Republic Act 9225 otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003 (more popularly known as the Dual Citizenship Law) enables former natural-born Filipinos who have become naturalized citizens of another country to reacquire/retain their Philippine citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines before a Philippine Consular Officer. Upon reacquiring their Philippine citizenship, they shall enjoy full civil, economic and political rights as Filipinos.
Under the principle of derivative citizenship, unmarried children below eighteen (18) years of age, whether legitimate, illegitimate, or adopted, of former Filipino parents who reacquired their Philippine citizenship under this law, may also be deemed Filipino citizens, if they are included in the parent’s application for reacquisition of Philippine citizenship.
However, there is another kind of dual citizenship, which is not covered by the law. This pertains to a dual citizen by birth: A child born in Argentine, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay when either parent was still a Filipino citizen is considered to be a dual citizen from birth(if born on or after January 17, 1973).
Dual citizens who wish to apply for a Philippine passport will need to make a separate application and submit the requirements.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Dual citizenship applications are by appointment. Applicants are requested to scan the application form together with the requirements and send to bThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for scheduling.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRINCIPAL APPLICANT:
- Four (4) original duly-accomplished Dual Citizenship application form, typed or printed legibly in black or blue ink;
- Original and Four (4) photocopies of Philippine Birth Certificate duly authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority and Department of Foreign Affairs;
- Original and Four (4) photocopies of Philippine Passport;
- Original and Four (4) photocopies of Foreign Passport, DNI/Cedula;
- For Married Women, Original and Four (4) photocopies of Marriage Contract with English Translation duly legalized by the Foreign Ministry of the country where the marriage took place (IMPORTANT: valid only for marriages solemnized in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. If marriage has taken place in a country other than the four stated above, the marriage contract should be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy in that country);
- Original and Four (4) photocopies of Certificate of Naturalization translated into English by a certified public translator;
- Six (6) colored photos, 2” x 2”, taken within six months before the date of application, showing a clear front view of applicant’s face, with a white background pasted in the designated box in the application form. No sleeveless attire. Blurred or low quality photos are not accepted;
- Processing fee of $50.00 payable in cash and in US dollars only.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MINOR CHILDREN (BELOW 18 YEARS OLD) INCLUDED IN THE PETITION:
- Six (6) colored photos, 2” x 2”, taken within six months before the date of application, showing a clear front view of applicant’s face, with a white background. No sleeveless attire. Blurred or low quality photos are not accepted;
- Original and Four (4) photocopies of Philippine Birth Certificate duly authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority and Department of Foreign Affairs;
- Original and Four (4) photocopies of Philippine Passport;
- Original and Four (4) photocopies of Foreign Passport, DNI/Cedula;
- Processing fee of $25.00 payable in cash and in US dollars only.
The applicant will be informed of the date for the oath taking before a Consular Officer at the Embassy. Prior to taking his/her oath, the applicant will be required to sign the Oath of Allegiance prepared by the Embassy. The applicant will receive his/her original copy of the notarized oath of allegiance, together with the Order of Approval, Petition for Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship and Identification Certificate issued by the Embassy, after the oath has been administered.
If the applicant is a Bureau of Immigration (BI) registered alien, he/she shall surrender the original ACR and ICR/CRTV, or in its absence, an affidavit explaining the loss of said documents for transmittal to the BI.
Applicants scheduled for oath-taking are requested to come dressed in at least decent casual attire, which does not include sleeveless shirts (for men), tank top, spaghetti strapped or mid-riff blouses (for women), shorts of any kind, and slippers.
RIGHTS AND PRIVELEGES
Once you reacquire/retain your Philippine citizenship, you will again enjoy full civil, economic and political rights under existing Philippine laws.
Among these rights 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, and
- The right to practice one’s profession, provided that a license or permit to engage in such practice is obtained from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), or the Supreme Court in the case of lawyers.
You may also vote in Philippine national elections (for President, Vice President, Senators and sectoral representatives) by overseas/absentee ballot in accordance with the provisions of the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003.
You will enjoy all other rights and privileges enjoyed by Filipino citizens.
IMPLICATION ON TAXES
Income Tax
Under the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program of 1997, incomes earned abroad by Filipinos from 1998 onwards are no longer taxable. Hence, all Filipinos abroad, including those who have reacquired their Philippine citizenship, have been exempted by the Philippine Government from paying Philippine income tax on incomes earned abroad.
Incomes earned in the Philippines, however, will be subject to Philippine income tax.
Travel Tax
Travel Tax exemption is being granted to dual citizens departing the Philippines and returning to the United States whose arrival is stamped on the Philippine passport and whose stay does not exceed one (1) year, the same privilege accorded toFilipino permanent residents abroad. For this purpose, a Travel Tax Exemption Certificate (TIEZA Form 354) is issued upon presentation of both the Philippine and Foreign passports. Processing fee of Php 200.00 is collected for every certificate issued.
Those whose arrival is stamped on the Foreign passport need not secure the exemption certificate for they are not covered by the Travel Tax pursuant to Section 1 of PD 1183 as amended, provided that their immigration status in the Philippines is as temporary visitors and not as permanent resident.
Dual citizens whose stay in the Philippines exceed one (1) year will pay the travel tax irrespective of which passport they are using for travel.
VISA REQUIREMENT OF FOREIGN SPOUSE AND/OR CHILDREN WHEN TRAVELLING TO THE PHILIPPINES
As long as the foreign spouse and children travel with theBalikbayan, they will be entitled to a visa-free entry to the Philippines for a period of one (1) year.
