Indonesian identity card


The Kartu Tanda Penduduk, commonly KTP, is an Indonesian compulsory identity card. Separate versions exist for Indonesian and non-Indonesian residents. The card is issued upon reaching the age of 17 or upon marriage. In the case of Indonesian citizens, the card is valid for lifetime. For non-Indonesian citizens, the card's expiry date is the same as that of their residency permit. Since 2011, the Indonesian governments has issued an electronic ID card, the e-KTP, which contains a modern embedded microchip.

History

Dutch East Indies

The general identity card during the Dutch colonial era was called a residence certificate. This card did not record the bearer's religion. Citizens seeking to obtain proof of residence were required to contact their local controleur and pay a fee of 1.5 guilders. The paper card measuring 15x10 cm was issued and signed by heads of local administrations. Two additional types of ID documents were required by Chinese in the Dutch East Indies: the entry permit and the residency permit.

Japanese period

The Japanese occupation ID card was made from paper and was much wider than the current KTP. It featured Japanese and Indonesian text. Behind the main data section was a propaganda spiel that indirectly required the holder to swear allegiance to the Japanese invaders. Hence it became known as KTP-Propaganda.

First 32 years of independence

After Indonesia declared independence in 1945, the certificate of residence was replaced with the Indonesian Citizenship Certificate. This document was partly typed and partly handwritten. It was in use from 1945 to 1977. It was a paper card without any laminate. The card underwent several changes during this period, partly concerning the rights and responsibilities of the bearer. Different ID cards were issued by different regions and eventually became uniform under the head of Population Registration in 1976.

Discrimination

During Suharto’s New Order regime, citizenship cards held by former political prisoners and ethnic Chinese featured special codes to denote their status. This policy allowed government officials to know whether a person was a former political prisoner or of Chinese descent. The discriminatory codes were later abandoned.

1977-2003 KTP

The KTP was made from paper, laminated in plastic and stamped with an ink stamp. Cards were issued by the lowest neighborhood administrative levels, known as RT and RW. The cards featured a photo, signature, serial number and thumb print. The background color of the KTP was often yellow.

Aceh Emergency KTP

When Aceh province was placed under a state of Military Emergency in 2003, it had a different KTP design featuring a red and white background and a garuda bird. The card was signed by the subdistrict head, the local military commander and head of police.

2004-2011 KTP

The bearer’s photo was printed directly onto a plastic card. Surveillance, verification and validation remained at the RT/RW levels. This KTP featured the bearer’s thumb print and a unique serial number.

Electronic KTP (e-KTP)

The e-KTP was trialed in six areas in 2009 and launched nationwide in 2011. The card is supposed to be more durable, contains a microchip, unique serial number and can be used for multiple applications for government services.In May 2013, it was reported the chip inside the e-KTP could be damaged and rendered useless by repeatedly photocopying the card.
The e-KTP contains unique biometric data and was designed to improve government services and population databases, while reducing fraud and security threats.
The e-KTP is the basis for the issuance of Indonesian passports, driving licenses, Taxpayer Identification Numbers, insurance policies, land ownership certificates and other identity documents.
Data recording for e-KTP registration involves taking fingerprints from all 10 fingers, although the card's chip records only the right thumb and index finger prints. The e-KTP consists of nine layers to increase security. A chip is implanted between white and transparent plastic on the top two layers. The chip has an antenna that issues a wave when swiped. The wave will be recognized by a detector to verify whether the rightful holder is using the card. Data storage in the chip is in accordance with international standards and NISTIR 7123 Machine Readable Travel Documents ICAO and EU Passport 9303 Specification 2006. The size of the card is in accordance with ISO/IEC 7810 with a credit card size form factor that is 53.98 mm x 85.60 mm.
Indonesia's e-KTP program achieved 100 million biometric enrollments and de-duplications in just under one year. e-KTP data has no expiration date, even if the cards show expiration dates.

Religion

The card requires identification with one of the six officially recognised religions in Indonesia: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. In 2006 the need to retain this arrangement was reiterated by Minister of Religious Affairs Maftuh Basyuni: "official religions of the country is vital to ensuring good harmony between religious groups as well as being of use in more practical matters such as marriage and burial." But in 2014, the Minister of Home Affairs suggested that the section should be optional, that is, that it could be left blank. Religious groups want to retain it.
Following the ruling of Constitutional Court of Indonesia, As per 1 July 2018, believers of indigenous faith are allowed to put "penghayat kepercayaan" or on religion column in identification card.
Confucianism as an option was reinstated in 2006, having been dropped in 1965 by Suharto in the wake of the failed communist coup attempt.

Information on the card

The Home Affairs Ministry in 2009 commenced a trial implementation of e-KTP in six regions: Makassar, Padang, Denpasar, Yogyakarta, Cirebon and Jembrana.