People can have both Philippine citizenship and citizenship in another country under Republic Act No. 9225. You can qualify if you are:

1. Natural-born Filipinos:

• Filipinos who were born Filipino in the Philippines and later became citizens of another country can have dual citizenship. This means you can be a citizen of both the Philippines and another country at the same time. If you were born Filipino but switched to another citizenship, you can require your Philippine citizenship while keeping your other one. This lets you enjoy the benefits of being a citizen in both countries.
• A natural-born Filipino is someone who has been a Filipino citizen since birth without needing to do anything to get or confirm their citizenship. They become Filipino citizens automatically, usually because one or both of their parents are Filipino, and don’t need to apply or go through any legal process to become citizens.

2. Children of Natural-born Filipinos:

• Children of natural-born Filipinos can become Filipino citizens, whether they are born in or out of marriage or are adopted. If a natural-born Filipino parent requires their Philippine citizenship, they can include their children in the process. To qualify, the children must be below 18 years old and single when their parent applies.

People who meet these requirements can reacquire their Philippine citizenship and have the benefits of being citizens of two countries.

For those who do not meet those requirements, attaining Filipino citizenship would require Naturalization, which can take 2 forms:

• Administrative Naturalization – those born in the Philippines may acquire Philippine citizenship through an application with the Solicitor General.
• Judicial Naturalization – those who were not born in the Philippines or do not have a Filipino parent must undergo a court case called Judicial Naturalization. This is often used by foreigners who want to become Filipino. It requires that they must have lived in the Philippines for at least 5 years before applying if married to a Filipino or 10 years if not married to a Filiipino.

If you are eligible and interested in acquiring dual citizenship in the Philippines, you may also be interested in the process itself.

The process is fairly straightforward:

1.  Locate the Nearest Philippine Consulate or Embassy that handles dual citizenship applications. Check their website or call them to learn more.

2. Schedule an appointment with the Consulate or Embassy. There are Consulates or Embassies in some countries that require a prior appointment before arriving, so please look over their website first.

3. Prepare the following Required Documents:

       a. Dual Citizenship Application Form provided by the Consulate or Embassy which can be downloaded from their website.

       b. Proof of Former Filipino Citizenship such as the birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). If you are a married woman who changed her surname, include your marriage certificate.

       c. Proof of Current Foreign Citizenship such as your foreign passport and naturalization certificate or other documents proving your foreign citizenship.

       d. Affidavit of Loss If you no longer have your most recent Philippine passport. It must be notarized. (This can be done in the Consulate or Embassy)

4. Submit the Application form and all required documents to the Consulate or Embassy. Make sure that you have both the original and photocopies of all documents.

5. Pay the necessary application fees as required by the Consulate or Embassy. The fees are not the same in different countries.

6. Take the Mandatory Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines on the scheduled appointment at the Consulate or Embassy

7. Receive Your Dual Citizenship Document. After taking the oath, you will receive your dual citizenship documents, including a Certificate of Re-acquisition/Retention of Philippine Citizenship.

8. Apply for a Philippine Passport (Optional) If you wish to obtain a Philippine passport, you can apply for one after receiving your dual citizenship documents. Follow the passport application process at the Consulate or Embassy.

Having Filipino citizenship has many advantages.

• You can own land in the Philippines
• You can incorporate in the Philippines and no longer have to abide by foreign ownership limitations
• You can vote in Philippine elections
• You have visa free travel to 37 countries with visas on arrival at a further 25 more

These are compelling reasons to require citizenship, especially for those who have long term ties to the Philippines.

Let’s go through these rights in a bit more detail:

Civil Rights

• Right to Vote: People with both Philippine and foreign citizenship (dual citizenship) can vote in national elections for president, vice president, senators, and party-list representatives. If they live in the Philippines, they can also vote in local elections.
• Right to Run for Public Office: People with dual citizenship in two countries can run for government positions, but they must follow rules like living in the area and sometimes giving up their other citizenship.
• Right to Own Property: People with dual citizenship can buy and own land and buildings in the Philippines without the restrictions that apply to foreigners.

Economic and Employment Benefits

• Investment Opportunities: People with dual citizenship can do business and invest in the Philippines with the same rights as Filipinos. They can own and run businesses, and put money into different parts of the economy.
• Employment Rights: People with both Filipino and foreign citizenship can work in the Philippines freely, just like any Filipino citizen. They don’t need work permits or special visas.
• Professional Practice: People with two citizenships can work in their chosen careers in the Philippines if they have the required licenses and follow local rules.

Access to Education and Social Services

• Access to Education: Dual citizens can study in Philippine schools, including public schools and government universities. They pay lower tuition fees than foreign students and can apply for scholarships and other school benefits.

• Healthcare Access: People with both Filipino and foreign citizenship can use Philippine healthcare services, including public hospitals and health insurance like PhilHealth. They get the same medical care and benefits as other Filipinos.
• Social Services: Citizens with dual nationality can use government services in the Philippines, including social security, welfare, and public aid programs.

Cultural and Social Ties

• Maintaining Filipino Heritage: Having two citizenships lets you stay close to your Filipino roots, culture, and family. You can join in cultural celebrations, festivals, and community events without feeling different.
• Easier Travel: People with dual citizenship in the Philippines can freely enter and leave the Philippines, and live there as long as they want without needing a visa.

Aside from the benefits derived from being a dual citizen, there are also responsibilities that you must consider.

These responsibilities include:

• Taxes and Dual Taxation: People with dual citizenship may need to pay taxes in both the Philippines and their other home country. Check the tax rules for both countries and look for tax treaties between them to avoid paying double taxes, although you may have to file in both places. There may also be an implication to inheritance and associated taxes.

• Adherance to Laws: People with citizenship in two countries need to follow both countries’ rules and laws. This includes knowing about required duties, such as serving in the military should it be required. This also means that there are potential conflicts between the laws of these countries, so you might need help from a lawyer to understand what to do.

• Residency Requirements: Some countries have residency requirements to maintain certain benefits and rights. Citizens with two nationalities must check how long they need to live in each country to keep track. If they don’t spend enough time in either country, they might lose these advantages.

• Political Obligations: People with citizenship in two countries often need to handle duties like voting in both places.

• Document Management: Dual citizens need to manage multiple passports and ensure that they remain valid and up to date. This includes understanding the rules for entering and exiting countries with different passports. Aside from passports, it is also important to keep copies of important papers like birth certificates, citizenship documents, and tax records if you are a citizen of two countries.

• Family Dynamics: Having multiple passports in one family can create challenges when some family members are citizens of different countries than others. This can affect how families make choices together and how they relate to each other.

Filipino citizenship has many benefits, including full rights as a citizen.

If you were born Filipino and became a citizen of another country, you can have both citizenships at the same time.

Applying is simple, and all you need to do is to visit a Philippine Consulate or Embassy, bring the required papers, and take an oath.

Having dual citizenship lets you own property, run businesses, and stay connected to Filipino culture.

It also comes with responsibilities such as taxes, legal duties, and the like.

It’s important to get good advice to handle these matters properly.

With dual citizenship, you can keep your Filipino roots while having opportunities in both countries.

It’s a great option for those who qualify, letting you enjoy the advantages of being a citizen in two countries.

1. What is the difference between the principles of Jus Soli and Jus Sanguinis in determining nationality?

Jus soli, which translates to “right of the soil,” is a principle of nationality law in which a person’s citizenship or nationality is determined by the place of their birth, while Jus sanguinis, which translates to “right of blood,” is a principle of nationality law in which a person’s citizenship or nationality is determined by the citizenship or nationality of their parents.

2. What if I am a child of both Filipinos but I was born in the US? What is my nationality?

If you are a child of both Filipino parents but were born in the United States, you would have dual citizenship automatically at birth due to the principles of jus soli and jus sanguinis. You would need to file a report of birth at the embassy or if you do not have a report of birth, you can apply for dual citizenship at the Philippine embassy.

3. What countries follow the Jus Soli principle?

Countries that follow the jus soli (right of the soil) principle grant citizenship to individuals based on their place of birth are commonly United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Pakistan,Tanzania and Jamaica.

4. What countries follow the Jus Sanguinis principle?

Countries that follow the jus sanguinis (right of blood) principle grant citizenship based on the nationality or citizenship of the parents. Here are some notable countries that practice jus sanguinis: Italy, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Philippines, Greece, Israel, France, China, South Korea, and Poland.

5. Can a person have more than 2 citizenships?

Yes, it is possible for a person to hold more than two citizenships, though the rules and feasibility depend on the countries involved. Many countries permit multiple citizenships, while others have restrictions or do not recognize dual or multiple citizenships at all.

6. Can a foreigner acquire Filipino citizenship?

A foreigner can acquire Filipino citizenship through administrative naturalization if he was born in the Philippines or through judicial naturalization which requires a court case.

7. Can a foreigner be a dual citizen?

If a foreigner attains Filipino citizenship, one of the requirements is that he revokes his other citizenship. If he doesn’t revoke his other citizenship, his Filipino citizenship can be revoked by the Bureau of Immigration when alerted.