to be proactive in understanding and fulfilling the obligation to declare their choice of nationality before the deadline.
“This way, the child will not encounter problems with immigration or administrative documents, such as a passport with shortened or limited validity. Each country has different principles regarding nationality, so this is a very important matter for parents and the child to pay attention to,” he concluded.