Official · 02.10.2026Argentina announces South America's first Citizenship by Investment Programme→
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Indonesians and Argentine citizenship: one passport, not two

Indonesia does not allow adults to hold two nationalities. For an Indonesian family, Argentina's programme is an exchange of passports, with real consequences for land, and a new permit that softens them.

Updated 9 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Indonesia does not allow dual citizenship for adults. Voluntarily taking another nationality ends Indonesian citizenship (Law 12/2006, Art. 23).
  • Former citizens must give up hak milik land within one year (Basic Agrarian Law, Art. 21(3)).
  • The GCI permit, launched in 2025–26, gives former Indonesians permanent residence with no expiry date.
  • Travel gain: Indonesian passport 70 destinations (#71), Argentine passport 169 (#16) in the Henley Passport Index, July 2026.
  • Bank Indonesia tightened its foreign-exchange documentation thresholds twice in 2026. A US$350,000 payment will need underlying documents.

For Indonesian families, Argentina’s programme does not add a second passport. It replaces the first. That changes the analysis. The right comparison is Indonesian citizenship plus your current visas, against Argentine citizenship plus a GCI permit and a plan for any land you hold.

This guide covers the Indonesian rules. For the programme itself, see our overview of Argentina citizenship by investment and the cost guide.

Note. Two Argentine appeal courts have ruled against DNU 366/2025, the decree that allows naturalisation through investment. On 18 June 2026 Chamber III of the federal civil and commercial appeals court struck down the parts that give citizenship decisions to Migraciones. On 30 June 2026 the Cámara Nacional Electoral declared the decree unconstitutional. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court and says the decree stays in effect until the ruling is final. We have not found a Supreme Court decision as of 10 October 2026. Read our legal status page before you commit funds.

Indonesian law: single citizenship for adults

Law No. 12 of 2006 on Citizenship follows a single-citizenship principle. Children of mixed marriages may hold limited dual citizenship until adulthood, when they must choose. Adults may not hold two nationalities.

Article 23 lists the ways an Indonesian loses citizenship. Two of them apply directly to Argentina’s programme:

  • Article 23(a): voluntarily acquiring another nationality.
  • Article 23(h): holding a foreign passport, or a similar document that identifies you as a citizen of another state.

Loss is not a quiet event. It is formalised through an administrative procedure under the law’s implementing regulations. You should stop using your Indonesian passport once you become Argentine. Argentina allows dual nationality and does not ask you to renounce anything. The restriction comes only from Indonesia. See our dual citizenship guide.

A possible change, not yet law

On 14 August 2026, in his speech on the 2027 budget, President Prabowo Subianto said the government will propose limited dual citizenship for Indonesians with special talents. He described the scheme as selective, with an integrity assessment. A law amendment through the House of Representatives is needed. We found no bill passed as of 10 October 2026. Even if a law passes, there is no indication that it would cover a passport acquired through investment.

Land: the one-year rule

This is the issue that most often surprises wealthy Indonesian families. Only Indonesian citizens may hold hak milik, the strongest form of land title. Article 21(3) of the Basic Agrarian Law (Law No. 5 of 1960) requires a person who loses Indonesian citizenship to give up hak milik land within one year. If they do not, the right ends by law and the land passes to the State.

Before you apply, map every plot held in your own name. Options can include a transfer to family members who remain Indonesian, a sale, or another arrangement that your notary confirms is lawful. Each has tax and family consequences. Work with a notary (PPAT) and the land office well in advance.

The GCI permit: a bridge back

Indonesia’s immigration authorities launched the Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI) scheme in late 2025, with a formal launch ceremony in January 2026. Antara reported in November 2025 that it is open to:

  • former Indonesian citizens, and their children and grandchildren;
  • foreign spouses of Indonesian citizens or former citizens.

GCI gives a permanent residence permit with no expiry date and an unlimited re-entry permit. It is a residence status, not citizenship. Applications go through the official e-visa portal. Reports of the financial conditions differ, so check them on the portal before you rely on them. For a comparable model, see how India’s OCI card works in our guide for Indians.

The mobility gain

The July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index ranks the Indonesian passport 71st, with 70 destinations. The Argentine passport ranks 16th, with 169.

Destination Indonesian passport Argentine passport
Schengen Area Visa required 90 days in 180
United Kingdom Visa required ETA (£20)
China Visa required 30 days visa-free (to 31 Dec 2026)
South Korea Visa required K-ETA
Japan Visa-free 90 days visa-free
United States Visa required Visa required (B1/B2)
Canada Visa required Visa required (eTA if you hold a valid US visa)

Europe, the UK and China are the large gains. Henley already lists Japan as visa-free for Indonesians, so there is no gain there. Argentina is not in the US Visa Waiver Program. Mercosur residence rights come only after five years of Argentine nationality. See our passport guide.

Funding: Bank Indonesia’s rules

Indonesia allows residents to transfer funds abroad, but Bank Indonesia controls the purchase of foreign currency against the rupiah. Above a monthly threshold, a buyer must show an underlying document, such as an invoice or contract. Bank Indonesia tightened these thresholds twice in 2026:

  • In March 2026 it halved the monthly limit for buying dollars without an underlying document, with effect from April 2026.
  • In June 2026 it announced further cuts, including a lower threshold for supporting documents on transfers abroad, with effect from 1 July 2026.

Reports of the exact figures differ, so ask your bank for the threshold it applies today. The practical point does not change: a US$350,000 payment is far above any of them. You will need documents that show what the transfer is for. The Agency had not published its payment instructions as of 10 October 2026, so your bank may want the Argentine approval or payment request first.

Families that already hold funds abroad, for example in Singapore, may find it easier to pay from there. Those funds still need a clear history, including evidence that they were reported in Indonesia where the law required it. Our source of funds guide explains what reviewers look for.

Tax at home

Indonesia treats you as tax resident if you live in Indonesia, are present for more than 183 days in any 12-month period, or are present during a year and intend to live there. Losing citizenship does not by itself end Indonesian tax residence. If you continue to live in Jakarta, you remain taxable there.

In Argentina, naturalisation through investment does not by itself make you an Argentine tax resident. See our guide to tax residency and CBI, and speak to a qualified adviser.

Due diligence and documents

Indonesia became a full member of the FATF in October 2023. It is not on the grey list or the black list after the June 2026 plenary. Argentina’s checks still cover identity, the legality and traceability of funds, jurisdictional risk, criminal and reputational background, and migration history. Expect detailed questions on wealth from family conglomerates, commodities and land.

Apostilles. The Apostille Convention entered into force for Indonesia on 4 June 2022, and Argentina has applied it since 1988. Indonesian civil records and police certificates can be apostilled. All documents need certified Spanish translations.

Cost

The donation route is US$350,000 for the main applicant, plus US$100,000 for a spouse or for each single child aged 18–25 without children, and US$25,000 for each child under 18. A couple with two minors pays US$500,000. The bond route is US$800,000. Press reports say the bond is held for seven years at zero interest. See our cost guide.

Law 12/2006 has special rules for children under 18. Ask an Indonesian lawyer how they apply to each child before you add children to the application.

Is it right for you?

It may suit you if:

  • You already live or do business mainly outside Indonesia.
  • You hold little or no hak milik land, or you have a clear plan for it.
  • A GCI permit meets your need to live in Indonesia.

It is probably not right for you if:

  • You want to remain an Indonesian citizen, or to wait for the proposed reform.
  • Your wealth is held largely in Indonesian land in your own name.
  • Your funds cannot leave Indonesia with proper documentation.

For a confidential assessment, request a private briefing.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep Indonesian citizenship if I become Argentine?

No. Under Article 23(a) of Law No. 12 of 2006, an Indonesian citizen who voluntarily acquires another nationality loses Indonesian citizenship. Holding a foreign passport is a separate ground for loss under Article 23(h).

What happens to land I own in Indonesia?

Under Article 21(3) of the Basic Agrarian Law (Law No. 5 of 1960), a person who loses Indonesian citizenship must give up hak milik land within one year. If not, the right ends by law and the land passes to the State. Take advice from a notary and land official before you apply.

Can I still live in Indonesia after I become Argentine?

Probably yes. The Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI) scheme, run by the immigration authorities since late 2025, offers former Indonesian citizens a permanent residence permit with no expiry date. Check the current conditions on the official e-visa portal.

Is Indonesia changing its dual citizenship rules?

Not yet. On 14 August 2026 President Prabowo said the government will propose limited dual citizenship for people with special talents. A law amendment is needed, and none had passed as of 10 October 2026.

Can Indonesian documents be apostilled for Argentina?

Yes. The Apostille Convention entered into force for Indonesia on 4 June 2022. Argentina has been a party since 1988.

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