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Dual Citizenship

On this page will appear current information and directives regarding the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 (Republic Act No. 9225) for your guidance. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view PDF files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are eligible dual citizens?
What is the procedure in applying? and What documents are required in order to apply?
What rights and privileges will dual citizens enjoy?
As a dual citizen, can I own land in the Philippines? Is there a limit as to the area or size of the land or real property which I could purchase under my name?
As a dual citizen, how long can I stay in the Philippines?
Will I have to pay income taxes for my earnings here in the United States?
As a dual citizen, am I allowed to practice my profession in the Philippines (e.g. doctor)?
After I reacquire my citizenship, are my minor, unmarried children also considered as Filipino citizens?
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?
Will my application for dual citizenship under R.A. 9225 affect my U.S citizenship?

1. Who are eligible dual citizens?

Natural-born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship by naturalization in a foreign country, and their unmarried children who are below 18 years of age are eligible under Republic Act No. 9225.

2. What is the procedure in applying? and What documents are required in order to apply?

DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

A former natural-born citizen of the Philippines shall enjoy the presumption that he/she was a natural-born Filipino provided, that proof of Philippine citizenship is submitted. In determining Philippine citizenship, a copy of the following shall be submitted, the original of which shall be presented and appropriately marked by the evaluating officer “original seen and verified”:

Philippine Birth Certificate;
Old Philippine Passport;
Voter’s Affidavit or Voter’s Identification Card;
Marriage Contract (duly-registered) indicating the Philippine citizenship of the applicant; and
Such other documents that would show that the applicant is a former natural born citizen of the Philippines as may be acceptable to the evaluating officer.

*** Applicants shall also be required to submit a photocopy of their Certificate of Naturalization and their current U.S. or foreign passport. In the absence of the same, the applicant may submit an affidavit explaining the circumstances by which the foreign citizenship was acquired.

In all cases, the evaluating officer may require the submission of additional documents if there is reasonable ground to believe that the applicant is not a former natural-born Filipino.

Other Beneficiaries

A child, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted, who is below eighteen (18) years of age, shall be considered to have reacquired Philippine citizenship at the same time the father or mother re-acquires Philippine citizenship provided the applicant includes the child as a beneficiary and pays the appropriate fees. Each beneficiary shall be required to submit (i) photocopy of birth certificate; and (ii) photocopy of foreign passport.

A child who is 18 years of age or above at the time of the parent’s reacquisition of Philippine citizenship but was born when either parent was still a Filipino citizen, is considered to have been a natural born Filipino and may apply for reacquisition of Philippine citizenship on his/her own behalf. In addition, the applicant must show proof that either or both parents were Filipino citizens at the time of his/her birth.

COMPLIANCE AND APPROVAL PROCEDURES

A former natural-born citizen of the Philippines who is abroad shall file a verified petition with the nearest Philippine Foreign Post, for retention/reacquisition of Philippine citizenship. If the former Philippine citizen who is abroad is registered as an alien with the Bureau of Immigration (BI), he/she shall include in his petition a request for the cancellation of his/her Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and Immigrant Certificate of Residence (ICR) or Certificate of Residence for Temporary Visitors (CRTV) as the case may be.
An applicant for retention/reacquisition of Philippine citizenship, must indicate in his Petition the following: (a) his/her full name as shown in the foreign naturalization certificate or foreign passport. In case of change of name, the applicant shall also state the name appearing in the birth certificate or the old Philippine passport; (b) his/her latest forwarding address; (c) his/her date and place of birth and civil status; (d) name and citizenship of the parents at the time of applicant’s birth; (e) name, date and place of birth of child beneficiary, if any; and three (3) recent 2” x 2” photographs showing the front view of the applicant's face shall be attached to the petition.
An applicant must also take an “Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines.” The Consul General or a duly commissioned foreign service officer of the Philippine Foreign Post concerned shall administer the Oath of Allegiance.
All petitions must strictly comply with the preceding requirements prior to filing at the nearest Philippine Foreign Post. After the filing of the petition, it shall be assigned to an evaluating officer who shall evaluate the same without further proceedings.
If the petition is found to be sufficient in form and in substance, and if the applicant is a former Philippine citizen who is not registered as alien with the BI, the Consul General shall issue, within five (5) days from receipt thereof, an Order of Approval indicating that the petition complies with the provisions of R.A. 9225 and its IRR, and the corresponding Identification Certificate (IC), as the case may be. This Order of Approval will be mailed to the address provided by the applicant in his/her application.
If the petition is found to be sufficient in form and in substance, and if the applicant is a former Philippine citizen who is a BI-registered alien, the Consul General shall require the applicant to surrender his/her original ACR and ICR/CRTV, or in its absence, an affidavit of loss of said documents for transmittal to the BI, before issuing the Order of Approval. The BI upon receipt of the applicant’s records shall immediately cancel the subject’s ACR and ICR/CRTV.
In case of petitions that do not comply with the requirements, the applicant shall be notified to submit the required documents within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof. Otherwise, the petition shall not be favorably acted upon by the Philippine Foreign Post.

PROCESSING FEES

Each applicant shall pay a one-time fee of US$50.00 for the processing of the application and issuance of the corresponding IC. Each beneficiary shall be assessed a separate processing fee of US$25.00.

DISCREPANCY IN THE NAME OF THE APPLICANT

Where the name of the applicant in his/her birth certificate or other documents submitted for consideration, is different from that in his/her foreign passport and other documents, the applicant shall execute an affidavit explaining such difference and attach as supporting documents, at least two (2) public or private documents showing the correct name of the applicant, the original of which shall be presented and appropriately marked by the evaluating officer “original seen and verified.”

In such a case, the Order of Approval granting the application shall state the name as appearing in the birth certificate, followed, as an alias, by the name as appearing in the foreign passport.

If the applicant secured a correction of entry of his/her birth certificate with the appropriate Local Civil Registrar or the Court, the Order of Approval and the Identification Certificate, if any, shall state the name of the applicant as reflected in the annotated birth certificate.

REPOSITORY OF RECORDS

The Records Section of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Manila shall maintain the integrity of all the documents filed under these Rules. It shall send official copies of the Order of Approval and Oath of Allegiance to the NSO.

COPIES FOR THE APPLICANT

The applicant shall be provided with official copies of the Order of Approval and the Oath of Allegiance. Further, all IC’s which may be issued under These Rules shall indicate Philippine citizenship under R.A. 9225 and A.O. No. 91, s. of 2004. Any clerical error or errors in the Order of the entries in the IC may be corrected, upon written request to and approved by the Commissioner of Immigration. The National Statistics Office (NSO) shall be promptly provided with a copy of the corrected IC.

3. What rights and privileges will dual citizens 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, that they renounce their oath of allegiance to the country where they took that oath.

4. As a dual citizen, can I own land in the Philippines? Is there a limit as to the area or size of the land or real property which I could purchase under my name?

As provided for under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, there is no limit as to the area or size of the land or real property, which a Filipino citizen may acquire or purchase under his/her name. Naturally, this principle applies to former Filipinos who reacquire their citizenship under RA 9225.

5. As a dual citizen, how long can I stay in the Philippines?

Having reacquired your citizenship, you can stay in the Philippines for as long as you want without having to pay any immigration fees. You can even choose to retire or permanently settle back 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.

6. Will I have to pay income taxes for my earnings here in the United States?

In accordance with current tax laws of the Philippines, all income derived by Filipino citizens from sources abroad are not subject to income taxes.

7. As a dual citizen, am I allowed to practice my profession in the Philippines (e.g. doctor)?

Under the law, those intending to practice their profession in the Philippines shall apply with the proper authority for a license or permit to engage in such practice.

8. After I reacquire my citizenship, are my minor, unmarried children also considered as Filipino citizens?

Under Section 4 (Derivative Citizenship) of Republic Act 9225, the unmarried child, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted, below eighteen (18) years of age, of those who re-acquire Philippine citizenship shall also be deemed citizens of the Philippines. Applicants who have unmarried minor children should submit copies of the birth certificates of their children upon filing of the petition.

9. 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?

Under Administrative Order No. 92 Series of 2004 dated 12 January 2004, the Bureau of Immigration 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 Alipio F. Fernandez are as follows: Office of the Commisioner, Bureau of Immigration, Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. (Tel. No. (632) 527-3265 / Fax No. (632) 527-3279)

10. Will my application for dual citizenship under R.A. 9225 affect my U.S citizenship?

Prospective applicants for dual citizenship under R.A. 9225 are advised to visit and read the contents of http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship.html, the webpage of the U.S. Department of State which contains information about current U.S. government policy on dual nationality.

Download Application Form
	Application Form: Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition (under R.A. 9225)