RETENTION AND RE-ACQUISITION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP UNDER RA 9225 (DUAL CITIZENSHIP)  

Dual Citizenship

Republic Act 9225 (RA 9225) or the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 (more popularly known as the Dual Citizenship Law) allows natural-born Filipinos who have become naturalized citizens of another country to retain or re-acquire their Filipino citizenship. Upon reacquiring Philippine citizenship, the citizens shall enjoy full civil and political rights as Filipinos, subject to certain conditions.

Derivative Citizenship

Under the principle of derivative citizenship, unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age of those who reacquired Philippine citizenship are also deemed Filipino citizens.

A child who is eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of the parents’ reacquisition of Philippine citizenship, but was born when either parent was still a Filipino citizen, is considered a natural born Filipino and may apply for reacquisition of Philippine citizenship.

Natural-born Filipino Citizens

Natural-born Filipino citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship. These are:

• Those whose fathers or mothers are Filipino citizens at the time of their birth; and
• Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority.

Rights and privileges upon reacquiring Philippine citizenship

Those who reacquire Filipino citizenship under RA 9225 may enjoy full civil, economic and political rights under existing laws of the Philippines. Among these are:

• The right to travel with a Philippine passport
• The right to own real property in the Philippines
• The right to engage in business and commerce as a Filipino
• The right to practice one’s profession, provided that a license or permit to engage in such practice is obtained from the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), or the Supreme Court in the case of lawyers.

Dual citizens may also vote overseas in Philippine national elections (for President, Vice President, Senators and sectoral representatives) in accordance with the provisions of the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

The Dual Citizenship Application form must be accomplished and brought to the embassy together with the other documents after first making an appointment at the Consular Section & Labor Office Appointments page.

1. Duly completed Dual Citizenship Application form– in 2 originals   

NOTE: Only former natural-born Philippine citizens who lost their Philippine citizenship by reason of naturalization as citizens of a foreign country may apply for re-acquisition under Republic Act 9225, and only unmarried, minor children may be included as beneficiaries. If the petitioner-applicant is registered as an alien with the Bureau of Immigration, he/she must include in his/her Petition a request for the cancellation of his/her ACR, and ICR or CRTV.

1. Four (4) recent passport-size photos (4.5 x 3.5 cm; front view) with white background.
2. Philippine birth certificate issued on PSA security paper – plus 3 photocopies.

NOTE: If the applicant was born abroad, “Philippine birth certificate” refers to the Report of Birth filed abroad.

If born in Spain, original and photocopy of birth certificate (Certificado Literal de Nacimiento) issued by the Spanish Civil Registry (Registro Civil).  Then and official English translation will be required.

1. Old/Latest Philippine passport – original* (if available) plus 3 photocopies of the data page. (In case of loss, the applicant shall be required to submit an affidavit explaining the circumstances regarding the loss of the passport).
2. Marriage Certificate (Only for female applicants using married surname)

     • If married in the Philippines, Marriage certificate printed on PSA security paper – plus 3 photocopies.

     • If married in Spain, multilingual version of marriage certificate (Certificado Literal de Matrimonio) issued by the Spanish  Civil Registry (Registro Civil). If the multilingual version is not available, then an official English translation will be required.

• If married in another foreign country, marriage certificate with official English translation* – plus 3 photocopies.

1. Certificate of Naturalization with English translation – original plus 3 photocopies. (In the absence of the certificate the applicant may submit an affidavit explaining the circumstances by which the foreign citizenship was acquired).
2. Current foreign passport – original* plus 3 photocopies of data page.
3. DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) – original* plus 3 photocopies of data page.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

For each unmarried minor child included in the Petition:

1. Supplement For Dependent ( BI FORM 2014-01-006 )
2. Original plus 3 photocopies  of birth certificate (Certificado Literal de Nacimiento) issued by the Spanish Civil Registry (Registro Civil). 
3. Official English translation of Certificado Literal de Nacimiento.
4. Foreign passport – original* plus 3 photocopies of data page
5. Three (3) recent passport-size photos with white background

If the petitioner and his/her minor child/children are registered aliens in the Philippines, submit:

1. Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) or I-Card – original** plus 3 photocopies
2. Immigrant Certificate of Residence (ICR) or Certificate of Residence for Temporary Visitors (CRTV) – original** plus 3 photocopies

*The originals of the following documents will be returned to the petitioner after inspection: authenticated Philippine birth certificate, old/latest Philippine passport, marriage certificate, certificate of naturalization, foreign passport/s and DNI.

**If the petition for retention/re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship is approved, the originals of the ACR and ICR/CRTV will no longer be returned. They will be transmitted to the Bureau of Immigration for cancellation.

After the Petition is evaluated and approved, the petitioner is assigned a schedule for his/her oath-taking. After taking the Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines, he/she will be issued a Certificate of Retention/Re-acquisition of Philippine Citizenship and will be given an original each of: (a) his/her notarized Oath of Allegiance and (b) the Order of approval issued by the Philippine Embassy. Unmarried minor children included in the Petition will be issued their own Certificate of (Derivative) Retention/Re-acquisition of Philippine Citizenship.