Former natural-born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship through naturalization in Canada can re-acquire it under Republic Act No. 9225.
Applications are processed by the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa or the Philippine Consulate General with jurisdiction over your location.
The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, for example, conducts consular outreach services for dual citizenship applicants in various parts of Ontario.
Who is eligible?
All natural-born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship due to naturalization as a citizen of another country may file a Petition for Retention and Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship on their own behalf and on behalf of their unmarried children below 18 years of age.
Natural-born Filipinos are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship.
Key privileges of reacquiring citizenship
Individuals who reacquire their Filipino citizenship under RA 9225 may once again enjoy full civil and political rights.
These include the right to own land and property in the Philippines, the right to engage in business or commerce as a Filipino, the right to travel with a Philippine passport, the right to vote in Philippine elections while abroad (by registering as an overseas absentee voter), and the right to practice one's profession, provided a license is obtained from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) or the Supreme Court for lawyers.
Income earned abroad by Filipinos who have reacquired citizenship is exempt from Philippine income tax.
Requirements for adult applicants
Adult applicants must submit a duly accomplished application form, three 2x2 colored photos with white background taken within the last three months, original and two photocopies of PSA-issued birth certificate (or local civil registry birth certificate if PSA record is unavailable), two photocopies of PSA-issued marriage certificate (if married in the Philippines) or marriage certificate from the Vital Statistics Office (if married in Canada), two photocopies of the most recent or previous Philippine passports, two photocopies of Canadian passport, and two photocopies of the Canadian citizenship certificate.
If applying by mail, applicants must include a bank draft or postal money order payable to the Philippine Consulate General in the exact amount.
Requirements for minor dependents and children born in Canada
Children born in Canada to parents who were still Filipinos at the time of their birth are considered dual citizens by birth and do not need to apply under RA 9225.
Instead, they must complete a Report of Birth for entry in the civil registry of the Philippines.
For minor dependents included in a parent's application, the parent must submit the child's PSA or NSO birth certificate, child's passport and citizenship certificate, and two photos of the child.
Processing time and oath-taking
The processing time for dual citizenship applications is typically one to three months, subject to certain constraints.
Upon receipt and processing of the complete application, the consulate will contact the applicant to arrange a date for their oath-taking.
The dual citizenship documents, including the Oath of Allegiance, Order of Approval, and Identification Certificate, are given to applicants on the day of their oath-taking.
Applicants should bring the originals of all documentary requirements for verification on the day of the ceremony.