10 most populous nations that don’t have birthright citizenship: list
3. Indonesia
The Republic of Indonesia, the largest archipelago-based country with nearly 288 million people, does not have a birthright citizenship policy for people born there.
According to the Statelessness Encyclopedia Asia Pacific (SEAP), last updated in January, “Indonesian citizenship law operates through a jus sanguinis structure,” based on a 2006 law.
“[Any] children born to a citizen parent or parents within or outside of the country will be considered a citizen,” SEAP explained. “Children born in Indonesia to an Indonesian mother, even if the father is stateless or from a country that does not grant citizenship to such children, are also considered as Indonesian citizens.”
“Further, children born out of wedlock to an Indonesian mother or acknowledged by an Indonesian father before they turn 18 or married can be granted Indonesian citizenship.”
Indonesia has what SEAP calls “a restricted jus soli principle for certain cases of citizenship acquisition,” such as for children with unknown parents or parents whose “citizenship status is unclear.”
