Law of Indonesia

Module 5

Rights, citizenship and administrative law: the constitutional rights, religion, expression and assembly, citizenship and immigration, administrative decisions, judicial review and anti-corruption

The second amendment of 2000 added Chapter XA to the Constitution, with Articles 28A to 28J on human rights: the rights to life, family, education, equal treatment before the law, religion, expression, a fair trial, property and a healthy environment, among others. The first thing to learn is who holds each right: most belong to every person, including a foreigner, but some, such as voting and equal access to public office, belong to citizens. The second is that rights are limited by law to protect others’ rights and for reasons of morality, religious values, security and public order (Article 28J), except for a small group of rights that cannot be limited under any circumstances (Article 28I(1)). Around these rights sit citizenship and immigration, which decide who may stay and work, administrative law, which lets a person challenge a public official’s decision, and anti-corruption law. This module gives a foreigner a working map.

General education on the law of Indonesia, using invented people and businesses. It states laws and procedures in simplified form and is not legal advice. The law and its practice change, and every case turns on its facts, the region and the authority concerned. It does not offer legal representation or a legal opinion on any case. Consult an Indonesian advocate for any real matter.

This course was written on 5 November 2026. To the best of our knowledge, it describes the law of Indonesia as it stood on that date. Laws change, and we may have missed or misunderstood something. If you notice a change, or have other information, please do not hesitate to contact us: we will review it and update the course. We do not claim to be the final source of the law.