Indonesia has officially introduced a new visa pathway aimed at reconnecting with its global diaspora and reversing the growing brain drain. The Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI) programme offers lifetime residency to foreign nationals who have blood or family ties to Indonesia, even though the country does not allow dual citizenship.
Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto said the initiative is intended to encourage members of the Indonesian diaspora to actively contribute to the nation’s development. Speaking to Nikkei Asia, he noted that the programme is designed to create a bridge for skilled and economically active individuals who still share a strong connection with Indonesia.
First announced in November, the GCI scheme is open to foreign passport holders who were formerly Indonesian citizens, as well as their children and grandchildren. Foreign spouses of Indonesian nationals are also eligible to apply. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate a minimum annual income of $15,000 (or $1,500 per month) and provide an “immigration guarantee.”
For experts specifically recruited by the Indonesian government, an official invitation letter or an urgent notice from the government itself will suffice as a guarantee. Other applicants must meet investment requirements, which include placing at least $5,000 in Indonesian bonds, stocks, mutual funds, or bank deposits, or committing to property ownership valued at a minimum of $1 million.
However, the property investment clause has raised some concerns, as foreign nationals have traditionally been restricted from owning land and houses in Indonesia. While apartments can be owned, this is usually limited to leasehold arrangements, creating uncertainty about how this condition will be implemented in practice.
Officials revealed that India’s Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) programme served as an inspiration for the GCI framework, though India allows OCI holders to own land with some restrictions, unlike Indonesia. So far, only seven applications have been received, including from Australian passport holders. Andrianto said the government plans to fine-tune the process to avoid complications in the future.
Application fees for the Global Citizenship of Indonesia programme start at 34.8 million rupiah (around $2,078), marking a significant step in Indonesia’s effort to reconnect with its diaspora while safeguarding national legal frameworks.
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