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Visas & immigration
Dual Citizenship (RA 9225)
RA 9225 lets natural-born Filipinos who became citizens of another country re-acquire Philippine citizenship without giving up their foreign one. Known formally as the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003, it applies whether you want to retain or regain your citizenship.
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- Who it is for
- Former natural-born Filipinos
- Filing fee
- PHP 3,010
- Processing time
- 3 to 4 months
- Result
- Full Philippine citizenship
About the visa
Key Benefits of Dual Citizenship
Once you take the Oath of Allegiance you are a Filipino citizen again, with the rights that come with it. You no longer need a visa of any kind to live, work, own land or do business in the Philippines.
Own land and property
Buy and hold land in your own name without the limits that apply to foreigners and former Filipinos.
Work and do business freely
No work permit, and access to industries reserved for Filipino citizens.
A Philippine passport
Apply for a Philippine passport once your citizenship has been re-acquired.
Keep your other citizenship
You remain a citizen of your adopted country, unless that country's own laws say otherwise.
Include your children
Unmarried children under 18 can be included in your petition.
Who can apply
Dual Citizenship Eligibility Criteria
RA 9225 is open to former Filipinos who meet these conditions.
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You were a natural-born Filipino, meaning a Philippine citizen from birth without having to do anything to acquire it.
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You lost your Philippine citizenship by becoming a naturalized citizen of another country.
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You can prove your natural-born citizenship, normally with a PSA-issued birth certificate.
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You can show how and when you acquired your foreign citizenship.
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You are willing to take the Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines in person.
How it works
Dual Citizenship Application Process
The exact requirements and timing depend on your circumstances, but most applications follow these stages.
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Eligibility check
We confirm that you were a natural-born Filipino, how and when you acquired foreign citizenship, and whether any children can be included. -
Collecting documents
We help you obtain your PSA birth certificate, naturalization record and any marriage or name-change records. -
Preparing the petition
We complete the petition, the supplement for each child and any affidavits needed to explain differences between your records. -
Filing and pre-screening
The petition is filed with the Bureau of Immigration and checked for completeness. We respond to any request for further proof. -
Oath of Allegiance
You take the oath in person, generally before an authorized Bureau of Immigration officer, and the assessed fees are paid. -
Approval and release
You receive the order of approval, your certificate of retention or re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship and the official copy of your oath.
What the C&G Dual Citizenship Service Includes
Since 2019 we have helped more than 1,500 clients secure their Philippine visas. Our service fee covers everything below, from the first document to the final approval.
- Documents prepared and notarizedWe prepare every document your application needs, and our in-house attorneys notarize them.
- With you at government officesOur staff assist you on site at your government appointments, so you never face an agency alone.
- We deal with the agenciesWe coordinate with the agencies, follow up on your application and keep you updated at every step.
- Accredited with PRA, DOLE and BIC&G is accredited with the Philippine Retirement Authority, the Department of Labor and the Bureau of Immigration.
- An experienced teamOur team, including two attorneys, has more than 10 years of experience in immigration and business consulting.
- No hidden feesYour quote shows our service cost and the government fees separately, so you know the full cost before we begin.
- Manila, Cebu or remoteMeet us at our Manila or Cebu office, or work with us remotely from anywhere.
In detail
Dual citizenship document checklist
Principal applicant
Signed and notarized petition for retention or re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship
Two recent 2x2 color photographs on a white background, taken within the last three months
Oath of Allegiance, in two original copies
Original PSA-issued birth certificate, or PSA report of birth if you were born abroad
Your valid foreign passport, original and photocopy
Certificate of naturalization or citizenship, or another official record of how and when you acquired foreign citizenship
If it applies to you
Names that differ between records: an affidavit of one and the same person, with proof of the change such as a marriage certificate or court order
No PSA birth record: a certificate of no record and substitute evidence such as an old Philippine passport, baptismal certificate or school records
Naturalization record unavailable: a notarized affidavit explaining how and when foreign citizenship was acquired
Registered with Immigration as a foreign national: your ACR I-Card and residence certificate, which are surrendered
Each child included
Supplement form for a dependent, one per child
Two recent 2x2 color photographs on a white background
Birth certificate showing you as the parent: PSA-issued, or a foreign certificate that has been apostilled
Photocopy of the child's foreign passport
Final adoption decree, for an adopted child
Foreign documents may need to be apostilled, and anything not in English needs a translation.
In detail
Dual Citizenship fees and processing time
Bureau of Immigration fees, principal applicant: PHP 3,010
Each child included: PHP 1,760
Processing time: three to four months
These are the Bureau of Immigration's published fees. They can change without notice, and the amount on your order of payment is final. Our service fee is separate and is quoted during your consultation.
Where to file
Petitions are filed with the Bureau of Immigration, through its main office in Manila, its online service or a field office authorized to process them. If you live abroad you can apply through a Philippine embassy or consulate, which has its own procedure and fees.
After approval
Once your citizenship is re-acquired you can apply for a Philippine passport, cancel your alien registration, update your civil registry and property records, and register to vote.
In detail
Dual citizenship and land ownership
Property is one of the most common reasons former Filipinos re-acquire citizenship. Before taking the oath, former Filipinos can own only a limited area of land, with different limits for residential and commercial use. After it, those limits no longer apply.
If your interest is in a specific property, tell us how you expect to acquire it, whether by purchase, inheritance or donation, whether it is land or a condominium unit, and whether other heirs are involved. These details affect the order in which things should be done.
FAQs
Dual Citizenship Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Philippines allows dual citizenship, so you keep your current nationality unless the laws of that country require otherwise.
No. Only natural-born Filipinos, who were citizens from birth without having to perform any act, can re-acquire citizenship under RA 9225.
RA 9225 is for former Filipinos who lost their citizenship by naturalizing abroad. Recognition is for people born to a Filipino parent who have never had their citizenship formally acknowledged.
Unmarried children under 18 can be included, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted. A spouse cannot. A foreign spouse needs their own basis for citizenship or a visa such as the 13A, and a child aged 18 or over must qualify independently.
Re-acquiring Philippine citizenship takes three to four months through the Bureau of Immigration. Missing birth records and names that differ between documents are the most common causes of delay.
For dual citizenship, the Bureau of Immigration's published fee is PHP 3,010 for the principal applicant and PHP 1,760 for each child included. The amount on your order of payment is final.
You can apply for dual citizenship through the Bureau of Immigration's main office in Manila, its online service or an authorized field office. If you live abroad, you can apply at a Philippine embassy or consulate, which has its own requirements and fees.
Yes. To re-acquire Philippine citizenship you take the Oath of Allegiance personally, generally before an authorized Bureau of Immigration officer, or at a Philippine embassy or consulate if you apply from abroad.
For a dual citizenship application without a PSA birth certificate, the Bureau can accept substitute evidence, such as a PSA certificate of no record together with a baptismal certificate, an old Philippine passport, school records or your parents' marriage certificate. We review the evidence with you before filing.
No, but a name difference has to be explained in your dual citizenship application. You submit an Affidavit of One and the Same Person with proof of how the name changed, such as a marriage certificate or court order.
An Order of Approval, a Certificate of Retention or Re-acquisition of Philippine Citizenship and an official copy of your Oath of Allegiance. Check the names and dates on them as soon as you receive them.
No. A passport is a separate application to the Department of Foreign Affairs once your citizenship has been re-acquired.
If you are registered with the Bureau as a foreign national, you surrender your ACR I-Card and related certificates, and your alien registration is canceled once your citizenship is approved.
Yes. Once you re-acquire Philippine citizenship you have full land ownership rights as a Filipino citizen.
The 13G visa gives former Filipinos permanent residency without re-acquiring citizenship.
Written and reviewed by the C&G immigration team. Last updated . Government requirements and fees change, so confirm the details for your case before filing.
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