How To Apply For Dual Citizenship In The Philippines
To apply for dual citizenship in the Philippines you must follow the procedures the government has in place which includes completing the dual citizen application form, providing a birth certificate, and more.
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If you are a natural-born Filipino citizen who acquired US citizenship through naturalization, under the Dual Citizenship Law you can retain your Philippines citizenship by completing an online application form and submitting a few supporting documents, such as your birth certificate.
Who Can Apply For Dual Citizenship In The Philippines?
Philippine’s Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003 (aka the Dual Citizenship Law) stipulates that natural-born citizens of the country who acquired foreign citizenship through naturalization can re-acquire or retain their Philippine citizenship and, thereby, have dual citizenship.
In addition to this, unmarried children below 18 years old (regardless of whether they are deemed legitimate, illegitimate, or adopted) are eligible to apply for dual citizenship as long as they are included in their parent’s application for retention or reacquisition of Philippine citizenship.
Dual Citizenship By Birth
You also can acquire dual citizenship at birth; if you were born in the US on or after January 1973 to either one or two Filipino citizens, then you’re considered to be both an American and a Philippines citizen at birth.
In this case, all you need to do is report your birth to the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate.
What Supporting Documents Are Required For Dual Citizenship In The Philippines?
Alongside filling an online application form and printing it out, you’ll need to provide many supporting documents when applying for dual citizenship in the Philippines such as your birth certificate, certificate of nationalization, and identical photos, and more.
Here’s the list of supporting documents required:
- Printed version of a filled-in online application form
- Original and photocopy (1 copy) of your birth certificate*
- Original and photocopy (1 copy) of the U.S/Foreign Certificate of Naturalization
- Original and photocopy (1 copy) of all the supporting documents that apply as per the below list:
- Philippine passport
- US Passport
- Marriage Certificate**
- Philippine voter’s affidavit or voter’s identification card
- Any other Philippine government-issued documents that proves the applicant is a former natural-born citizen of the Philippines.
- Two identical colored photos, sized 2*2 and taken against a plain white background within the last 6 months
- Processing fees of (Dual (Principal) … $ 50.00 Dual (Minor Derivative) … $ 25.00
*For those born in the Philippines, please submit the birth certificate should be issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). For those born abroad, please submit the birth certificate issued by the competent foreign authorities and a report of birth issued by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate.
**For those married in the Philippines, please submit the marriage certificate issued by the PSA. For those married abroad, please submit the marriage certificate issued by the relevant authorities. Please also submit divorce decree, if divorced, or marriage and death certificate of spouse, if widowed.
Where To Apply For Dual Citizenship In The Philippines?
To apply for dual citizenship in the Philippines, applicants should contact their nearest Philippines Embassy or Consulate. For example, the Philippines Consulate in San Francisco provides free and non-transferable appointment slots, as well as a few walk-in slots subject to capacity limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the advantages of having dual citizenship in the Philippines?
There are many advantages of having dual citizenship in the Philippines. In addition to your other country of nationality, you’ll be able to travel and live in the Philippines freely. You’ll also have the same rights as Filipino citizens such as the right to work, do business, and buy property.
Do you need a Philippines passport as a dual citizen of the country?
An Identification Certificate issued by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate is considered sufficient proof of Philippine citizenship for those entering or leaving the country on foreign passports. Therefore, it’s not mandatory to apply for a Philippines passport as a dual citizen of the country.
Can you stay in the Philippines indefinitely as a dual citizen?
You can stay in the Philippines indefinitely if you’re a dual citizen of the country. Remember to either enter the Philippines on your Filipino passport or present before the Philippines Immigration Officer your dual citizenship documents alongside the passport of your other country of nationality.
Is it possible to own property as a dual citizen in the Philippines?
It is possible to own property as a dual citizen in the Philippines. Dual citizens in the country can own property without facing any restrictions. As a foreigner or former natural-born Filipinos, there are limitations when it comes to owning property in the country.
Are there any disadvantages of having dual citizenship in the Philippines?
Some disadvantages of dual citizenship in the Philippines include the expensive and arduous process of obtaining dual citizenship, the potential for double taxation, and having to adhere to the laws and regulations of two nations. In spite of this, many people find that the advantages of dual citizenship in the Philippines outweigh the disadvantages.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to apply for dual citizenship in the Philippines and live in the country indefinitely or stay in the country on temporary visas, it’s important to make sure you have access to the best medical care the country has to offer. After all, what is life without good health?
To make sure you can visit the best private hospitals and healthcare providers, without having to pay sky-high medical bills out of pocket, it’s worth securing a private health insurance plan for the Philippines. This will give you peace of mind knowing that you’re covered no matter what happens.
For all things health insurance for expats, Pacific Prime can help. As a brokerage, we have over two decades of experience helping clients like yourself find and compare the best plan for their needs and budget, and provide unrivaled support and assistance throughout their insurance journey.
Contact us to get started today!
With over 5 years of experience in the field, Suphanida spends the majority of her day synthesizing complex pieces of insurance-related information and translating this into easy-to-understand, engaging, and effective content across a variety of media such as articles, infographics, whitepapers, videos, and more.
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Suphanida’s strengths lie in her strong research and analytical skills, which she has gained from her BA in Politics from the University of Warwick and Erasmus Mundus Joint MA in Journalism from Aarhus University and City, University of London.
Being of Thai-Indian origin and having lived, studied, and worked in Thailand, the UK, and Denmark, Suphanida also has a unique, multicultural perspective that helps her understand the struggles of expats and globetrotters.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling to new places and immersing herself in different cultures.
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1 Comment
As a potential dual citizen in the Philippines, what kind of employment support or resources are available for expats who want to start working or establish a business there?
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