How to Apply for Filipino Citizenship
- 1). Know the category that matches your Filipino citizenship application. If you have Filipino blood or are a former Filipino citizen who lost Filipino citizenship after becoming a naturalized citizen of another country, you may apply for dual citizenship so you can keep both your foreign citizenship and your reclaimed Filipino citizenship. If have no Filipino blood, the process you will undergo is called naturalization.
- 2). Prepare the required documents. For natural-born Filipinos or former Filipino citizens intending to reclaim their Filipino citizenship, requirements include a Philippine birth certificate certified by the National Statistics Office, foreign birth certificate or report of birth abroad certified by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate; valid identification card; marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, divorce paper or court decree annulling marriage (if married, widowed, divorced or annulled); birth certificates, alien certificate of registration or native-born certificate of residence of children (if applicable); and other supporting documents. For applicants with any legitimate, illegitimate or adopted child (below 18 years of age), prepare the child's birth certificate, foreign passport, adoption decree authenticated by the Philippine Consulate General and certificate of naturalization (if applicable).
Requirements for foreigners include duplicate original or certified photocopy of birth certificate; alien certificate of registration and native-born certificate of residence; marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, divorce paper or court decree annulling marriage (if married, widowed, divorced or annulled); birth certificates, alien certificate of registration or native-born certificate of residence of children (if applicable); affidavit of financial capacity and sworn statements of good moral character by at least two reputable Filipino citizens who have known the applicant for at least 10 years; medical certificate proving that the applicant is not a user of prohibited drugs or not afflicted with AIDS; school diploma and transcript of records of schools attended in the Philippines (if any) and certification of children being enrolled in a school where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and are part of the curriculum; and proof of being gainfully employed with income tax returns for the past three years. - 3). Fill out the application form. If filing for dual citizenship, prepare the petition for dual citizenship and issuance of identification certificate (IC) pursuant to RA 9225, along with the Citizen Retention and Re-Acquisition form.
If applying for naturalization, file the application for naturalization with the secretariat of the Special Committee on Naturalization. - 4). Submit the required documents and photographs. Pay the processing fee. Updated information about required documents and fees can be viewed at the Philippine embassy and Bureau of Immigration websites (see References).
- 5). Wait for the schedule of interview for dual citizenship application. Once approved, wait for the schedule of oath of allegiance.
The naturalization process takes a longer time. After verifying the completeness of the application, the committee shall immediately publish pertinent information about the applicant in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for three consecutive week. Copies of the petition shall be posted in any public or conspicuous area. After 30 days, the committee submits a report stating whether or not the petitioner has any derogratory record on file or any relevant concern that might adversely affect the application for citizenship. Within an estimated 60 days, the committee reviews the petition, then schedules the petitioner for interview. Once approved, the petitioner pays the naturalization fee (this is different from the initial processing fee paid). - 6). Take the oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines. Wait for the issuance of the Identification Certificate for dual citizens or the Certificate of Naturalization for naturalized citizens.
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