Australian Embassy
Indonesia

Australian and Indonesian Citizenship

Australian and Indonesian Citizenship

This information has been prepared by the Australian Embassy and Consulate-General to assist Australians considering giving up their Australian citizenship to obtain Indonesian citizenship. Information is correct as at May 2007 – the laws and procedures of both Australia and Indonesia may be subject to change.

CAN I GET A LETTER SAYING THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NO OBJECTION TO MY TAKING OUT INDONESIAN CITIZENSHIP?

Yes. Usually Indonesian authorities ask for such a letter before processing an application for Indonesian citizenship. You can obtain a letter from the Consular Section at the Embassy or Consulate-General on request and payment of the relevant fee.

IF I WISH TO BECOME AN INDONESIAN CITIZEN, DO I HAVE TO RELINQUISH MY AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP?

The Consulate General cannot give you definitive advice on matters of Indonesian law. The following information is based on advice we have received from relevant Indonesian authorities.

Current Indonesian law states that an Indonesian citizen cannot hold another nationality – in other words Indonesian law does not recognise or allow for dual citizenship. Different rules apply to children who have one Indonesian parent and one non-Indonesian parent. Further information regarding dual citizenship for children in these circumstances should be sought from the relevant Indonesian authorities.

You should check the requirements for taking out Indonesian Citizenship directly with Indonesian authorities.

As part of the procedure to obtain an Indonesian Passport, you would usually be required to provide evidence that you no longer hold another citizenship. Indonesian authorities usually ask that you present your cancelled Australian passport and a letter, after you have been granted Indonesian citizenship but before an Indonesian passport is issued. If you decide to renounce your Australian citizenship we can cancel your passport and provide you with a letter once the renunciation application has been processed.

The sequence of events would normally be as follows:

  1. You obtain a letter from the Australian Embassy or Consulate to the effect that we have no objection to your taking out Indonesian citizenship
  2. You lodge an application with Indonesian authorities for Indonesian citizenship
  3. You apply to renounce your Australian citizenship through the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)
  4. Your renunciation takes effect once it is registered with DIBP, Canberra
  5. When Step 4 is confirmed the Australian Embassy or Consulate will cancel your Australia passport; can issue a letter confirming you are no longer an Australian citizen (if required) and
  6. on presentation of your cancelled Australian passport (and letter if required) the Indonesian authorities would (normally) grant you an Indonesian passport

CAVEAT:

The Australian Embassy/Consulate cannot give you any assurances about your eligibility for Indonesian citizenship or for an Indonesian passport. Nor can we give you precise assurances about the time frames involved. These are matters between you and the Indonesian authorities.

WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES TO RENOUNCE AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP

You must apply using Form 128 Application for Renunciation of Australian citizenship, pay the application fee and attach the required documents as outlined in the application form. Information regarding payment is outlined in the application form.

The application is processed in Australia and it generally takes approximately 2 months if you lodge a complete application.

You would cease to be an Australian citizen on the day that your renunciation is registered by DIBP in Australia and your passport can only be cancelled from this date.

CAN I SIMPLY APPLY TO HAVE MY PASSPORT CANCELLED AND OBTAIN A LETTER SAYING THAT MY PASSPORT HAS BEEN CANCELLED?

NO. The Australian Passport Act does not allow passports to be cancelled at the request of the holder. Passports are routinely cancelled when a holder applies for the issue of a replacement passport.

If you are giving up your citizenship your Australian Passport will be officially cancelled once your renunciation of citizenship has been registered by DIBP in Australia.

IF I HAVE RENOUNCED MY AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP AND WISH TO TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA, WHAT VISA SHOULD I APPLY FOR?

As a former Australian citizen, you are eligible to apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV). You must satisfy the prescribed criteria for the grant of the visa. Please visit www.border.gov.au for further information. 

You do not have to wait until you need to travel to apply for this visa. You can apply for RRV any time – after your renunciation has been registered by DIBP in Australia.

IF I HAVE RENOUNCED MY AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP CAN I SUBSEQUENTLY APPLY TO RESUME AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP

Yes – Section 29(2)A of the Citizenship Act sets out provisions under which a person who renounced their Australian citizenship in order to acquire another citizenship may resume Australian citizenship.

Implications of Resuming Australian citizenship

We have a duty of care to inform you of the following.

Indonesian officials advise that under Indonesian citizenship law, you would lose your right to hold Indonesian citizenship in the event that you acquire another citizenship.

This means that if your application to resume Australia citizenship is successful and this fact were to come to the attention of Indonesian authorities, your Indonesian citizenship might be revoked.

Further Information

For information regarding Australian citizenship matters and application forms, please visit: http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Citi.