Dual Citizenship

DUAL CITIZENSHIP

The following natural-born Filipinos who were naturalized in other countries may apply to reacquire or retain their Philippine citizenship at any Philippine Foreign Service Post abroad through the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 or RA 9225, otherwise known as the Dual Citizenship Act:

1. a person who was born on 17 January 1973 and after and, at the time of his/her birth, had at least one Filipino parent;
2. a person born to a Filipino mother before 17 January 1973, who elected Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority (21 years old); and
3. a person born under the 1935 and 1973 Philippine Constitutions whose father was a Filipino citizen at the time of his/her birth.

Upon re-acquiring Philippine citizenship, former Filipinos will again enjoy full civil, economic and political rights as Filipinos.  These include the right to travel with a Philippine passport, the right to own property in the Philippines, the right to engage in business and commerce; the right to practice one’s profession; as well as the right to vote.

Residency in the Philippines is NOT a requirement for re-acquiring Philippine citizenship.

Derivative Citizenship

When applying for dual citizenship, the unmarried children below 18 years old, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted, will also be deemed Filipino citizens, under the principle of derivative citizenship, when included in the parent’s application.

Dual Citizenship by Birth

Children born in Canada of parents who were still Filipinos at the time of their birth, are already considered dual citizens by birth, due to the application of the principles of nationality law of jus soli, which determines a person’s nationality at birth by the place of birth, and jus sanguinis, where citizenship is acquired by the nationality of the parent.  These individuals need no longer apply for dual citizenship under RA 9225.

Procedure for Applying for Dual Citizenship

Applications for dual citizenship may be submitted on-line, by mail or in person at the Philippine Consulate General.

To apply on-line, please fill out the application form (click here) and follow the instructions for uploading supporting documents, sending payment, and selecting the preferred date for oath taking.

To apply by mail, please send the filled-out application form (click here), supporting documents, and payment to the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, with a note indicating the preferred date for oath taking.

To apply in person, please visit the Philippine Consulate General and submit the filled-out application form (click here), supporting documents and payment to the evaluating consular officer.

Personal appearance is required in taking the Oath of Dual Citizenship.  Oath-taking ceremonies take place every Thursday afternoon at the Philippine Consulate General or at the various Consular Outreach Mission venues.

Requirements for Principal Applicant

Original and two (2) photocopies of each of the following documents:

1. Birth certificate authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA, formerly known as the National Statistics Office or NSO (which can be requested through www.psaserbilis.com.ph);
2. Certificate of Non-Availability of Birth Record from the Local Civil Registrar or from the PSA/NSO with Joint Birth Affidavit/Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons (for applicants born before 1950)
3. Marriage certificate (for married female applicants);
4. Appropriate divorce decree or court order on the annulment of marriage (for separated female applicants);
5. Death certificate of spouse (for applicants declaring status as “widowed”)
6. Philippine passport;
7. Canadian passport;
8. Citizenship Card/ID or Certificate of Oath Taking as a Canadian

Two recent 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm photographs (colored with white background)

Additional Requirements for Derivative Citizenship Applicant

Original and two (2) photocopies of each of the following documents:

1. Original birth certificate from PSA/NSO (if born in the Philippines) or birth certificate from Vital Statistics Office (if born abroad)
2. Philippine passport (if born in the Philippines)
3. Canadian passport
4. Canadian Citizenship Card/ID or Certificate of Oath Taking as a Canadian

Two recent 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm photographs of the minor applicant (colored with white background)

One (1) recent 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm photograph of the principal parent applicant (one additional photo per dependent child)

Fee of $72.50/principal applicant and $36.25/dependent child (money order or bank draft only if application is sent by mail or during the outreach services of the consulate; cash payment option is only available for applicants submitting their application forms personally at the Consulate).