I. Constitutional and Legal Foundation

The right of every Filipino citizen to return to the Philippines is absolute and cannot be impaired except on grounds of national security, public safety, or public health as provided by law (Article III, Section 6, 1987 Philippine Constitution, as interpreted in Bureau of Immigration policies and Supreme Court decisions such as Marcos v. Manglapus and subsequent jurisprudence).

A Filipino citizen, regardless of the status of his or her passport, cannot be denied entry into the Philippines. An expired Philippine passport remains valid proof of Philippine citizenship until formally cancelled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) or the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Commonwealth Act No. 63, as amended, and Republic Act No. 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003) govern the retention or loss of Philippine citizenship in cases involving naturalization abroad.

II. Entry Procedure for Filipino Citizens with Expired Philippine Passports

A. Standard Procedure at Port of Entry

Present the expired Philippine passport to the Immigration Officer.
The passport, even expired, is prima facie evidence of Philippine citizenship.
The officer will encode the details and check against the BI database.
If no derogatory record appears, the citizen is admitted without restriction.

B. When Additional Verification Is Required

The Immigration Officer may require secondary inspection if:

The passport expired more than 10–15 years ago
The photo no longer resembles the bearer
There is indication of foreign naturalization (e.g., foreign passport presented together with expired PH passport)
The traveler has been abroad for decades with no record of passport renewal

Acceptable additional proof of citizenship (any one or combination):

Original PSA-issued Birth Certificate
Valid or expired Philippine Driver’s License
GSIS/SSS UMID card or old SSS E-1/E-4 form
Voter’s Certification or Comelec registration record
Philippine-issued NBI Clearance
Old Philippine passports (even very old ones)
Marriage certificate (if name changed)
School records (Form 137 or diploma from Philippine school)

In practice, bringing the original PSA birth certificate almost always resolves any doubt immediately.

C. Outcome of Verification

If citizenship is confirmed → admitted as Filipino citizen (unlimited stay, no visa stamp).
If citizenship cannot be satisfactorily proven → may be given temporary visitor status (7, 14, or 30 days) while completing documentation, or referred to BI Main Office for Affidavit of Philippine Citizenship execution.

III. Dual Citizens (RA 9225 Principal and Derivatives)

A. Travel Rule (Mandatory Use of Philippine Passport)

All persons who have reacquired or retained Philippine citizenship under RA 9225 must enter and depart the Philippines using a Philippine passport (Section 2, Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9225; Joint DFA-DND-DOT-BI-DOJ Circular No. 001-2018).

Failure to use a Philippine passport results in:

Being treated as a foreign national
Possible imposition of ECC requirement upon departure
Risk of being flagged for violation of RA 9225

B. Dual Citizens with Expired Philippine Passports

They are still required to present their Philippine passport (even expired) upon entry. Airlines will usually allow boarding on direct flights to the Philippines with an expired Philippine passport + RA 9225 Identification Certificate or Oath of Allegiance.

IV. Former Natural-Born Filipinos Who Did NOT Retain/Reacquire Citizenship

These are persons who became naturalized citizens of another country before or without availing of RA 9225. They have lost Philippine citizenship under CA 63.

A. Proper Entry Procedure

They must enter using their foreign passport.

They may avail of the Balikbayan Privilege (1-year visa-free stay) if:

They are former natural-born Filipinos, and
Traveling with a Filipino spouse or parent/child, or
Traveling alone (still entitled since 2015 per BI Operations Order No. SBM-2015-025)

B. Consequences of Attempting Entry with Only Expired Philippine Passport

The BI officer will likely:

Refuse to stamp the expired Philippine passport
Treat the person as a foreign national
Grant Balikbayan privilege (1 year) or regular tourist visa (30 days)
Require payment of visa extension fees if stay exceeds initial period

C. ECC Requirement for Former Filipinos Treated as Foreign Nationals

Any foreign national (including former Filipinos not under RA 9225) who has been in the Philippines for six (6) months or more must obtain an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) before departure (Section 9, Commonwealth Act No. 613, as implemented by BI Memorandum Circular No. AFF-02-001).

Types of ECC

ECC-A – For immigrant/permanent resident visa holders leaving permanently
ECC-B – For temporary visitors (including Balikbayans) who stayed ≥6 months

Requirements for ECC-B (Most Common for Returning Former Filipinos)

Accomplished ECC application form (available online or at BI)
Original passport (foreign passport)
Proof of stay exceeding 6 months (entry stamps, extensions)
ACR I-Card (if issued)
Official receipts of all visa extensions (if any)
Payment:
- ECC fee: PHP 710 (standard) or PHP 1,210 (express)
- Legal Research Fee, certification fees, etc.
For Balikbayans who stayed exactly 1 year: No overstay penalty if leaving within the 1-year privilege

Where to Apply

BI Main Office (Intramuros, Manila) – 3–5 working days
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (all terminals) – same-day issuance for departing passengers (must arrive 6–8 hours before flight)
Selected regional BI offices and accredited airports (Mactan-Cebu, Davao, Clark, Laoag, etc.)

Penalty for Departing Without ECC (When Required)

Fine of PHP 2,000–PHP 5,000 + possible blacklisting
Delay at airport immigration counter until ECC is issued on-site (with express lane fee)

Former Filipinos who fail to secure ECC are often allowed to pay on the spot at the airport, but it causes significant stress and delay.

V. Practical Recommendations for Returning Filipinos with Expired Passports

Best-Case Preparation (Still a Citizen or Dual Citizen)

Renew Philippine passport at the nearest Philippine consulate/embassy before returning (highly recommended).
If renewal not possible, bring:
- Expired Philippine passport
- Original PSA birth certificate
- RA 9225 documents (if dual)
- At least two Philippine-issued IDs
Book direct flights to the Philippines; airlines (especially PAL and Cebu Pacific) routinely accept expired Philippine passports for Filipino citizens on homebound flights.

If Citizenship Was Lost but Wish to Be Treated as Filipino Again

Apply for RA 9225 re-acquisition at the Philippine consulate abroad before returning. Processing takes 1–3 months. Once approved, renew Philippine passport and travel as dual citizen (no ECC ever needed).

If Already in the Philippines with Expired Passport and Need to Leave Soon

Filipino citizens and RA 9225 dual citizens: No ECC required ever.
Former Filipinos on Balikbayan or tourist status staying ≥6 months: Must secure ECC before departure.

VI. Summary Table

Status	Entry Document Used	Stay Duration	ECC Required Upon Departure?	Travel Tax Exemption
Filipino citizen (single)	Expired PH passport	Unlimited	No	Yes (always)
Dual citizen (RA 9225)	PH passport (even expired) + IC/Oath	Unlimited	No	Yes
Former Filipino (Balikbayan, no RA 9225)	Foreign passport	1 year	Yes if stayed ≥6 months	Yes if ≤1 year
Former Filipino (tourist visa)	Foreign passport	30 days (extendable)	Yes if stayed ≥6 months	No after 1 year

This framework reflects the consolidated policies of the Bureau of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Commission on Filipinos Overseas as consistently applied from 2015 to 2025. Travelers in doubtful cases are advised to contact the Bureau of Immigration in advance through its official hotlines or email for case-specific guidance.