Strategic actions of transnational migrant parents regarding birth registration for stay-behind children in Lombok, Indonesia

Challenges to birth registration for children whose parents migrate transnationally for work have been inadequately investigated. Often a prerequisite to accessing state resources such as education and child protection, birth registration may meaningfully indicate a family's capacities to provide for children's well-being. A multimethod qualitative study in 4 high-migration communities in East Lombok, Indonesia, explored the strategic actions migrant parents take regarding birth registration. Families register children based on priorities, capacities, understanding of entitlements, and labyrinthine application processes. Three case studies describe the strategic actions families take with regards to registration to allow some measure of control over their children's well-being: prioritising documents for adult migration; strictly conforming to registration requirements; and relying on false documentation. Findings suggest that parents' strategic actions result in limited family success in the context of weak state initiatives to link birth registration to valued resources for children and families.