Becoming a Filipino citizen
Apparently, there are a number of aliens (as in, migrants TO the Philippines) who wish to embrace the Philippines as their country of citizenship. Pakistanis, Indians, Hong Kong residents and other nationals (even some Americans) pledged their allegiance to the Philippines at the last amnesty call a few years ago (and no, I’m not talking about the rebel amnesty program). Because there won’t be an amnestry invitation anytime soon, how does a foreign national become a Filipino citizen? Three ways, according to ManilaTimes.net:
The courts. Administrative proceedings apply to native-born persons of foreign parents; judicial proceedings are for foreigners who immigrated to the Philippines and have married a Filipino.
The Office of the Solicitor General. The OSG has the authority to review petitions for naturalization, and to approve or disapprove them. A unanimous vote on either action is required.The processing fee is P40,000. The petition also declares that the applicant shall not be a public charge, that he is serious about getting Filipino citizenship and shall renounce loyalty to the country he was a former subject of.
An act of Congress. Immigrants who have made significant contributions to Philippine society may also be sponsored by a congressman or senator for naturalization.
[Source: Manilatimes.net]
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November 13th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
I am a natural born citizen of the United States of America. I married a natural born citizen of the Republic of the Philippines. She is a naturalized citizen of the USA, and is eligible to have dual citizenship according to Philippine law. I would also like to hold dual citizenship. As I understand it, I should be able to become a dual citizen through the judicial process of the Philippines, without having to renounce my USA citizenship, as seems to be a requirement if I was to go through the Office of the Solicitor General. Am I right? Thank you.
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I am also curious to find out the answer to Roy’s question.
December 20th, 2007 at 6:01 am
I am also eager to find out the answer to Roy’s question.
“Roy Sheaks
Nov 13, 2007 at 1:58 pm
I am a natural born citizen of the United States of America. I married a natural born citizen of the Republic of the Philippines. She is a naturalized citizen of the USA, and is eligible to have dual citizenship according to Philippine law. I would also like to hold dual citizenship. As I understand it, I should be able to become a dual citizen through the judicial process of the Philippines, without having to renounce my USA citizenship, as seems to be a requirement if I was to go through the Office of the Solicitor General. Am I right? Thank you.”
January 17th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I’m chinese, and my husband is chinese too. I will born a baby here, what’s his/her nationality? can she/he be a filipino ciziten or chinese as we are? If he /she can’t get the natinality of philippines, can she/he get chinese nationality when back china
March 2nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Im an American citizen and I married a Filipino and now we have a little girl I want to become a dual citizen so I can love there but not give up my right in the US how is this done
March 9th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Is there someone here who is already a dual citizen?
March 13th, 2008 at 7:22 am
I to am an american by birth, Im married to a Filipina and have a son born in the usa. How do I go about getting dual citizenship or is this possible without renouncing my US citizenship??????
March 24th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
i was born in phiippines and now im us citizen. my son was born in america. we are planing live in philippines, i know i can re-acquire my filipino citizenship right? but how about my son can he apply for filipino citizenship too without losing his US citizenship? we want to be dual citizen. laiza999@yahoo.com and also do u have any idea how much is the fee
June 17th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
@yueffe
Chinese citizen(your citizenship). The Philippines follow jus sanguinis
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I am a filipina, I was born in the Philippines. . I lost my filipino citizen. Now I am willing to get dual citizen. I would like an advice where I can get my dual citizen or can I just send the form? or where I can get the form? how much is the fee?
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
My apologies for not getting the answers to you quickly. But for those asking if you, a foreign national, can acquire Filipino citizenship without losing your original citizenship (e.g., american)?
The answer is 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.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Evelita, here are the procedures for applying -
http://www.gov.ph/faqs/dualcitizenship.asp
the fee is $50. You need to present proof of your natural-birth as a Filipino, and then submit a petition for dual citizenship to the Philippine Consulate / Embassy. Take the oath of allegiance to the Philippines. Then your information is submitted to the Bureau of Immigration who will issue you the certificate.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
[…] 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 […]
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I posted a more detailed response in this post. It answers most of the questions in this comment thread about dual citizenship, and what a foreign spouse can do to acquire filipino citizenship.
http://www.filipinasoul.com/becoming-a-filipino-citizen-part-2/
July 4th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
My grandparents were Chinese, who came to the Philippines. Both my parents were born in the Philippines years before the 1935 Philippine Constitution was established. Does this make my parents native born Filipinos and as such natural born Filipinos, too?
July 13th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Grace -
I am curious as to the 2nd point you posted in your detailed document. I am referring to:
2. 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.
_____
I was born to 2 parents that immigrated to the U.S and I was born in the States. According to this rule under Philippine law I can be considered for filipino citizenship. My question is whether or not there is a time period in which this expires. If my parents were both filipino citizens but then gained U.S citizenship before I was born does this affect me and if I can gain duel citizenship? Thanks for you response in advance.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Hi! Can foreign national be filipino citizen?
What is the requirements & procedure?
August 12th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I was born in the philippines. My mother was a Filipino citizen, my father was a naturalized american citizen when I was born. They say I took my father’s nationality which automatically made me an American citizen. I married a Filipino citizen and naturalized as American citizen. My wife just became a dual citizen. I there a way I can become a dual citizen and not relinquist my rights as an American citizen.
August 14th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
i have a daughter who is natural born us citizen
im planning to move back to philippines, im a filipino citizen
what will be the process for my daughter to stay longer in the philippines, for her studies, and does not have to pay penalty, over stay,etc…
September 9th, 2008 at 7:07 am
i am a chinese national married to a filipino, and i applied for naturalization here in the philippines and my application was approved. Does that mean that i am now just a filipino? or can i still retain my chinese citizenship? is it still possible for me to have dual citizenship
September 13th, 2008 at 12:41 am
how does a foreign national become a Filipino citizen? what are the qualifications for them?
September 14th, 2008 at 8:43 am
what are the qualifiction of a foreigner to be a filipino citezen?
September 24th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Im a natural born Filipino, migrated to Canada and looking forward to be a Canadian citizen, I am getting married to a guy who is a US citizen and soon will move to US. Is it possible for me to hold a Canadian, US citizenship and Philippine citizenship all at the same time?
October 8th, 2008 at 1:55 am
i am a naturalized us citizen.a have a 20 yr old son in the phil.he has been there for the last 5 yrs.my question is will he be penalized for over staying?he was born in the phil.and got his us citizenship thru me when he was still a minor.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:51 am
I am a filipino american my wife is also a filipino american. My parents were born in the philippines and became citizens of the USA before I was born because their fathers were in the US military (WWII). My father has been a dual citizen for more than 10 yrs. Can I get a dual citizenship even though i am a fil-am? thank u