Becoming a Filipino citizen, part 2
I’ve been getting a lot of questions from our readers about becoming a Filipino citizen. Instead of posting my replies from the comments one by one, I will summarize the answers as posted on the FAQ of the Philippine Government. I strongly suggest you go to the link and read the FAQ yourself.
Dual Citizenship. One of the frequently asked questions is regarding dual citizenship. Natural-born Filipinos who have become naturalized citizens of another country can re-acquire/retain their Philippine citizenship, by taking the oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines. You have to provide proof that you are a natural-born Filipino by presenting an authorized copy of your birth certificate.
1. Who are eligible for dual citizenships?
- Those persons who have previously been Filipino citizens by birth and became naturalized citizens of another country.
- A child born of parents who are both Filipino citizens (living in a country such as the US) at the time of the child’s birth is a dual citizen. For example, Mr. and Mrs. Cruz are immigrants or have working visa in the US, you have a child born in the US. The child has dual citizenship under Philippine laws.
- A child born of one parent who is a Filipino citizen and another parent who is a foreign national, and was born in the foreign state, is a dual citizen and entitled to apply for both Philippine and that foreign state’s passport.
2. Can my foreign spouse become a Filipino citizen without losing his/her foreign citizenship?
No, the law does not apply to the foreign spouse. He/she has the following option if he/she wishes to reside permanently in the Philippines: (a) apply for naturalization; (b) apply for a permanent resident visa.
3. Can my children be eligible for dual citizenship?
Only the unmarried child under 18 years of age, of parents who apply for dual citizenship, are themselves considered citizens of the Philippines. The parent adds the child’s name in his/her petition.
Married children, although minor, can not be included in the petition. Children above 18 years old are also not eligible for dual citizenships. Instead these children have the same option available to the foreign spouse (see question #2).
The Frequently Asked Questions here have more detail, including where to apply for a petition, how much is the cost, and downloadable application forms. Please consult that page and/or an immigrations lawyer. My replies above should not to be substituted for the advice of a lawyer.
Tags: becoming a filipino citizen, culture, dual citizenship, filipina, filipina soul, Filipino, filipino citizen, filipinos, natural-born filipino, Philippines, pinoyRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Government, Politics and Economy, News and Events
September 10th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Greetings,
I am a US born citizen, I desire to move to out of the US and attend college in the Philippines at a major university; though I am a US citizen with no ties to the Philippines, I no longer wish to live as a US citizen; my choice is to become a Pinoy.
Just like the wonderful food; I want to be closer to the contry and culture from which many of my friends come and plan to return post retirement.
Thank you for your assistance.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
WOW, I just recently alomost gave up hope for a life surrounded by real humans, so i just packed and left to Cebu and ended up in Argao. I stayed 1 month and now I am home and feel like I left home. I did not have any friend there and now I feel like I left my family.I will sell everything I own and figure out a way to never leave there again. Thankyou to all the Pinoys, because of your kind hearts and loving true nature, my life has changed, I am no longer the same soul.Thankyou for being you! Geoff