Filipino Citizenship

 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• Legal Basis: Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9225)

The Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9225) shall apply to former natural-born citizens of the Philippines, as defined by Philippine law and jurisprudence, who have lost their Philippine citizenship by reason of their naturalization as citizens of another country.

Corollary to the above, a former natural-born citizen of the Philippines who is abroad and is not an alien registered with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration shall file a petition under oath with the nearest Philippine foreign service post for the issuance of an Identification Certificate (IC) under Republic Act 9225.

• Derivative Citizenship for Children below 18 Years Old

Republic Act 9225 provides for the acquisition of Philippine citizenship by children, below 18 years old, of former natural-born Filipinos who have successfully re-acquired Philippine citizenship under the provisions of the same law. For concerned qualified applicants, the same documentary requirements shall be submitted to the Consulate (include the original marriage certificate of parents).

If born abroad (for minor children included in the petition of the applicant), please submit the Birth Certificate issued by competent foreign authorities. Payment of processing fee of €25.00 per child included in the petition (per BI Memo Circular AFF. 05-002) plus fee of €25.00 per child for the Report of Birth that will be submitted to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Duly-accomplished application form in triplicate: RA 9225 REACQUISITION AND RETENTION FORM
2. As many of the following documents showing proof of Filipino citizenship and three photocopies of the same:
   • Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) issued birth certificate;
   • Old or valid Philippine passport;
   • Voter’s affidavit or voter’s identification card;
   • Marriage contract indicating the Philippine citizenship of the applicant; or
   • Such other documents that would show that the applicant is a former natural-born citizen of the Philippines as may be accepted by the evaluating officer. In all cases, the evaluating officer may require the submission of additional documents if there is reasonable ground to believe that the applicant is not a former natural-born Filipino.
3. Eight (8) recent passport-size photographs of the applicant, six (6) of which are taken against a white background and the two (2) against a royal blue background (BI Memorandum Circular No. MCL-08-006).
4. Original Marriage Certificate, if applicable, and three photocopies of the same.
5. Proof of acquisition of foreign citizenship (Einbürgerungsurkunde) from the Landkreis Emsland with an English translation prepared by a licensed translator (vereidigter Übersetzer) and certified by the State Judicial President (Landgericht) where the translator is registered, and three photocopies of the same.
6. Foreign passport and three photocopies of the same.
7. In all cases, the evaluating officer may require the submission of additional documents if there is reasonable ground to believe that the applicant is not a former natural-born Filipino.

PROCEDURE:

1. Interested applicants should email their filled up but unsigned RA 9225 REACQUISITION AND RETENTION FORM, complete supporting documents, and contact number to ra9225.frankfurtpcg@gmail.com for pre-assessment beginning on 27 June 2024.
2. If all initial documentary requirements are found in order, the Philippine Consulate General will provide the applicant with a schedule for the submission of the applicant’s original documents and oath-taking.
3. If the Consulate has any questions regarding the applicant’s documents, the Consulate will revert to the applicant within five (5) working days.
4. During the applicant’s appointment with the Consulate, the applicant is expected to submit all original documents and three (3) photocopies of the same and to pay the processing fee of €50.00 and €25.00 for each qualified dependent plus €25.00 for the authentication of the Einbürgerungsurkunde (Naturalization Certificate).
5. After the applicant has taken the Oath of Allegiance, the Philippine Consulate General will issue an Order of Approval and Identification Certificate (IC) to the applicant and forward the documents to the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

1. Dual citizenship (Filipino and foreign citizenship) is not automatic upon acquiring a foreign citizenship. A Filipino who naturalized as a citizen of another country needs to complete the process of reacquiring/retaining their Filipino citizenship in order to effectively reacquire or retain their Filipino citizenship alongside their new citizenship and be able to continue using a Philippine passport.
2. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check with the relevant German authorities regarding any impact that reacquiring their Philippine citizenship may have on their German citizenship. The Philippine Consulate General will not be responsible for any adverse effect that reacquiring/retaining Philippine citizenship may have on their German citizenship.
3. Re-acquired Philippine citizenship under Republic Act 9225 may be revoked by the competent Philippine authorities upon a substantive finding of fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment on the part of the applicant. The Philippine Consulate General will not be responsible for any adverse effect that such a revocation on said grounds may have on the applicant.
4. All application forms should be brought to the Philippine Consulate General filled up but unsigned. Typewritten entries are strongly recommended for improved legibility.
5. With regard to the applicant’s supporting documents, all original documents must be brought and presented to the Philippine Consulate General for inspection during the applicant’s schedule for submission. All original documents will be returned to the applicant at the end of their appointment.

 

RENUNCIATION OF FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP (ENTLASSUNG AUS DER PHILIPPINISCHEN STAATSBÜRGERSCHAFT)

Please select the applicable form:

• Form No. 1 – For Adults (18 and above) with Einbürgerungzusicherung
• Form No. 2 – For minor applicants
• Form No. 3 – For adult applicants (18 and above) with Eingbürgerungsurkunde

Specific requirements can be found on the second page of each form.

GENERAL POLICIES REGARDING DUAL CITIZENSHIP (DOPPELTE STAATSBÜRGERSCHAFT PHILIPPINISCH-DEUTSCH)

Currently, Germany allows dual citizenship only in the following cases:

1. Children born of mixed marriages (e.g. Filipino-German) are entitled to both citizenships (dual citizenship) by reason of blood.
2. Those born in Germany after 01 January 2000 to parents who, upon said birth, 1) were both foreigners and 2) one parent has stayed in Germany legally for 8 years, and 3) the child has grown up in Germany, can now opt for both German citizenship and the citizenship of their parent’s country when they turn twenty-one (21).
3. Children of foreign parents who were born in Germany between 01 January 1990 and 31 December 1999 and were naturalized, becoming German citizens in the year 2000.
4. Children born in the Philippines who were naturalized by adoption of German citizens.

German citizens born to one (1) Filipino parent who wish to have their Philippine citizenship recognized should refer to the guidelines on filing a Report of Birth under the Consulate’s Civil Registry Services. Please note that the Filipino parent should still have been carrying Philippine citizenship at the time of birth for the applicant to qualify for this process.

Former Filipinos who have been naturalized as citizens of Germany may apply to re-acquire their Filipino citizenship.