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DO I NEED AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY DUAL CITIZENSHIP
APPLICATION?
YES. Applicants are required to schedule an appointment online.
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AM I ELIGIBLE FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP?
You are eligible for dual citizenship if you are a former
natural-born Filipino who has become a naturalized citizen of
another country.
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AM I A NATURAL BORN FILIPINO?
You are a natural-born Filipino if born on or after January 17,
1973, with either parent being a Filipino citizen at the time of
birth. If born before that date, your father was a Filipino
citizen, or if your mother was a Filipino citizen and you
elected Philippine citizenship upon reaching 18 years old.
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CAN MY CHILD ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP?
YES. Under the principle of derivative citizenship, Filipino
parents who are reacquiring their Philippine citizenship can
also include their unmarried children under 18, whether lawful,
non-marital, or adopted, in their application. Their presence is
not necessary during the appointment.
Your child could also already be a dual citizen at birth if they
were born outside the Philippines on or after 17 January 1973
and either of their parents was a Filipino citizen at the time
of birth. In this case, you only need to report
your child's birth to the relevant Philippine
Embassy/Consulate with jurisdiction over the place of birth for
recognition as a Filipino citizen.
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HOW LONG WILL THE PROCESS FOR APPLYING FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP
TAKE?
If your documentary requirements are found to be in order, you
will take your oath of allegiance and receive your dual
citizenship documents on the same day of your appointment
schedule.
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IF MY CHILD IS ALREADY 18 YEARS OLD OR ABOVE BY THE TIME I
APPLIED FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP, WHAT PROCESS DO THEY NEED TO
TAKE TO BE CONSIDERED DUAL CITIZEN AS WELL?
If you were Filipino when your child was born in the
Philippines, and your child became a naturalized foreign
citizen, your adult child may file their own application for
dual citizenship under RA9225.
If you were Filipino at the time when your adult child was born
outside the Philippines, your child is already Filipino at
birth. They only need to report their birth at the Philippine
Embassy or Consulate which has jurisdiction over the place of
birth.
If you were no longer Filipino at the time when your child was
born, you or your adult child can file a Petition for
Naturalization as a Filipino Citizenship at the Bureau of
Immigration in the Philippines. Please see the Bureau
of Immigration website for more information.
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WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO THE OATH TAKING CEREMONY?
There is no prescribed dress code for the oath taking ceremony.
However, the ceremony is a solemn and meaningful event. Please
dress in proper attire to respect the dignity of the event.
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WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES THAT I WOULD ENJOY WHEN I
RETAIN/REACQUIRE PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP?
Upon reacquiring or retaining Philippine citizenship, you will
regain full civil, economic, and political rights, including the
ability to travel with a Philippine passport, own real property,
engage in business and commerce, practice your profession (with
the required license or permit), vote in national elections, and
have your foreign spouse automatically eligible for an immigrant
visa, along with all other rights and privileges of Filipino
citizens.
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HOW WILL I USE MY DUAL CITIZENSHIP DOCUMENTS?
Your dual citizenship documents prove that you have
reacquired/retained Philippine citizenship. Make sure to keep
your original dual citizenship documents safe, as you will need
them every time you apply for a Philippine passport or every
time you travel to the Philippines with a US passport and plan
on staying for more than 30 days.
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I AM NOW A DUAL CITIZEN. AM I REQUIRED TO GET A PHILIPPINE
PASSPORT?
Getting a Philippine passport is only an option. When traveling
to the Philippines, you can travel with your foreign passport
and Dual Citizenship Documents.
However, a Philippine passport serves as evidence of citizenship
and is more convenient than carrying an Identification
Certificate. It's also a universally accepted ID for business
transactions in the Philippines and grants visa-free entry to
neighboring countries like Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and
Indonesia.
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HOW LONG CAN I STAY IN THE PHILIPPINES?
As a Filipino citizen, you can stay in the Philippines
indefinitely. If traveling with your foreign passport, please
make sure to present your dual citizenship documents to the
Philippine immigration officer upon arrival.
If you are traveling with your foreign spouse and children who
are included in the visa waiver category, they are entitled to
enter the Philippines visa-free and stay for a period of one
year. Otherwise, they would need to apply for an appropriate visa.
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CAN MY FOREIGN SPOUSE LIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES?
Your foreign spouse automatically becomes eligible for an
immigrant 13(A) visa, which entitles them to permanently reside
in the Philippines. The visa may be obtained by applying at the
Philippine Embassy or Philippine Consulate General.
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DO I NEED TO PAY INCOME TAXES?
If you live outside the Philippines for over 180 days in a
taxable year, only income generated within the Philippines is
taxed by the Philippine government.
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AM I REQUIRED TO PAY PHILIPPINE TRAVEL TAX?
Dual citizens traveling from the Philippines to the US and
staying less than one year can get a Travel Tax Exemption
Certificate by presenting both their Philippine and US
passports, with a processing fee of PHP 200. If your stay
exceeds one year, you must pay the travel tax regardless of the
passport used.
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DO I HAVE TO BE A DUAL CITIZEN TO OWN PROPERTY IN THE
PHILIPPINES?
Former natural-born Filipinos can still own land in the
Philippines without re-acquiring citizenship, but with
limitations: up to 1000 square meters of urban land or one
hectare of rural land for residence, and 5000 square meters of
urban land or three hectares of rural land for business or
investment purposes, as prescribed by Philippine Republic Act
8179 and Batas Pambansa 185.
By becoming a Filipino citizen, these limitations are removed.
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WILL MY APPLICATION FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP UNDER R.A. 9225
AFFECT MY US CITIZENSHIP?
Republic Act No. 9225 does not mandate the renunciation of one's
US citizenship. There is generally no prohibition against dual
citizenship within the United States. Nevertheless, it is
advisable to consult your employer, especially if you are
considering employment with a US federal government agency or
the US military, to ascertain whether the dual citizenship will
affect your employment status.
The US Supreme Court, as early as 1952, has stated that dual
citizenship is a "status long recognized by law" and that "a
person may have and exercise rights of nationality in two
countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both. The
mere fact he asserts the rights of one citizenship does not mean
that he renounces the other" (Kawakita v US, 343 US 717). In
1964, the US Supreme Court also ruled that a naturalized US
citizen has the right to return to his country of origin and
resume his former citizenship while remaining a US citizen, even
if he never returns to the US (Schneider v. Rusk, 377 US 163).
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MY OLD PHILIPPINE PASSPORT IS STILL VALID. CAN I STILL USE
IT?
Your old Philippine passport was rendered null and void the
moment you were naturalized as a foreign citizen. You are, however,
eligible to apply for a new Philippine passport filing
retention/reacquisition of your Philippine citizenship.
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DOES DUAL CITIZENSHIP EXTEND TO MY FOREIGN SPOUSE?
Only former natural-born Filipinos may apply for dual
citizenship under RA 9225.