DUAL CITIZENSHIP

OVERVIEW

You can reacquire your Philippine citizenship and become a dual citizen if you: (1) were born Filipino; (2) became a citizen of another country; (3) are at least 18 years old; and (4) personally appear at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC.

Appointment at the Philippine Embassy is required and the process is completed on the same day. If applying at one of our consular outreach missions, you will need to mail the documents ahead of time. For outreach instructions, visit this page.

GENERAL INFORMATION

To be eligible for dual citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225 (Dual Citizenship Law), you must be a former natural-born Filipino citizen who became a naturalized citizen of another country. 

You can also include your unmarried children under 18 in your application so they can become Filipino citizens too. Their presence is not necessary during the appointment.

Who is Considered A Natural-Born Filipino?

To be eligible for dual citizenship under Republic Act 9225, you must be a former natural-born Filipino citizen who has become a naturalized citizen of another country.

You are a natural-born Filipino citizen if you were:

  1. Born starting January 17, 1973: Either of your parents was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth.
  2. Born before January 17, 1973: Your father was Filipino; or your mother was Filipino, and you elected Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority.

Check if You Are A Dual Citizen at Birth

If you were born outside the Philippines on or after 17 January 1973, you are automatically considered a Filipino as long as one of your parents was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth.

So if one of your parents was Filipino when you were born in the United States, you are already a dual citizen at birth. If this applies to you, you only need to report your birth to the relevant Philippine Embassy/Consulate with jurisdiction over the place of your birth for recognition as a Filipino citizen.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Schedule an Appointment. Appointment is required for this service. Click the button below to set an appointment online.

Book an Appointment

2. Prepare Your Application. Complete the necessary forms and gather required documents before your appointment. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

3. Proceed to the Embassy. On the day of your appointment, go to the Embassy to submit your application form and supporting documents, and pay the processing fee. Please bring a pen for filling out and signing forms during your appointment. Minors are not required to be present at the appointment.

4. Take the Oath of Allegiance. Together with all dual citizenship applicants for the day, attend the briefing and take the oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines in front of a Philippine consular officer.

5. Receive Your Identification Certificate. After taking the oath, you will receive your dual citizenship identification certificate. Your dual citizenship identification certificate will bear all the names you have used in your application documents.

6. Additional Services. You have the option to apply for a Philippine passport after the oath taking ceremony. You can report your marriage and the birth of your child to the Embassy. You can also get a certified true copy of your dual citizenship certificate.

WHAT TO BRING

This list of requirements are for those who are applying for citizenship in Washington DC. If applying at one of our consular outreach missions, please visit this page for the instructions.

Documentary Requirements

1. Application Form

2. Birth Certificate

3. Naturalization Certificate

    • Original and one (1) photocopy of the Naturalization Certificate issued by the foreign government

4. PH and Foreign Passports

    • Original and one (1) photocopy of the data pages of both Philippine and foreign passports

5. Photographs

    • Two (2) recent color 2″ x 2″ photos, taken within the last six months, with a white background

6. For Change of Name

    • Original and one (1) photocopy of documents that will support the change of name such as:
      1. Marriage certificate / Report of marriage
      2. Annotated birth certificate
      3. Annotated marriage contract to show annulment/divorce/court order
      4. Death certificate of spouse
      5. Birth certificate before and after adoption
      6. Court decision or order on adoption and Certificate of finality
    • Your dual citizenship identification certificate will bear all the names you have used in your application documents. However, if you are getting a Philippine passport, only PSA-issued documents can be used as a basis for the name on your Philippine passport.

7. Payment

    • USD 50.00 processing fee for each adult principal
    • Accepted payment methods include cash, credit/debit card (4% convenience fee applies), or money order made payable to “Embassy of the Philippines”
    • Personal checks are not accepted

Documentary Requirements for Derivative Citizenship of Minors

1. Photos

    • Two (2) recent color 2″ x 2″ photos

2. Birth Certificate

    • One (1) original and one (1) photocopy

3. PH and/or Foreign Passport

    • Original and one (1) photocopy of the data pages of the Philippine and/or foreign passports, if available

4. Payment

    • USD 25.00 for each minor derivative
    • Accepted payment methods include cash, credit/debit card (4% convenience fee applies), or money order made payable to “Embassy of the Philippines”

Minors are included in their parent’s application and are not required to be present at the appointment.

NEXT STEPS

After successfully reacquiring Filipino citizenship, you can take several actions to further formalize your status and update your records with the Philippine government:

  1. Apply for a Philippine Passport. You have the option to get a Philippine passport. If you would like to apply for a passport on the same day of your oath taking ceremony, bring another set of photocopies of your documents and a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope. Please note that the name on your passport will follow the name on your PSA documents. The Embassy is unable to use non-PSA documents as a basis for any changes to your passport name.
  2. Report Your Marriage. If you married outside the Philippines, whether to a Filipino or a foreigner, it is essential to report your marriage to the Philippine Statistics Authority through the Embassy/ Consulate General with jurisdiction over the place of your marriage. Applications must be submitted by mail, but you have the option to submit it on the same day of your oath taking ceremony.
  3. Report Your Child’s Birth. For children born outside the Philippines, it is important to report their birth to the Philippine Statistics Authority through the Embassy/ Consulate General with jurisdiction over the place of birth. Applications must be submitted by mail, but you have the option to submit it on the same day of your oath taking ceremony.
  4. Apply for Your Foreign Spouse’s Immigrant Visa. Your foreign spouse can apply for a permanent resident visa [13(A) visa]. Applications must be submitted by mail.
  5. Register for Overseas Voting. If the overseas voter registration period is open, you can register as an overseas voter on the same day you obtain dual citizenship.

FURTHER RESOURCES

Set your dual citizenship appointment here.

Click here to download a checklist of requirements for dual citizenship.

Visit this page for frequently asked questions.

For further inquiries, email us at dualcitizenship@phembassy-us.org.