The Philippines transmits citizenship to children born to at least one Filipino parent. Former natural-born Filipinos who naturalized abroad can reacquire Philippine citizenship under Republic Act 9225 — and their children may derive citizenship from them.
Legal Basis
Philippine Constitution, Article IV, Section 1 (jus sanguinis). Republic Act No. 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003). Commonwealth Act No. 63 (original citizenship law).
Philippine citizenship by descent is governed by the Philippine Constitution's jus sanguinis principle: anyone born to at least one Filipino parent is a natural-born Filipino citizen. For those born abroad, citizenship must be registered at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate. Republic Act 9225 (the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003) allows former natural-born Filipinos who naturalized in another country to reacquire Philippine citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance. Their children under 18 may derive citizenship from them; children 18 or older who were born when the parent was still Filipino must apply separately for recognition as natural-born Filipinos. The Philippines allows dual citizenship.
Step-by-Step Process
1: Gather birth certificates for yourself and Filipino parent — Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for parent's records · 2–4 weeks · $20–$50
2: Authenticate documents (apostille or consular legalization) — Department of Foreign Affairs or Secretary of State · 2–4 weeks · $50–$150
3: Submit application at Philippine Embassy or Consulate — Philippine Embassy/Consulate in your country · 1 day appointment · $100–$200 consular fee
4: Background check and processing — Bureau of Immigration (Manila) · 3–9 months · Included
5: Take oath of allegiance (if reacquiring under RA 9225) — Philippine Embassy/Consulate · 1 day · Included
Large global Filipino diaspora means consular services are widely available
Considerations
Parent-only generation limit — grandchildren of Filipinos do not qualify under jus sanguinis
Philippine passport has limited visa-free access (~67 countries)
Processing times can be slow (3–9 months for Bureau of Immigration processing)
Documentation requirements can be complex for older or incomplete records
Requirements
Your birth certificate (apostilled)
Filipino parent's birth certificate and proof of Philippine citizenship (PSA-certified)
Your current passport (copy)
Marriage certificate of parents (if applicable, apostilled)
Completed application form
$100–$200 consular fee
Tax Considerations
The Philippines taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence. However, overseas Filipinos (OFWs) and non-resident citizens are generally taxed only on Philippine-sourced income. The Philippines has a growing tax treaty network.
Frequently Asked Questions
My mother is Filipino but I was born in the US — do I qualify?
Yes. If your mother was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth, you are a natural-born Filipino citizen. You need to report your birth at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate to have it registered in the Philippine civil registry.
I naturalized as a US citizen and lost my Philippine citizenship — can I get it back?
Yes. Republic Act 9225 allows former natural-born Filipinos who naturalized in another country to reacquire Philippine citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate. You can then hold both US and Philippine citizenship simultaneously.
Does the Philippines allow dual citizenship?
Yes. The Philippines explicitly allows dual citizenship under RA 9225. Natural-born Filipinos who naturalized abroad can reacquire Philippine citizenship without renouncing their foreign citizenship.