Indonesia: Citizenship rights of an ethnic Chinese person who was born in Indonesia, but left the country as a minor in 1960
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 23 June 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IDN41635.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Indonesia: Citizenship rights of an ethnic Chinese person who was born in Indonesia, but left the country as a minor in 1960, 23 June 2003, IDN41635.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4da8e.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the Head Consul at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Ottawa, the government of Indonesia issued a decree (UU no. 62/1958) in the 1950's that prohibited dual citizenship for ethnic Chinese people in Indonesia (Indonesia 12 June 2003). As a result of the decree, ethnic Chinese people had to choose to be citizens of either Indonesia or China (ibid.). In the specific case of an ethnic Chinese person who was born in Indonesia but left the country as a minor in 1960, it is possible that his/her parents decided to leave Indonesia in order to maintain their Chinese citizenship, according to the Head Consul (ibid.). In this instance, the parents' status would have affected the citizenship of the child in that the child would have also lost his/her Indonesian citizenship (ibid.). The Head Consul added that a person loses their Indonesian citizenship if they "left Indonesia for 5 consecutive years without going back or returning to Indonesia and without declaring his or her intention to retain the Indonesian citizenship, which can be done by reporting to Indonesian representatives abroad..." (ibid.).
However, a person can obtain Indonesian citizenship if: i) they are married to a citizen of Indonesia, ii) they were adopted by a citizen of Indonesia, or iii) they have lived in Indonesia for five consecutive years (ibid. 19 June 2003). Indonesian citizenship applications are submitted to the Department of Justice (ibid.).
For further information on Indonesian citizenship, please consult IDN22770.E of 5 January 1996.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Indonesia. 19 June 2003. Telephone interview with the Head Consul at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Ottawa.
_____. 12 June 2003. Correspondence sent by the Head Consul at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Ottawa.
