Indonesia, Naturalization and Citizenship Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Scope
This article describes records held by FamilySearch, International. For information on a specific record collection or record publication please refer to the FamilySearch Catalog or the FamilySearch Historical Record Collection.

Record Background
Indonesia is an island nation inhabited since 2000 BC. It was colonized by the Dutch in 1602 and gained its independence in 1949. As a country dependent on agriculture as well as trade with foreign nations, it is a country filled with several languages, religions, and peoples. The custom of naming children is one example of diversity: In general, the everyday Indonesian typically will have only one name, while those of the middle class more often have two names like in Western cultures. In other words, longer names may be an indicator of an individual’s social status.

Immigration to Indonesia also took place when huge populations from the Indian subcontinent visited the country and settled there. For working in Indonesia, the foreigners have to send their application to the immigration office. Beginning with the Dutch colonial period until the year 2000, the policy of forced migration (transmigrasi) to move people from heavily population areas to more sparsely populated ones to reduce poverty and overcrowding was actively practiced.

Naturalization and citizenship records were created by district courts (Pengadilan Negeri) and local civil registration offices in Indonesia. The Surat Bukti Kewarganegaraan Republik Indonesia (SBKRI), or applications for citizenship, were primarily filled out by Chinese immigrants to Indonesia. The Surat Pernyataan Keterangan Melepaskan Kewarganegaraan Republik Rakyat Tionkok Untuk Tetap Menjadi Warganegara Republik Indonesia were exclusively used for Chinese nationals.

Content
During the naturalization process an individual was required to produce multiple documents to establish their identity. Because of this these records contain materials that may be duplicated in other collections.

The collections may include the following record types:


 * Kartu Tanda Penduduk Warga Negara (Identity cards)
 * Permohonan Akte Kelahiran (Applications for birth certificate)
 * Permohonan Pewarganegaraan (Applications for naturalization)
 * Permohonan Surat bukti kewarganegaraan Republik Indonesia (SBKRI) (Proof of Indonesian Citizenship)
 * Permohonan Ahli Waris (Court decrees of inheritance)
 * Permohonan Anak Angkat (Applications for adoption of a child)
 * Permohonan Ganti Nama (Applications for name changes)
 * Permohonan Akte Perkawinan(Applications for marriage certificate)
 * Surat Pernyataan Keterangan Melepaskan Kewarganegaraan Republik Rakyat Tionkok Untuk Tetap Menjadi Warganegara Republik Indonesia (Renunciation of Chinese citizenship and acceptance of Indonesian citizenship)

Applications for Naturalization
Applications for naturalization records (Pewarganegaraan) may contain the following:


 * Person's name
 * Gender
 * Birth date and birthplace
 * Names of parents
 * Age
 * Residence
 * Occupation

Identity Cards
Identity cards (kartu tanda penduduk) usually contain the following:


 * Original full name
 * Birth date and birthplace
 * Age
 * Residence
 * Occupation
 * Name of spouse
 * Marriage date and place
 * Names of children, birth dates and birthplaces
 * Name of person declaring the Information
 * Names of witnesses

Name Change Applications
Name Change Applications (Ganti nama) usually contain the following:
 * Original full name
 * Desired new name
 * Birth date and birthplace
 * Residence
 * Occupation

Proof of Indonesian Citizenship
Proof of Indonesian citizenship (Surat bukti kewarganegaraan Republik Indonesia) usually contains the following:
 * Person's name
 * Birth date and birthplace
 * Residence

These records were not required for Chinese Indonesians after 20 January 1962.

Renunciation of Chinese Citizenship
Renunciation of Chinese Citizenship (Melepaskan kewarganegaraan Republik Rakjat Tiongkok) usually contains the following:
 * Person's name
 * Names of spouse and minor children
 * Birth place
 * Residence

How to Use the Record
To begin your search in the naturalization records, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of ancestor
 * Approximate year and place of event
 * Place of last residence

Using the Information
When you have found the record that you are looking for, the following will help you in your search:


 * Use the age on the record to calculate a birth year
 * Use the names of the parents on birth records to search for a marriage record

FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Banjarnegara, Naturalization Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Banyumas, Naturalization Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Boyolali, Naturalization and Citizenship Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Ciamis District Court Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Jepara, Court Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Kebumen, Naturalization Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Kudus, District Court Naturalization Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Mungkid Citizenship Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Pati, Naturalization Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Pekalongan District Court Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Pemalang District Court Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Purwodadi Citizenship Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Purwokerto, Miscellaneous Government Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Rembang, District Court Naturalization Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Ungaran, District Court Naturalization Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Wonogiri District Court Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Indonesia, Jawa Tengah, Wonosobo, Naturalization Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Related Websites

 * Indonesian Adoptions
 * Indonesian Civil Documentation
 * Indonesia Genealogical Society

Related Wiki Articles

 * Indonesia Emigration and Immigration
 * Indonesia