FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Who are qualified?
R.A. 9225 covers former natural–born Filipino citizens
who have lost their citizenship through naturalization as
citizens of a foreign country.
Natural-born citizens are those whose mothers or fathers
are citizens of the Philippines. They are citizens of the
Philippines from birth, without having to perform any act
to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship. Those
born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect
Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority,
are deemed natural born citizens.
2. How does the re-acquisition
and retention work?
Natural-born citizens of the Philippines who have lost their
Philippine citizenship by reason of their naturalization as
citizens of a foreign country are deemed to have re-acquired
their Philippine citizenship upon taking the prescribed Oath
of Allegiance to the Republic.
Natural-born citizens of the Philippines who, after the effectivity
of R.A. 9225 on 17 September 2003, become citizens of a foreign
country shall retain their Philippine citizenship upon taking
the same oath.
3. Dual citizenship
Republic Act 9225 does not require the relinquishment of
the other citizenship, allowing the individual to have two
concurrent citizenships.
Under New Zealand law (www.dia.govt.nz),
New Zealand allows its citizens to hold multiple citizenships.
4. Where can I apply for Filipino
citizenship retention/re-acquisition?
Applications/petitions for citizenship re-acquisition and
retention pursuant to RA 9225 shall be filed with the Bureau
of Immigration (BI) if applicant is in the Philippines, or
in the Philippine Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) if the applicant
is abroad.
In New Zealand, applications are to be filed, personally or
through courier, at the :
Embassy of the Philippines
(P.O. Box 12-042)
50 Hobson Street
Thorndon, Wellington
5. What are the documentary
requirements?
a. - application form/petition
b. - NSO- authenticated copy of birth certificate, for those
born in the Philippines, or
original copy of the Report of Birth issued by the FSP and the
foreign birth certificate, if born abroad
c. - three (3) 2”x 2”pictures showing front, left
and right profiles of applicant
d. - Certificate of Citizenship and copy of the data page of
foreign passport or foreign driver’s license
e. - Marriage Certificate, for married female applicants
f. - application processing fee of NZ $ 117.50, in bank cheque
payable to the Embassy of the Philippines
a. - Applicant shall submit an application/
petition, with supporting documents and requirements to the
FSP
b. - FSP’s Evaluating Officer will review documents for
form and substance and submit recommendation to Consul General
c. - If application is determined sufficient, the Consul General
will issue a Memorandum indicating that the petition complies
with the provisions of RA 9225 and its Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR)
d. - Applicant shall be asked to come to the Embassy to take
the following Oath of Allegiance before the Consul General or
a Foreign Service Officer of the Post:
“I,_________________, solemnly
swear
(or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution
of the Republic of the Philippines and obey the laws and legal
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.”
e. - The Consul General will issue an Order of Approval granting
the petition and ordering the Chief of the Alien Registration
Division to issue an Identification Certificate.
f. - The Embassy will submit the official documents to the
Bureau of Immigration (BI).
g. - The Identification Certificate (IC) shall be released
to the applicant after making a personal appearance before
the BI in Manila, to affix the applicant’s fingerprints
in the IC in the presence of officials from the Alien Registration
Division.
If the applicant is a BI-registered alien, the BI shall also
cancel the applicant’s Alien Certificate of Registration
(ACR).
7. Can I now acquire land and
other properties or engage in business?
As provided under the 1987 Constitution, a Filipino citizen
is entitled to purchase land and other properties and engage
in business in the country. There is no limit in terms of
area or size of land or real property he/she could acquire/
purchase under his/her name. This right would now apply to
former natural-born Filipinos who have re-acquired Philippine
citizenship under RA 9225.
8. Will I now be required to
pay income tax/ 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. Those who re-acquire Filipino
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 community and residence tax.
Filipinos who have re-acquired citizenship, as long as they
reside permanently overseas, also enjoy the travel tax exemption
extended to Filipino citizens permanently residing in other
countries, OFWs and their dependents.
9. Can my children also acquire
Philippine citizenship under RA 9225?
RA 9225 provides for derivative citizenship, such that the
unmarried child, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted,
below 18 years of age, of those who re-acquire Philippine
citizenship shall be deemed citizens of the Philippines. A
married child, although a minor, cannot be included in the
petition of his/her parent.
The minor child does not need to submit a separate petition
for this purpose. The parent (principal applicant) shall list
the names and details of all the minor, unmarried children
to be covered in the application and submit documents pertaining
to the children.
10. Can my foreign spouse also
acquire Philippine citizenship under RA 9225?
No. the law does not apply to the foreign spouse. The foreign
spouse has the following options if he/she wishes to reside
permanently in the Philippines:
(a) apply for naturalization, or
(b) apply for a permanent resident visa.
11. What if I have changed
my name?
BI would allow persons who had changed their names abroad
to apply for and be issued Identification Certificates under
an alias (“Real Name aka Assumed Name”).
In the case of married women, their application/ petition
and the Oath of Allegiance shall be done under the name appearing
in their original birth certificate. They may opt to have
their documents indicate the name with “Married to (name
of spouse)” phrase if she so chooses.
12. Do I get a new Philippine
passport after taking the Oath?
As a Filipino citizen, you are now entitled to having a Philippine
passport.
Applicants availing themselves of re-acquisition of Filipino
citizenship under R.A. 9225 are asked to surrender their existing
Philippine passports (if still valid) and to apply for new
ones dated no earlier than the date of their taking of the
Oath of Allegiance under R.A. 9225.
Securing a new Philippine passport, however, is a separate
transaction. Application forms are available at the FSPs and
fee for the passport processing is NZ$117.50.
It should be noted that the Bureau of Immigration has stated
that the Identification Certificates to be issued by them
will be considered sufficient proof of Filipino citizenship
for those persons entering or leaving the Philippines on foreign
passports.
13. What happens if my application
is denied?
The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) does not specify
any appeals mechanism which applicants can avail themselves
of in case their petitions are denied at Post. However, this
does not preclude applicants from directing their appeal to
the Bureau of Immigration in Manila.
EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Wellington, New Zealand
50 Hobson Street
Thorndon, Wellington
Tel: (04) 472 9848
Fax: (04) 472 5170
EMAIL
- Embassy of the Philippines
