Marrying a foreign national has become a common life story for many Indonesian citizens today. But one big question that often arises is:

“If I marry a foreigner, do I have to change my citizenship?”

The answer is not always “yes,” and it’s not automatically “no” either. Everything depends on several factors, including the legal policies of the country of residence, personal desires, and administrative needs. However, there are several factors you need to know to avoid making wrong decisions:

✅ 1. Marriage Does Not Automatically Change Citizenship

Marrying a foreigner does not automatically change your citizenship status. If you are an Indonesian citizen and marry a foreigner, you will remain an Indonesian citizen, unless you consciously apply for citizenship change (naturalization) to your spouse’s country.

Example: An Indonesian citizen marries a Turkish citizen. They remain Indonesian unless they apply to become a Turkish citizen and meet the requirements.

⚠️ 2. Some Countries Require Naturalization for Certain Rights

There are also countries that require citizenship to access:

• Permanent residence permits
• Jobs in the public sector (such as civil service, military, government teachers)
• Full social benefits

Example Countries:

1. Japan and South Korea: civil service positions only for citizens.
2. Saudi Arabia: permanent residence permits and social rights are very limited for non-citizens.
3. China: naturalization is very strict and long-term residence rights are difficult without changing citizenship.

✅ 3. Indonesia Does Not Require Citizenship Change

Indonesian citizens are not required to give up their citizenship just because they marry a foreigner. However, if the spouse wants to become an Indonesian citizen, there are naturalization procedures that can be followed.

✅ 4. Children from Mixed Marriages Can Have Dual Citizenship (Temporarily)

Indonesia allows limited dual citizenship for children from mixed marriages until age 18. After that, the child must choose one citizenship.

💬 Conclusion:

Indonesian citizenship is regulated in the enacted Law, namely Law No. 12 of 2006. The contents of Law No. 12 of 2006 include requirements for becoming a citizen, principles of citizenship, foundations of citizenship, procedures for obtaining citizenship, and loss of citizenship.

Marrying a foreigner does not require you to change your citizenship.

The decision to change citizen status entirely depends on personal needs and the policies of the country of residence. Make sure you understand the regulations of each country so you don’t get trapped in immigration or legal status problems.

An important thing to consider, if you lose Indonesian citizenship and become a citizen of your foreign spouse’s country, what could happen?

1. You cannot have an Indonesian passport anymore.
2. Must use a visa to return home to Indonesia.
3. If staying temporarily in Indonesia, must get a KITAS.
4. You cannot participate in elections (even from abroad).
5. If you divorce and want to return to Indonesia, you are still considered a foreigner — cannot immediately become an Indonesian citizen again.
6. You cannot freely own land in Indonesia. Property ownership can only be done in the form of right to use or lease, not ownership rights like Indonesian citizens.
7. Restoring Indonesian citizen status is very difficult. The naturalization process is long and bureaucratic.
8. Inheritance problems in Indonesia: Foreigners who inherit land or property in Indonesia cannot legally own that land directly.