Dual Citizenship
Republic Act No. 9225 allows former natural born Filipinos to reacquire their Philippine citizenship. Following are the requirements for application:
- Duly accomplished application form
- Three (3) recently taken 2x2 photos (colored, royal blue background, and with collar)
- Certificate of Naturalization
- US Passport
- Old Philippine Passport or Birth Certificate printed on NSO Security Paper
- Notarized Affidavit of Change of Name (if name is different from the birth certificate)
- Report of Marriage (if applicant’s marriage was celebrated outside the Philippines) | Marriage contract printed on NSO Security Paper (if marriage was celebrated in the Philippines)
- Report of Birth (if applicant was born abroad)
- Application fee of US$50
If you want to read more about RA 9225, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003 (RA 9225):
What is Republic Act No. 9225?
Republic Act No. 9225 otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003 declares that natural-born citizens of the Philippines who have since become citizens of another country shall be deemed not to have lost their Philippine citizenship.
Who qualifies to apply under the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003?
Only natural-born citizens of the Philippines who have lost their Philippine citizenship by reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country may retain/reacquire their Philippine citizenship under this Act.
RA 9225 does not apply to dual citizens, i.e., those who have both Philippine as well as foreign citizenship not acquired through naturalization.
How does one prove that he or she is a natural-born Filipino?
A former natural-born citizen, who was born in the Philippines, shall submit the NSO-authenticated copy of his or her birth certificate.
A former natural-born citizen, who was born abroad, shall present a copy of the Report of Birth issued by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate and, in applicable cases, the original copy of the Birth Certificate by competent foreign authorities.
What is the procedure in applying and what documents are required in order to apply?
- Applicant submits duly-accomplished petition to the Philippine Consulate together with their photos, NSO-birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, and US passport and all other documentary requirements (see above).
- Applicant pays a processing fee of US$ 50.00 and is assigned a schedule for his/her oath of allegiance before a consular officer.
- Applicant takes his/her oath.
- Applicant is given the original copy of his oath of allegiance together with the Order of Approval and Identification Certificate issued by the Philippine Consulate General.
Can my foreign spouse also become a Filipino citizen under RA 9225?
No, the law does not apply to the foreign spouse. The spouse may apply for a non-quota 13A immigrant visa.
Can my children also acquire Philippine citizenship under RA 9225?
According to Section 4 of RA 9225 (Derivative Citizenship), the unmarried child, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted, below eighteen (18) years of age, of those who re-acquire Philippine citizenship under this Act may also acquire Philippine citizenship provided they are included in the original petition of their parents.
A married child, although a minor, cannot therefore be included in the petition of his/her parent.
Children 18 years old and over do not qualify to acquire Philippine citizenship under RA 9225. They have the same options that are open to the foreign spouse.
After I have re-acquired Philippine citizenship, can I apply for a Philippine passport?
Yes, and so can the minor children who are deemed to have acquired Philippine citizenship under RA 9225. You would need to comply with the requirements for first-time passport applicants.
What rights and privileges will Philippine citizens under RA 9225 enjoy?
Those who retain or reacquire their Philippine Citizenship under RA 9225 shall enjoy full civil and political rights and be subject to all attendant liabilities and responsibilities under existing laws of the Philippines and the following conditions:
Those intending to exercise their right of suffrage must meet the requirements under Section 1, Article V of the Constitution, Republic Act No. 9189, otherwise known as “The Overseas Absentee Voting Act 0f 2003” and other existing laws.
Under the Act, the right to vote or be elected or appointed to any public office in the Philippines cannot be exercised by, or extended to, those who are candidates for or are occupying any public office in the country of which they are naturalized citizens and/or those who are in active service as commissioned or non-commissioned officers in the armed forces of the country which they are naturalized citizens.
Those seeking elective public office in the Philippines shall meet the qualifications for holding such public office as required by the Constitution and existing laws and, at the time of filing of the certificate of candidacy, make a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before any public officer authorized to administer an oath.
Those appointed to any public office shall subscribe and swear to an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and its duly constituted authorities prior to their assumption of office: Provided, they renounce their oath of allegiance to the country where they took that oath;
Having reacquired Philippine citizenship, can I now acquire land and other properties or engage in business?
As provided for under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, a Filipino citizen is entitled to purchase land and other properties and engage in business. This right would now apply to former natural-born Filipinos who have re-acquired Philippine citizenship under RA 9225.
Can I now reside in the Philippines?
Having reacquired your Philippine citizenship, you can reside in the Philippines for as long as you want without having to apply for entry visa and paying immigration fees. You can even choose to retire or permanently settle in the Philippines. As a Filipino citizen, you are subject to duties and other obligations imposed on other ordinary Filipinos, such as paying the necessary community tax residence and other tax liabilities in accordance with the tax laws of the Philippines.
Once I re-acquire Philippine citizenship, will I be required to renounce my other citizenship?
No, RA9225 does not require one to renounce his or her other citizenship/s.
Will I now be required to pay income tax and other taxes? Am I exempt from paying the travel tax?
In accordance with existing laws, income earned in the Philippines is subject to the payment of tax. Filipinos who re-acquire citizenship and opt to reside and work in the Philippines will pay the income tax due at the end of each fiscal year. They are also subject to other obligations and liabilities, such as the community tax and residence tax.
Countries routinely forge bilateral agreements in order that their respective citizens who earn income overseas do not pay income tax twice.
On the other hand, Filipinos who have re-acquired Philippine citizenship, but residing permanently overseas, also enjoy tax exemptions extended to Filipino citizens permanently residing in other countries, the OFWs and their dependents.
Having re-acquired Philippine citizenship under this Act, am I allowed to practice my profession in the Philippines?
Under the law, those intending to practice their profession in the Philippines shall apply with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) (or Supreme Court in case of Lawyers) for a license or permit to engage in such practice.
If I need to get more details on the rules and procedures for the implementation of RA 9225, which government office do I contact in the Philippines?
The Bureau of Immigration (see link at right side) has been designated as the government agency in charge of formulating the rules and procedures for the implementation of Republic Act No. 9225. The contact details of Immigration Commissioner are as follows:
Office of the Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration, Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. (Tel. No. +63-2-527-3265 / Fax No. +63-2-527-3279)
When is a child considered a natural born dual citizen?
A child is a natural born dual citizen if he is born of a Filipino parent (at the time of the child’s birth) and is able to acquire foreign citizenship because he/she was born in a foreign country that adheres to the jus soli principle (eg, the United States).
Thus, a child, born to a Filipino parent in the United States of America is a natural-born Filipino because the Philippines adheres to the jus sanguinis principle, and at the same time an American citizen because the USA adheres to the jus soli principle.
What is Recognition?
Recognition is an act of conferring Philippine citizenship to a person born abroad but whose father is a Filipino under the 1935 Constitution or whose father and/or mother is a Filipino under the 1973 and 1987 Constitution.
Who are eligible for Recognition?
Persons with dual citizenship, that is, any citizen of a foreign country whose father or mother was a Filipino citizen at the time of his birth shall be eligible for recognition as a Filipino citizen.
Is it possible to have multiple citizenships?
Yes. Multiple citizenship occurs when a child is born of a parent who is Filipino and a foreign parent whose country adheres to jus sangguinis and jus soli principles. For example, a child born in the USA to a Filipina mother and an Australian father would have 3 citizenships: Filipino derived from the mother's citizenship, Australian derived from the father's citizenship, and American derived from the place of birth.
What is the procedure in filing the application for recognition?
The Filipino parent or any of his Filipino parents must file a petition by way of letter request addressed to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration of his/her child stating therein the basis for said request.
All documents to support your application must be properly authenticated. Sworn statements and affidavits must be notarized.
Duly accomplished application form together with the supporting documents should be submitted to window one (1) located at the ground floor, main building of the Bureau of Immigration or at the Makati Extension Office.
An Order of Recognition of Philippine citizenship issued by the Commissioner is subject to the affirmation, upon review, by the Secretary of Justice.
Upon affirmation of the Secretary of Justice, the Bureau of Immigration will issue to the applicant an Identification Certificate as Filipino citizen.
What are the requirements for the application for Recognition?
The following are the requirements for recognition:
- Petition by way of letter request from the person concerned or from either or both parents or legal guardian;
- Birth certificate of applicant / child;
- Birth certificate of petitioner /parent;
- Marriage contract of parents;
- Applicant’s / child’s passport;
- Petitioner’s / parent’s passport;
- Affidavit of citizenship executed by applicant’s parents; and
- Proof of Filipino citizenship of petitioner / applicant’s parent at the time of birth of the applicant / child.