NATURAL BORN FILIPINOS

Those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or
perfect their Philippine citizenship. These are persons:
 Born after January 17, 1973 ,whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines at the
time of their birth;•
 Born before January 17, 1973 to a:
1. Filipino Father; or
2. Filipino Mother and that person elects Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of
majority;

A dual citizen by birth is a natural born Filipino born in a foreign country allowing/accepting dual
nationality/dual citizenship; thus all that person (or parent/s of the person) needs to do is report the
birth.

RA 9225, 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.

RA 9225 does not apply to dual citizens, i.e., those who have both Philippine citizenship as well as
foreign citizenship not acquired through naturalization.
a. A child born of parents who are both Filipino citizens (at the time of birth) in a country that
adheres to the jus soli principle (e.g., the United States) is a dual citizen. The child, who is a
natural-born Filipino because the Philippines adheres to the jus sanginis principle, is also
entitled to apply for a US passport.
b. A child born of one parent who is a Filipino citizen (at the time of birth) and of one foreign
parent (e.g., Australian) whose country adheres to the jus sanguinis principle is a dual citizen
and is entitled to apply for both Philippine and Australian passports.
c. A child born of one parent who is a Filipino citizen (at the time of birth) and of one foreign
parent (e.g, Australian) whose country adheres to the jus sanguinis principle in a country that
adheres to the jus soli principle (e.g., US) would be entitled to apply for Philippine, Australian
and US passports

Recognition as a Filipino Citizen

This applies to foreigners born abroad whose parent/s is/are former Filipino citizens at the time of
the birth of the applicant and was/were eventually naturalized as citizens of another country.
Moreover, at the time of application for Dual citizenship, the applicant is already 18 years old or
above. This also applies to anyone with Filipino lineage who are not eligible to apply under R.A. 9225
or the "Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003."

The following documents are to be submitted to the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines:

1.Petition, in the form of a letter-request, made under oath by the Filipino parent or legally
appointed guardian. A person who is 18 years old or above must apply in his/her own capacity.
In default of parents or a judicially appointed guardian, the following persons shall exercise
substitute parental authority over the child in the order indicated:
a.The surviving grandparent as provided in Article 214 of the Family Code;
b.The oldest brother or sister over 21 years of age, unless unfit or disqualified; and
c.the child’s actual custodian, over 21 years of age, unless unfit or disqualified;
In case the letter-request is made by a person on behalf of any of the parents, the legally
appointed guardian, or persons exercising substitute parental authority, he or she must be duly
authorized through a power of attorney to file such petition.
2.Authenticated birth certificate of the child;
3.Birth certificate of the Filipino parent;
 4.Affidavit of Citizenship executed by the applicant’s Filipino parent attesting to his/her
citizenship at the time of the birth of the child;
5.Photocopy of the child’s passport, if he/she has one;
6.Photocopy of the Filipino parent’s passport, if he/she has one;
7.Proof of Filipino citizenship of a parent at the time of birth of the child other than the
parent’s passport or the child’s passport.