Former Filipinos may re-acquire their Philippine citizenship through Republic Act (RA) No. 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act. This law, which took effect on 17 September 2003, declares that former natural-born Filipino citizens who acquired foreign citizenship through naturalization are deemed not to have lost their Philippine citizenship under conditions provided in the Act. A former Filipino can re-acquire Philippine citizenship by taking the oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines.
Requirements
- Duly accomplished application form
- Birth certificate issued by the NSO/PSA duly authenticated by DFA. In case the birth certificate is not available, other documentary proof of the applicant’s being a former natural-born Filipino citizen.
- Certificate of Naturalization. Since the Act requires that the “loss of Philippine citizenship by the applicant must be on account of naturalization as a citizen of a foreign country”, the applicant should submit documents showing the fact of his naturalization as a citizen of a foreign country.
- Authenticated marriage certificate, if married
- Authenticated death certificate, if widowed
- Annulment, if the marriage is annulled. The court decision to nullify the marriage must be certified by the proper court and authenticated by DFA.
- Divorce decree, if divorcee. It must be certified by the proper court.
- Three (3) 2 X 2 photos (white background) with the following view: left side view, front view and right side view
- Payment of consular service fee of ZAR 500 for taking an Oath of Allegiance for the re-acquisition of Philippine Citizenship
Procedures
- Order of Approval will be issued by the consular officer of the embassy which shall be the substantive proof that applicant has re-acquired/retained Philippine citizenship
- Oath of Allegiance to be undertaken by the consular officer after the Order of Approval is issued
The processing of the application will take two (2) working days.
