Dual Citizenship

DUAL CITIZENSHIP

NOTE:

• Application for Dual Citizenship is by appointment…book appointment here (appointment.vancouverpcg.org)
• The consular officer reserves the right to require additional documents based on the documents submitted and special circumstances of the applicant.

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.

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

Requirements for Principal Applicant

Original Duly accomplished Application for Philippine Citizenship Retention & Reacquisition per R.A. 9225 form.

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

• Birth Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) formerly known as National Statistics Office (NSO). Can be requested through this website psaserbilis.com.ph
• Marriage Certificate (for married female applicant) issued by the PSA for those married in the Philippines or issued by the Vital Statistics Office of British Columbia if married in B.C.
• Philippine passport
• Canadian passport
• Citizenship Card/ID or Certificate of Oath Taking as a Canadian
• Three (3) recent 2 in X 2 in photographs (colored with white background)
• Death Certificate issued by the PSA for those who died in the Philippines or issued by the Vital Statistics Office of British Columbia if they died in B.C. (for applicants declaring status as “widowed”)
• Appropriate divorce decree or court order on the annulment of marriage (if applicable)

Other Supporting Documents:

• Certificate of Non-availability of Birth Record (if born before 1950) from the Local Civil Registrar or Negative Certification of Birth from PSA/NSO with Joint Birth Affidavit/Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons.
• LCR Copy or Transcription Copy of Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate from the Local Civil Registrar if PSA copy is unreadable.

Requirements for Derivative Citizenship Applicant

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

1. 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
5. Two (2) recent 2 in X 2 in photographs (colored with white background)
6. One (1) recent 2 in X 2 in photograph of the principal parent applicant (one additional photo per dependent child)

Fee of $77.50/principal applicant and $38.75/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).

REMINDERS FOR US CITIZENS

Please prepare the equivalent documents of the ones enumerated above issued by the appropriate American government agencies. Vital records of birth, marriage and death certificates should be issued by the Vital Records Office of the state where the vital event took place.

Certificates of Naturalization and/or Certificates of Citizenship for minors who became citizens of the United States of America, through derivative citizenship from their parents, are required for their RA9225 application to be given due course. This document may be requested from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver does not have same day oath taking ceremonies. Approved applicants are provided with a different date to return to the Consulate to take their Oath of Allegiance.