Citizenship Retention and
Reacquisition of 2003 (RA 9225)
What is Republic Act No. 9225?
Republic Act No. 9225 otherwise known as the Citizenship
Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003 declares that
natural-born citizens of the Philippines who become citizens
of another country shall be deemed not to have lost their
Philippine citizenship.
Who qualifies to apply under the Citizenship Retention
and Reacquisition Act of 2003?
Only natural-born citizens of the Philippines who have lost
their Philippine citizenship by reason of their
naturalization as citizens of a foreign country may
retain/reacquire their Philippine citizenship under this
Act.
RA 9225 does not apply to dual citizens, i.e., those who
have both Philippine as well as foreign citizenship not
acquired through naturalization.
How does one prove that he or she is a natural-born
Filipino?
A former natural-born citizen, who was born in the
Philippines, shall submit the NSO-authenticated copy of his
or her birth certificate.
A former natural-born citizen, who was born abroad, shall
present a copy of the Report of Birth issued by the
Philippine Embassy or Consulate and, in applicable cases,
the original copy of the Birth Certificate by competent
foreign authorities.
What is the procedure in applying and
what documents are required in order to apply?
1) Applicant shall present a copy of
his/her Birth Certificate issued or duly- authenticated by
the National Statistics Office (NSO) in Manila.
2) Applicant accomplishes form entitled "Petition for Dual
Citizenship and Issuance of Identification Certificate (IC)
pursuant to RA 9225" and attaches three (3) 2"x2"
photographs showing the front, left side and right side
views of the applicant.
3) Applicant submits duly-accomplished petition to the
Philippine Consulate / Embassy together with the photos,
birth certificate and a valid ID.
(Note: applicants who are married and who wish to use their
married names must submit a copy of their marriage
certificate).
4) Applicant pays a processing fee of US$ 50.00 and is
assigned a schedule for his/her oath of allegiance before a
consular officer. Applicant takes his/her oath.
5) Applicant is given the original copy of his notarized
oath of allegiance together with an Order of Approval issued
by the Philippine Consulate General.
6) The Philippine Consulate General forwards to the Bureau
of Immigration in Manila the petition, oath, order of
approval, and other supporting documents for issuance of an
Identification Certificate.
7) The Bureau of Immigration issues an Identification
Certificate (IC) and forwards it to the applicant through
the Philippine Consulate General.
Where do I apply for re-acquisition of Philippine
Citizenship if I am in the Philippines?
A former natural-born Filipino citizen who is already in the
Philippines and registered in the Bureau of Immigration
shall file a petition under oath to the Commissioner of
Immigration for the cancellation of the Alien Certificate of
Registration (ACR) and issuance of an Identification
Certificate (IC) as the case may be, under RA 9225.
A former natural-born citizen who is already in the
Philippines but has not registered with the BI within 60
days from date of arrival shall file a petition under oath
to the Commissioner of Immigration for the issuance of an IC
under RA 9225.
Where do I apply for re-acquisition of Philippine
Citizenship if I am overseas?
A former natural-born citizen who is abroad but is a
BI-registered alien shall file a petition under oath to the
nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate for evaluation.
Thereafter, the Embassy or Consulate shall forward the
entire records to the Commissioner of Immigration for the
cancellation of the ACR and issuance of an IC under RA 9225.
A former natural-born citizen who is abroad and is not a
BI-registered alien shall file a petition under oath to the
nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate for the issuance of
an IC under RA 9225.
What is the Oath of Allegiance?
The Oath of Allegiance is the final act that confers
Philippine citizenship. It reads as follows:
"I,________________, solemnly swear that I will support and
defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines
and obey the laws and local orders promulgated by the duly
constituted authorities of the Philippines, and I hereby
declare that I recognize and accept the supreme authority of
the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance
thereto, and that I impose this obligation upon myself
voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of
evasion."
Is the conferment of Philippine citizenship under this
act subject to administrative review?
The conferment of Philippine citizenship under this Act
shall no longer be subject to the affirmation by the
Secretary of Justice. However, Philippine citizenship may be
revoked by competent authority upon a substantive finding of
fraud, misrepresentation or concealment on the part of the
applicant.
Can my foreign spouse also become a Filipino citizen
under RA 9225?
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. But in case of a foreign
woman married to a Filipino, she has to apply for the
cancellation of her Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR).
Can my children also acquire Philippine citizenship under
RA 9225?
According to Section 4 of RA 9225 (Derivative Citizenship),
the unmarried child, whether legitimate, illegitimate or
adopted, below eighteen (18) years of age, of those who
re-acquire Philippine citizenship under this Act may also
acquire Philippine citizenship provided they are included in
the original petition of their parents.
A married child, although a minor, cannot therefore be
included in the petition of his/her parent.
Children 18 years old and over do not qualify to acquire
Philippine citizenship under RA 9225. They have the same
options that are open to the foreign spouse.
After I have re-acquired Philippine citizenship, can I
apply for a Philippine passport?
Yes, and so can the minor children who are deemed to have
acquired Philippine citizenship under RA 9225. You would
need to comply with the requirements for first-time passport
applicants.
What rights and privileges will Philippine citizens under
RA 9225 enjoy?
Those who retain or reacquire their
Philippine Citizenship under RA 9225 shall enjoy full civil
and political rights and be subject to all attendant
liabilities and responsibilities under existing laws of the
Philippines and the following conditions:
Those intending to exercise their right of suffrage must
meet the requirements under Section 1, Article V of the
Constitution, Republic Act No. 9189, otherwise known as "The
Overseas Absentee Voting Act 0f 2003" and other existing
laws.
Under the Act, the right to vote or be elected or appointed
to any public office in the Philippines cannot be exercised
by, or extended to, those who are candidates for or are
occupying any public office in the country of which they are
naturalized citizens and/or those who are in active service
as commissioned or non-commissioned officers in the armed
forces of the country which they are naturalized citizens.
Those seeking elective public office in the Philippines
shall meet the qualifications for holding such public office
as required by the Constitution and existing laws and, at
the time of filing of the certificate of candidacy, make a
personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign
citizenship before any public officer authorized to
administer an oath.
Those appointed to any public office shall subscribe and
swear to an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the
Philippines and its duly constituted authorities prior to
their assumption of office: Provided, they renounce their
oath of allegiance to the country where they took that oath;
Having reacquired Philippine citizenship, can I now
acquire land and other properties or engage in business?
As provided for under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, a
Filipino citizen is entitled to purchase land and other
properties and engage in business. This right would now
apply to former natural-born Filipinos who have re-acquired
Philippine citizenship under RA 9225.
Can I now reside in the Philippines?
Having reacquired your Philippine citizenship, you can
reside in the Philippines for as long as you want without
having to apply for entry visa and paying immigration fees.
You can even choose to retire or permanently settle in the
Philippines. As a Filipino citizen, you are subject to
duties and other obligations imposed on other ordinary
Filipinos, such as paying the necessary community tax
residence and other tax liabilities in accordance with the
tax laws of the Philippines.
Once I re-acquire Philippine citizenship will I be
required to renounce my other citizenship?
No, the Act does not require one to renounce his or her
other citizenship.
Will I now be required to pay income tax and other taxes?
Am I exempt from paying the travel tax?
In accordance with existing laws, income earned in the
Philippines is subject to the payment of tax.
Filipinos who
re-acquire citizenship and opt to reside and work in the
Philippines will pay the income tax due at the end of each
fiscal year. They are also subject to other obligations and
liabilities, such as the community tax and residence tax.
Countries routinely forge bilateral agreements in order that
their respective citizens who earn income overseas do not
pay income tax twice.
On the other hand, Filipinos who have re-acquired Philippine
citizenship, but residing permanently overseas, also enjoy
tax exemptions extended to Filipino citizens permanently
residing in other countries, the OFWs and their dependents.
Having re-acquired Philippine citizenship under this Act,
am I allowed to practice my profession in the Philippines?
Under the law, those intending to practice their profession
in the Philippines shall apply with the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) (or Supreme Court in case of
Lawyers) for a license or permit to engage in such practice.
If I need to get more details on the rules and procedures
for the implementation of RA 9225, which government office
do I contact in the Philippines?
Under Administrative Order No. 92 Series of 2004 dated 12
January 2004, the Bureau of Immigration has been designated
as the government agency in charge of formulating the rules
and procedures for the implementation of Republic Act No.
9225. The contact details of Immigration Commissioner are as
follows: Office of the Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration,
Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. (Tel. No.
(63)2 527-3265 / Fax No. (63-2) 527-3279)
I have attached this file as both a word document and a pdf,
whichever you prefer to download:
Petition for retention and/or re-acquisition of Philippine
citizenship under Republic Act 9225 - Doc
Petition for retention and/or re-acquisition of Philippine
citizenship under Republic Act 9225 - PDF
Please view this page for updates:
Bureau of Immigration Republic Act 9225 Information
