Becoming a Dual Citizen

Former natural-born Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship by naturalization, and who wish to restore the civil, political, economic, and social rights (as well as all other privileges) guaranteed to Filipino citizens under the 1987 Constitution may do so in accordance with Republic Act 9225, also referred to as the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003, or more popularly, the Dual Citizenship Law.

Additionally, unmarried children below eighteen (18) years of age, whether legitimate, illegitimate, or adopted, of former Filipino parents who retained or reacquired their Philippine citizenship under this law, may also be deemed Filipino citizens by the principle of derivative citizenship, if they are included in the parent’s petition for retention/reacquisition of Philippine citizenship and the requisite fees are paid.

Many are often confused with a different kind of dual citizenship that is not covered by R.A. 9225. Any child born in the United States, with one parent or both parents still holding Philippine citizenship at the time of birth, is considered to be a natural-born dual citizen (by operation of Philippine law the child is Filipino since at least one parent is Filipino, and by operation of U.S. law the child is American since he or she was born in the United States).

Under this circumstance, the child does not have to follow the requirements of R.A. 9225 to be recognized as a Filipino citizen. Rather, the facts of his or her birth must be reported to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General that has jurisdiction over the place of birth (see Report of Birth under Civil Registration for details) so that the child will obtain an official record documenting that he or she is a Filipino born abroad and thus creating the basis for the issuance of a Philippine passport.

Individuals who have retained or reacquired their Philippine citizenship under R.A. 9225, and who wish to apply for a Philippine passport, will need to file a separate application and submit the requirements as specified under First-Time Applicant.

Kahit sino na ipinanganak na isang Filipino na nagkamit ng foreign citizenship by naturalization, at na may pagnanais na mapanumbalik sa kanya ang lahat ng karapatan bilang Filipino na nakasaad sa Saligang-Batas ng 1987, ay maaring mag-petisyon para makilala bilang Filipino alinsunod sa nakatakda sa Batas Republika 9225, o ang Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, o mas kilala na Batas sa Dual Citizenship.

Kasama dito ang mga di-kasal na mga anak na wala pang labinwalong (18) taong gulang, maging sila ay legitimate, illegitimate, o adopted man, ng mga dating Filipino na magulang na nakilala ulit bilang Filipino sa ilalim ng batas na ito, ay maituturing din na Filipino sa pamamagitan ng derivative citizenship, kung sila ay isinama sa petisyon ng kanilang magulang para sa retention/reacquisition ng pagka-Filipino at nagbayad ng karampatang bayarin.

Marami din ang nalilito sa isa pang uri ng dual citizenship na hindi saklaw ng B.R. 9225. Ang bata na isinilang sa Estados Unidos, kung saan isa o pareho sa kaniyang mga magulang ay Filipino nung siya ay isinilang, ay maituturing na isang natural-born dual citizen (sa ilalim ng batas ng Pilipinas siya ay Filipino dahil maski isa sa kanyang magulang ay Filipino, at sa ilalim ng batas ng Estados Unidos siya ay Amerikano dahil siya ay ipinanganak dito).

Sa ganitong pangyayari, ang bata ay hindi na kailangan tumupad sa sinasaad ng B.R. 9225 upang makilala bilang isang Filipino. Bagkus, kailangan lamang maiulat ang mga detalye ng kanyang kapanganakan sa Pasuguan o Konsulado Panlahat na may hawak sa lugar ng kapanganakan (tingnan ang Report of Birth sa ilalim ng Civil Registration para sa detalye) upang magkaroon siya ng opisyal na dokumento na siya ay ipinanganak na Filipino sa labas ng bansa at nang sa ganoon ay magkaroon ng batayan para siya ay mapagawaan ng pasaporte ng Pilipinas.

Ang sinuman na nakilala muli bilang Filipino sa ilalim ng B.R. 9225, at nagnanais na makakuha ng pasaporte ng Pilipinas, ay dapat gumawa ng hiwalay na application para dito at magbigay ng kaukulang mga dokumentong kinakailangan na nararapat sa kanilang sitwasyon.

REMINDER: We do not accept or process Dual Citizenship Petitions by mail.

PAALALA: Hindi kami tumatanggap o nagsasaayos ng mga Dual Citizenship Petition na padala sa koreo.