Excited Many Indonesian Citizens Move to Become Singapore Citizens, How Much Does It Cost?
Around 1,000 Indonesian citizens (WNI) are said to move to become Singaporean citizens every year. On average, those who move are at a productive age, namely 25-35 years.
This phenomenon invited comments from the Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia. The former general chairman of HIPMI prays that Indonesian citizens who renounce their citizenship will come to their senses.
"Yes, maybe we pray that hopefully they will realize. 10 years back to Indonesia, wallahualam right," he said in a Press Conference on Investment Realization for the Second Quarter of 2023 in Jakarta, quoted on Sunday (23/7/2023).
Bahlil admitted that he did not have a problem with people who gave up their Indonesian citizenship status. According to him, even if 1 Indonesian citizen leaves, more will come.
However, he questioned their nationalism, because Indonesia's independence was won with difficulty. Some were even raped, killed, or forced to work by the occupiers.
"If my friends think of moving abroad, I even doubt their nationalism. We are fighting for this independence through struggle. Our parents, our grandparents, our descendants, in the struggle for independence many were raped, many were killed, many were made to do forced labor," he explained.
According to him, the struggle is for the sake of making their children and grandchildren have a better life. Even though he questioned nationalism, Bahlil still respected their decision. However, he admitted that he was saddened by the phenomenon of this transfer of citizenship.
"I, as a child from the eastern tip of Indonesia, am sad to see that. Don't just want to be happy alone and continue to leave the country," he said.
How much does it cost to become a Singaporean citizen?
To become a Singaporean citizen, there are several procedures that need to be carried out. One way is to apply and pay a fee. So, how much does it cost to get Singapore citizenship?
Launching the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website, Saturday (22/7/2023), the application fee to become a Singaporean citizen varies. Adults who have obtained Permanent Resident (PR) status are subject to a tariff of S$ 100 or around IDR 1,130,000 (exchange rate of S$ 11,300).
This fee is for submission only and is non-refundable. If the application is approved there is an additional S$70 fee to obtain a Singapore citizenship certificate.
Then, for children born outside Singapore but whose parents are from Singapore, the application process costs S$ 18 or around IDR 203,400. An additional fee of S$ 10 is charged for producing the certificate if the application is approved.
So, how much does it cost to become a naturalized citizen? Judging from the website of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia, the naturalization fee based on an application for a foreign citizen (WNA) is IDR 50,000,000.
Meanwhile, the naturalization fee based on mixed marriages is IDR 15,000,000 per application. Then naturalization for foreign nationals who have contributed to the state or for reasons of state interest is IDR 2,500,000. And for children who have not obtained citizenship, a fee of IDR 5,000,000 is charged.
Sekitar 1.000 warga negara Indonesia (WNI) disebut pindah jadi warga negara Singapura setiap tahun. Rata-rata yang pindah berada di usia produktif yakni 25-35 tahun.
Fenomena ini mengundang komentar dari Menteri Investasi/Kepala Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia. Mantan ketua umum HIPMI ini mendoakan WNI yang melepas kewarganegaraannya bisa sadar.
"Ya mungkin kita doakan mudah-mudahan mereka sadar. 10 tahun balik lagi ke Indonesia, wallahualam kan," ujarnya dalam Konferensi Pers Realisasi Investasi Triwulan II Tahun 2023 di Jakarta, dikutip Minggu (23/7/2023).
Bahlil mengaku tidak mempermasalahkan orang-orang yang melepas status kewarganegaraan Indonesia. Menurutnya, walaupun 1 WNI pergi maka yang datang jumlahnya lebih banyak.
Hanya saja, ia mempertanyakan nasionalisme mereka, sebab kemerdekaan Indonesia direbut dengan susah payah. Bahkan ada yang sampai diperkosa, dibunuh, atau diminta kerja paksa oleh penjajah.
"Kalau teman-teman berpikir pindah ke luar negeri, saya malah meragukan nasionalisme mereka. Kita memperebutkan kemerdekaan ini lewat perjuangan. Orang tua kita, kakek-nenek kita, turunan kita, dalam merebut kemerdekaan ini banyak yang diperkosa, banyak dibunuh, banyak disuruh kerja rodi," terangnya.
Menurutnya, perjuangan tersebut adalah demi membuat anak cucu mereka hidup lebih baik. Meski mempertanyakan nasionalisme, Bahlil tetap menghargai keputusan mereka. Namun ia mengaku sedih atas fenomena perpindahan kewarganegaraan ini.
"Saya sebagai anak dari pelosok ujung timur Indonesia sedih aja melihat begitu. Jangan hanya kita mau senang sendiri terus meninggalkan negara," tegasnya.
Berapa biaya jadi WN Singapura?
Untuk menjadi WN Singapura ada beberapa prosedur yang perlu dilakukan. Salah satunya adalah mengajukan permohonan dan membayar sejumlah biaya. Lantas, berapa biaya mendapat status kewarganegaraan Singapura?
Melansir situs Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Singapura, Sabtu (22/7/2023), biaya pengajuan untuk jadi WN Singapura berbeda-beda. Orang dewasa yang sudah mendapatkan status Permanent Resident (PR) dikenakan tarif S$ 100 atau sekitar Rp 1.130.000 (kurs S$ 11.300).
Biaya tersebut adalah untuk pengajuannya saja dan tidak bisa di-refund. Jika permohonan disetujui ada tambahan biaya S$ 70 untuk mendapatkan sertifikat kewarganegaraan Singapura.
Lalu, bagi anak-anak yang lahir di luar Singapura namun orang tuanya berasal dari Singapura, proses permohonan menelan biaya S$ 18 atau sekitar Rp 203.400. Tambahan biaya S$ 10 dikenakan untuk membuat sertifikat jika permohonan disetujui.
Lantas, berapa biaya naturalisasi menjadi WNI? Dilihat dari Situs Kementerian Hukum dan Ham Republik Indonesia, biaya naturalisasi berdasarkan permohonan Warga Negara Asing (WNA) adalah Rp 50.000.000.
Sementara, biaya naturalisasi berdasarkan perkawinan campur adalah Rp 15.000.000 per permohonan. Lalu naturalisasi bagi WNA yang berjasa bagi negara atau dengan alasan kepentingan negara adalah Rp 2.500.000. Dan bagi anak yang belum memperoleh kewarganegaraan dikenakan biaya Rp 5.000.000.