I. Overview

Republic Act No. 9225, the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003, recognizes that many natural-born Filipinos have become citizens of other countries but still wish to identify as Filipinos in law and in fact.

RA 9225 allows natural-born Filipino citizens who lost their Philippine citizenship through naturalization in a foreign country to:

Reacquire or retain their Philippine citizenship by taking an Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines; and
Enjoy, again, all the rights and privileges (and obligations) of Filipino citizens, subject to certain special rules, especially for holding public office and practicing regulated professions.

This article explains the legal basis, who qualifies, the effects of dual citizenship, and a detailed guide on how to apply using RA 9225.

Disclaimer: This is general legal information, not a substitute for formal legal advice. For specific cases, consult a Philippine lawyer or the concerned government agency.

II. Legal Framework

1987 Philippine Constitution
- Article IV (Citizenship) provides that:
  - Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of the Constitution.
  - Those whose father or mother is a citizen of the Philippines.
  - Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority.
- It also authorizes Congress to define laws on citizenship, under which RA 9225 was enacted.
Republic Act No. 9225 (2003)
- Official title: “An Act Making the Citizenship of Philippine Citizens Who Acquire Foreign Citizenship Permanent, Amending for the Purpose Commonwealth Act No. 63, as Amended, and for Other Purposes.”
- Core principle: Natural-born Filipinos who became foreign citizens should be able to retain or reacquire their Philippine citizenship by a simple administrative process.
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)
- Issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ), implemented operationally by:
  - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) within the Philippines; and
  - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through Philippine Embassies and Consulates abroad.

III. Who Qualifies Under RA 9225?

1. Basic Qualification

You qualify under RA 9225 if:

You are a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, AND
You lost your Philippine citizenship solely because you became a naturalized citizen of a foreign country.

“Natural-born” (per the 1987 Constitution) means you were a Philippine citizen from birth and did not have to perform any act to acquire Philippine citizenship (usually because at least one parent was Filipino at the time of your birth).

2. Evidence of Being Natural-Born

Typically, you will need to show any or several of the following:

PSA-issued birth certificate showing Filipino parent(s)
Old Philippine passport (even if expired)
Certificate of Philippine citizenship (older documents if applicable)
Parents’ documents showing Philippine citizenship at the time of your birth (e.g., passports, IDs, naturalization papers)

3. Evidence of Foreign Naturalization

Because RA 9225 is about reacquiring/retaining citizenship:

You must show proof that you are now a citizen of a foreign country (for example: Certificate of Naturalization, foreign passport, or citizenship certificate).

4. Who Does Not Qualify?

Generally, the following are not covered by RA 9225:

A person who was not natural-born Filipino (e.g., became Filipino through naturalization, then later lost it).
A person who never was a Filipino citizen.
Someone who renounced Philippine citizenship in a manner not involving foreign naturalization might need judicial or other remedies; RA 9225 alone may not automatically apply.

IV. Key Concepts: Retention, Re-acquisition & Dual Citizenship

Retention of Philippine Citizenship
- For natural-born Filipinos who will acquire or are acquiring foreign citizenship but want to keep their Philippine citizenship at the same time.
- Practically, if you apply for foreign naturalization, you can also arrange RA 9225 so you “retain” your Philippine citizenship (depending on timing and procedures).
Re-acquisition of Philippine Citizenship
- For natural-born Filipinos who already lost Philippine citizenship in the past by becoming foreign citizens.
- Once you take the Oath of Allegiance and your petition is approved, you re-acquire Philippine citizenship.
Dual Citizenship vs. Dual Nationality (Everyday Usage)
- In Philippine usage, RA 9225 effectively leads to dual citizenship: you are both a Filipino and a citizen of your foreign country (assuming that foreign law allows dual citizenship).
- RA 9225 does not force you to renounce your foreign citizenship; it simply recognizes you again as a Filipino.

Important: Whether you keep or lose your foreign citizenship depends on the laws of that foreign country, not Philippine law.

V. Effects of Reacquiring/Retaining Philippine Citizenship

After approval under RA 9225, you:

Become a full Filipino citizen again, with the same civil and political rights as other Filipinos, subject to special rules for public office and certain professions.
Remain a citizen of your foreign country (assuming its law allows dual citizenship).
Are bound by Philippine laws whenever they apply (for example, when you are in the Philippines).

1. Rights You Reacquire

Among others:

Right to reside and stay in the Philippines indefinitely without immigrant visas.
Right to own land and property allowed to Filipino citizens (including residential, agricultural, and other properties, subject to constitutional area limits).
Right to engage in business or trade reserved for Filipinos or Filipino-owned corporations (subject to equity limits in certain industries).
Right to a Philippine passport.
Right to vote in Philippine elections (after registering/reactivating registration).
Right to run for public office, subject to special disqualification rules (see below).
Right to practice professions, subject to Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and other regulatory rules.

2. Obligations You Resume

Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines.
Obedience to Philippine laws, particularly when within Philippine jurisdiction.
Tax obligations as a citizen, depending on your residency status (see Tax section below).
Compliance with any applicable military, security, or public service rules if you enter those fields.

VI. Where and How to Apply

You can apply under RA 9225 in two main venues:

Abroad – at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction over your place of residence.
In the Philippines – at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) or BI-designated offices.

The specific procedures and fees may differ slightly depending on the post or office, but the legal backbone is the same.

VII. Documentary Requirements (Typical)

Actual checklists vary by Embassy/Consulate or BI office, but commonly required documents include:

Duly accomplished RA 9225 Petition Form
- Usually provided by BI or the Embassy/Consulate.
Proof of Former Natural-Born Philippine Citizenship
- PSA birth certificate.
- Old Philippine passport (if any).
- Other government ID showing Filipino citizenship at birth (if applicable).
Proof of Foreign Citizenship
- Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship in the foreign country.
- Foreign passport.
- Foreign citizenship ID or card (if applicable).
Civil Status Documents
- Marriage certificate (if married), especially for women who changed surnames.
- Divorce decree, death certificate of spouse, or annulment decree, if civil status changed.
For Derivative Children (if applying together)
- Birth certificates of the children.
- Proof of filiation (e.g., marriage certificate of parents, legitimation, adoption papers).
- Adoption or legitimation documents where applicable.
Photographs
- Usually passport-sized photos with specific background and format.
Payment of Prescribed Fees
- Filing fee, oath-taking fee, and issuance fee for Identification Certificate (IC) and other documents, depending on the office/consulate.

Always bring originals and photocopies, as originals are often required for verification.

VIII. Step-by-Step Application Process

A. Application Abroad (Philippine Embassy/Consulate)

Secure the RA 9225 Form and Checklist
- Download from the consulate website or obtain from the consular office.
Prepare Documents
- Gather all required documents.
- Photocopy and have originals ready for inspection.
File the Petition
- Submit the accomplished form and supporting documents.
- Pay the applicable fees.
Evaluation
- The consulate verifies your natural-born status and foreign naturalization.
Schedule and Attend the Oath-Taking Ceremony
- You will be notified of your Oath of Allegiance schedule.
- During the ceremony, you recite and sign the Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines.
Issuance of Documents
- You receive:
  - Order of Approval, and
  - Identification Certificate (IC) as a Filipino citizen.
- The consulate may also note that your minor children have been recognized as Filipino citizens if they qualified derivatively.
Subsequent Steps
- Apply for a Philippine passport (usually allowed once you have your IC).
- Later, you can register as an overseas voter if qualified.

B. Application in the Philippines (Bureau of Immigration)

Secure BI RA 9225 Forms
- Obtain the RA 9225 Petition and checklist from BI offices or website (if available).
File Petition
- Submit forms and documents at BI main office or designated field office.
- Pay the necessary filing fees.
BI Interview/Review
- BI evaluates your eligibility and documents.
Approval & Oath of Allegiance
- Upon approval, you will be scheduled to take the Oath of Allegiance before a BI-authorized officer.
Release of Identification Certificate
- Once all is in order, BI issues your Identification Certificate acknowledging your reacquisition/retention of Philippine citizenship.
Next Steps
- Apply for a Philippine passport with DFA.
- Register with COMELEC or update your voter registration (if you intend to vote).
- Update records with banks, property registries, schools, etc., as needed.

IX. Derivative Citizenship for Minor Children

RA 9225 allows certain minor children of a person who reacquires or retains Philippine citizenship to also be recognized as Filipino citizens.

1. Who May Qualify?

Unmarried children below 18 years old, legitimate, illegitimate, or adopted, of a parent who is re-acquiring/retaining Philippine citizenship under RA 9225.

2. How It Works

The parent typically includes the children in the petition or files a separate but related petition on their behalf, depending on the procedure of the BI or consulate.
Upon approval:
- The children are issued their own Identification Certificates as Filipino citizens.
- They may later apply for Philippine passports.

3. Children Already Over 18

They cannot generally derive automatically under RA 9225 once they are 18 or older.
They need to qualify in their own right, often by proving that at the time of their birth, their parent was still a Filipino, and then following the appropriate citizenship confirmation/recognition process (which may be different from straightforward RA 9225 derivative recognition).

X. Special Rules for Public Office and Government Service

RA 9225 includes important limitations for dual citizens who wish to hold public office or serve in sensitive positions.

Elective Public Officials
- A natural-born Filipino who became a foreign citizen and then reacquired Philippine citizenship under RA 9225 may run for public office if:
  - They meet all constitutional and statutory qualifications, and
  - They make a personal and sworn renunciation of all foreign citizenship prior to or upon filing their Certificate of Candidacy (as interpreted by subsequent laws and jurisprudence).
Appointive Public Officials and Military/Police
- Those seeking appointive positions in public office, especially in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), or positions involving national security or sensitive policy-making, are often required to:
  - Renounce any foreign citizenship, and
  - Submit relevant renunciation documents, clearances, and comply with specific agency rules.
Residency and Other Constitutional Requirements
- For certain positions (President, Vice-President, Senators, Representatives, local elective positions), there are specific residence and voter registration requirements. Dual citizenship via RA 9225 does not automatically satisfy these; they must still be independently met.

XI. Practice of Professions

Reacquiring or retaining Philippine citizenship does not automatically restore your license to practice a regulated profession. You must still comply with:

Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) requirements for professions like medicine, engineering, teaching, nursing, accountancy, etc.
Supreme Court/Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) rules for lawyers.
Other regulatory boards (e.g., architects, pharmacists, etc.).

Some professions may have bridging rules or special registration for returning dual citizens, but they still require formal compliance.

XII. Tax and Property Implications

1. Taxation

Under Philippine tax law:

A resident citizen (living in the Philippines) is generally taxed on income from all sources (worldwide).
A non-resident citizen is taxed only on income from Philippine sources.

RA 9225 does not itself define your tax residency; it simply restores your citizenship. Your actual place of residence, length of stay in the Philippines, and other factors determine your tax status.

You may end up with tax obligations in both the Philippines and your foreign country, though tax treaties may help avoid double taxation. Consult a tax professional for case-specific advice.

2. Land and Property Ownership

Once you reacquire or retain Philippine citizenship:

You may acquire and hold land to the full extent allowed to Filipinos (subject to constitutional land area limits for residential, agricultural land, etc.).
If you previously bought land as a former Filipino under special “Balikbayan” rules (which allow limited land ownership by former Filipinos), reacquiring citizenship may remove those limits going forward (though the conditions of prior purchases still stand).

You may also freely own shares in corporations where ownership is restricted to Filipinos or Filipino-owned corporations, subject again to constitutional and statutory ownership caps.

XIII. Travel and Passport Use

As a dual citizen:

You may hold both Philippine and foreign passports.
As a matter of practice and policy, you are usually expected to:
- Use your Philippine passport when entering and leaving the Philippines as a Filipino citizen.
- Comply with the immigration and exit requirements of your foreign country when departing/entering there.

Failure to use your Philippine passport when entering/leaving the Philippines as a dual citizen can, in some circumstances, cause confusion at immigration and lead to being treated as a foreign national for certain purposes.

XIV. Renunciation of Foreign Citizenship (If Needed)

If you intend to:

Run for positions that require exclusive Filipino citizenship, or
Accept government jobs or military/police roles that require sole allegiance to the Republic,

then you may have to formally renounce your foreign citizenship in accordance with:

Philippine requirements (e.g., sworn renunciation submitted to COMELEC or the appropriate agency), and
Foreign laws outlining how foreign citizenship is relinquished (e.g., formal filings, notifications).

Merely taking the RA 9225 Oath does not automatically renounce your foreign citizenship, unless the foreign country’s own law says otherwise.

XV. Practical Tips and Common Pitfalls

Confirm You Are Natural-Born
- Before anything else, confirm that you were indeed natural-born Filipino. Your birth documents and your parents’ citizenship at the time of your birth are crucial.
Check Your Foreign Country’s Rules on Dual Citizenship
- Some countries are strict about their nationals acquiring or reacquiring another citizenship; others are very permissive.
- You may wish to consult a lawyer in your foreign country.
Keep Copies of All Filings
- Retain copies of your petition, IC, Order of Approval, Oath of Allegiance, and receipts. You will need them for:
  - Passport application
  - Voter registration
  - Government or private transactions that require proof of citizenship
Don’t Ignore Residency & Voting Requirements
- RA 9225 gives you back citizenship, but does not itself register you to vote.
- You must register or reactivate your voting status with COMELEC or via Overseas Voting procedures.
Be Careful With Names and Civil Status
- Make sure your name and civil status are consistent across your Philippine and foreign documents.
- Discrepancies (different names, spelling, middle names, etc.) may cause delays.
Consider Long-Term Plans
- If you intend to retire in the Philippines, run a business, or buy/add to your property, reacquiring citizenship can significantly simplify legal and economic arrangements.

XVI. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Will RA 9225 force me to give up my foreign citizenship? No. Philippine law does not require you to give up your foreign citizenship when you reacquire or retain Philippine citizenship. However, foreign law might have its own consequences.

2. Can I apply for dual citizenship if I was not born Filipino? No, RA 9225 is specifically for natural-born Filipinos who lost their citizenship by foreign naturalization.

3. Can my spouse also become Filipino under RA 9225 because of my application? No. The foreign spouse of a Filipino is not automatically granted citizenship by RA 9225. The spouse must qualify through naturalization or other legal modes. RA 9225 derivative benefits are for children, not spouses.

4. My child is already a foreign citizen. If I reacquire Philippine citizenship, is my child automatically Filipino? If the child is under 18 and unmarried, they may be recognized derivatively under RA 9225 procedures. If the child is already 18 or older, they need to qualify independently (often via their own application).

5. How long is the RA 9225 status valid? Do I need to renew it? The citizenship itself does not expire. Once you have reacquired/retained Philippine citizenship, you are a Filipino again. However, documents like passports do expire and must be renewed.

6. I lost my Philippine birth certificate. Can I still apply? Yes, but you will need to obtain a new copy from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) or provide alternative evidence. Missing documents usually can be remedied, but may require extra steps.

XVII. Conclusion

RA 9225 is a powerful legal mechanism that allows natural-born Filipinos who became foreign citizens to reconnect formally with the Philippines—restoring their citizenship, rights, and obligations as Filipinos, while often keeping their foreign citizenship as well.

If you:

Were born a Filipino,
Became a citizen of another country, and
Wish to enjoy again the full legal status of being Filipino,

then RA 9225 offers a relatively straightforward administrative path to do so through:

Filing a petition with BI or a Philippine Embassy/Consulate,
Presenting proof of your natural-born status and foreign citizenship, and
Taking the Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines.

For unique or complicated cases—especially involving public office, multiple citizenships, or complex family situations—it is wise to consult a Philippine lawyer or the concerned government offices for tailored guidance.