PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

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 retain/reacquire their Philippine citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines before a Philippine Consular Officer. Upon retaining or reacquiring their Philippine citizenship, they shall enjoy full civil, economic and political rights as Philippine Citizens.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Natural-born Filipinos 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 persons:

1. Born after January 17, 1973, whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines at the time of their birth;
2. Born before January 17, 1973 to a:
a. Filipino father; or
b. Filipino mother and that person elects Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority.

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

HOW TO APPLY

STEP 1. Set up an appointment

STEP 2. Proceed to the Consulate on the appointment date and time

STEP 3. Proceed to the Consulate for interview/Oath-taking on your booked appointment for the following:

1. Bring a printed copy of the email confirmation receipt/confirmation code;
2. Bring original and submit two copies of required documents, including required photos;
3. Interview;
4. Payment: $50.00 – Payment should be in the form of cash, money order or cashier’s check payable to the Philippine Consulate General. Personal checks are not acceptable.
5. Oath-taking (takes place once in the afternoon for all approved applicants).

CORE REQUIREMENTS FOR PRINCIPAL APPLICANT

A. Two (2) Duly Accomplished Dual Citizenship Application Forms

Download an Adobe-fillable dual application form here .

For instruction on how to fill out the form, please click here.

Applicant must not sign the application. This must be signed before a Consular Officer during your appointment.

B. PSA Birth Certificate (Mandatory)

One original and two (2) photocopies of the Birth Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA or formerly National Statistics Office/NSO).

If you do not have a PSA-authenticated birth certificate, you can order one online through http://www.psaserbilis.com.ph OR the applicant may wish to designate a representative to secure it from the PSA and send it via courier.

If there is no record of birth with the PSA, check first with the local civil registrar (LCR) where the birth took place. If LCR birth record is available, the LCR should forward/endorse its copy to the PSA. If LCR does not have a copy of applicant’s birth record, the applicant or his/her duly appointed representative may apply for late registration of birth at the local civil registrar at the place of birth.

The applicant should request for a PSA-authenticated birth certificate once the LCR have endorsed the applicant’s birth record to the PSA.

C. Latest Philippine Passport (if still valid and applicant is not able to present it, the Consulate requires a notarized affidavit of loss and police report)

Original and two (2) photocopies of the data page of latest Philippine passport.

D. PSA Marriage Certificate / US Marriage Certificate

Required for married women. One original and two (2) photocopies. Please see above on how to secure a PSA-issued document.

E. Death Certificate

Required for widow. One original and two (2) photocopies.

F. Divorce Decree or PSA Marriage Certificate with Annotation on Divorce

Required for applicant who has previous marriages or divorced. One original and two (2) photocopies

G. US Naturalization Certificate

Original and two (2) photocopies.

If the original is not available, applicant must obtain a digital copy from the US Citizenship and Immigrant Services (USCIS).

This can be requested through their website: www.uscis.gov/FOIA

H. Valid US Passport

Original and two (2) photocopies of the data page of the valid US passport.

I. Applicant’s Photos

On appointment date, bring three (3) colored, identical 2″x 2″ photos, with plain white background. Applicant must not be wearing eyeglasses.

J. Notarized Affidavit of Explanation on How You Attained US Citizenship

Required for adult applicants who were included as dependents when their parent/s were naturalized. Attach to the affidavit a copy of your US Certificate of Citizenship (if available) and the US Naturalization Certificate of your parent/s. Click here to download affidavit.