Introduction

A child with one Filipino parent and one Norwegian parent will typically acquire Philippine citizenship by blood (jus sanguinis) at birth, and may also acquire Norwegian citizenship by descent under Norwegian law. In Philippine procedures, agencies sometimes ask for a “Certificate of Foreign Citizenship” (CFC) or equivalent proof of the child’s other nationality. This article explains when and why the CFC is requested, which Philippine processes use it, what documents are acceptable in lieu of a formal “certificate,” and how the requirement plays out in two common scenarios: (a) child born in Norway, and (b) child born in the Philippines.

Short version: A Filipino–Norwegian child is a Filipino at birth (if either parent was Filipino at the time of birth). A CFC (or the child’s Norwegian passport/official attestation) is not needed to “make” the child dual; it is proof used in certain Philippine transactions (civil registration, passporting, immigration recognition).

What Philippine offices mean by “Certificate of Foreign Citizenship”

There is no single, universal Philippine form called “CFC.” The term is a catch-all used by Local Civil Registrars (LCRs), the DFA (passports), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for any official Norwegian document that proves the child is a Norwegian citizen. Acceptable proofs typically include:

A valid Norwegian passport in the child’s name;
A Norwegian certificate/attestation of citizenship (e.g., confirmation issued by Norwegian authorities);
A Norwegian national ID or population registry extract showing citizenship;
For newborns pending passport issuance: a written confirmation from the Norwegian embassy/UDI that the child acquired Norwegian citizenship at birth.

In practice, the Norwegian passport itself is the strongest and most convenient “CFC.”

Why Philippine agencies ask for it (and when)

1) Civil registration (PSA/LCR)

Report of Birth abroad (through a PH embassy/consulate): The consulate may request proof of the foreign parent’s citizenship and/or the child’s acquisition of Norwegian citizenship for the file.
Birth registered in the Philippines (child born in PH): Some LCRs ask for a CFC to annotate or note the child’s dual nationality or to document the foreign parent’s status. This avoids later disputes when the child seeks a Philippine passport or immigration recognition.

2) Philippine passport (DFA) for the child

If the child has a Report of Birth or a PSA birth certificate naming a Filipino parent, the child qualifies for a Philippine passport.
DFA sometimes asks for proof of other citizenship when:
- the child was born in the Philippines but presents a foreign passport;
- there are name/surname or legitimation issues tied to foreign records;
- the DFA needs to confirm identity and status for dual citizens who first traveled on a foreign passport.
The CFC here is supporting evidence, not a prerequisite to Philippine citizenship.

3) Bureau of Immigration (BI): Recognition of Philippine Citizenship

If the child was born abroad, entered the Philippines using a Norwegian passport, and now needs to be treated as Filipino locally (e.g., to study, reside, or get a PH passport without leaving), BI may process a Recognition as a Filipino application.
BI will require proof of the foreign citizenship alongside proofs of Philippine parentage. A Norwegian passport or citizenship attestation functions as the “CFC.”

4) Philippine exit/entry control when traveling

A dual child should enter and exit the Philippines on a Philippine passport to avoid being treated as a foreign national (visa/overstay/travel tax issues).
If the child inadvertently entered on a Norwegian passport and lacks a Philippine passport, BI may ask for proof of Philippine citizenship (birth/Report of Birth) and allow regularization/recognition; the Norwegian passport doubles as the “CFC.”

The two common life-cycle scenarios

A) Child born in Norway

Philippine actions:

Report of Birth at the Philippine Embassy/Consulate (attaches Norwegian birth record and parents’ IDs).
Philippine passport issuance abroad once the Report of Birth is recorded.
If already in the Philippines without a PH passport and using a Norwegian passport, apply with BI for Recognition (bring the Norwegian passport/attestation as CFC).

Norwegian actions (for context): Register the child with Norwegian authorities and obtain a Norwegian passport. Norway recognizes multiple citizenship; no renunciation is required.

B) Child born in the Philippines

Philippine actions:

PSA birth certificate lists the Filipino parent. The child is Filipino by birth.
DFA Philippine passport may be obtained directly on the basis of the PSA birth certificate and parents’ IDs.
If also claiming Norwegian citizenship from the foreign parent, the Norwegian Embassy processes the Norwegian side. Once the Norwegian passport or citizenship attestation is issued, keep a copy—Philippine offices may ask for it (as “CFC”) for records consistency, school, travel, or later dual-citizen identification.

Key distinctions (to avoid common mistakes)

RA 9225 (Dual Citizenship Law) is not for children who were Filipino at birth; it is for former Filipinos who lost PH citizenship by naturalization abroad and wish to re-acquire it. Filipino–Norwegian children are dual by birth, not RA 9225 applicants.
A CFC does not create Norwegian citizenship; it proves it. The child’s Philippine citizenship exists independently by virtue of the Filipino parent.
Legitimacy/surname rules affect documents but do not negate Philippine citizenship by blood. If the child’s surname follows Norwegian practice, Philippine agencies may simply ask for linking documents.

Document menus (what to prepare, by purpose)

For Report of Birth (abroad)

Foreign birth record (Norway) and its English version/official extract;
Passports/IDs of both parents; evidence that one parent was Filipino at time of birth;
Marriage certificate (if married) or recognition/acknowledgment documents if unmarried;
If requested: proof of Norwegian citizenship (child’s Norwegian passport or citizenship attestation).

For Philippine passport (child)

PSA or consular Report of Birth;
Parents’ IDs, marriage/acknowledgment documents;
If DFA asks: Norwegian passport or CFC-type attestation (especially if the child previously used/entered on a Norwegian passport).

For BI Recognition as Filipino (child in PH with foreign passport)

PSA/consular birth record showing Filipino parent;
Parents’ citizenship proofs at time of birth;
Child’s foreign passport (e.g., Norwegian) or citizenship attestation (the “CFC”);
Photos, forms, and fees as per BI checklist.

Travel & immigration tips for dual minors

Use a Philippine passport to enter/exit the Philippines. Carry the Norwegian passport for travel to/within Schengen.
If you must travel before the PH passport is ready, keep: (i) the Report of Birth/PSA birth certificate, and (ii) the Norwegian passport; consult BI for interim facilitation.
School enrollment, bank, or government transactions may accept the Norwegian passport as proof of the foreign citizenship component when “CFC” is requested.

Name, legitimacy, and parental details—how they interact with CFC

Different surnames across Norwegian and Philippine records are common. Keep a paper trail (birth record, acknowledgment, marriage certificate, parental IDs).
For children born out of wedlock, ensure the father’s acknowledgment is properly documented if the child uses the father’s surname; this is separate from nationality and from the CFC.
When reconciling names, a “One and the Same Person” affidavit can bridge minor spelling or format differences.

Frequently asked questions

1) Do we need a CFC to get a Philippine passport for our child? Not as a rule. A PSA/Report of Birth showing a Filipino parent suffices. DFA may ask for the Norwegian passport/attestation only to document dual status or reconcile prior travel records.

2) Our child entered the Philippines on a Norwegian passport. Is a CFC required to stay? To be recognized as Filipino locally (so the child is not treated as a tourist), BI will process Recognition using the child’s birth evidence plus the Norwegian passport/attestation—that foreign passport effectively serves as the “CFC.”

3) Can we apply under RA 9225 for our child? No. RA 9225 is for former Filipinos. Your child is Filipino at birth. Use Report of Birth and, if needed, BI Recognition.

4) Norway now allows multiple citizenship—does that change anything? It makes holding both passports simpler. For Philippine procedures, it merely means you can present a Norwegian passport/attestation as CFC when asked.

5) What if we don’t have the Norwegian passport yet? Ask the Norwegian authorities for a written confirmation of the child’s citizenship or proof of registration; Philippine offices typically accept that as a CFC substitute pending passport issuance.

Clean checklists (by scenario)

Child born in Norway – to keep both sides in order

☐ Register birth with Norway (get passport/attestation).
☐ Report of Birth with Philippine consulate (keep copies).
☐ Apply for Philippine passport at post (bring Norwegian passport as optional CFC).
☐ If in PH using Norwegian passport: BI Recognition (foreign passport = CFC).

Child born in the Philippines

☐ PSA birth certificate naming Filipino parent.
☐ Philippine passport (DFA).
☐ For Norwegian side: register with Norwegian Embassy; obtain Norwegian passport/attestation (this becomes your CFC for later Philippine files).
☐ Carry both passports when traveling; use the PH passport at Philippine immigration.

Key takeaways

A Filipino–Norwegian child is Filipino at birth; the Norwegian passport/attestation acts as the “Certificate of Foreign Citizenship” when a Philippine office asks for it.
The CFC is used to prove the foreign side of dual citizenship in civil registry, passport, and immigration recognition workflows.
Report of Birth/PSA birth certificate anchors Philippine citizenship; BI Recognition is the fix if the child is in PH but only has a Norwegian passport.
Use the Philippine passport for PH border formalities and the Norwegian passport for Schengen travel; keep documents consistent and maintain a clear linking paper trail.

If you’d like, I can turn this into a document pack with fill-in templates (consular Report of Birth cover letter, BI Recognition checklist, and name-reconciliation affidavit) tailored to your family’s facts.