Many individuals, both locally and internationally, wish to understand what the road to Filipino citizenship looks like for foreign nationals. Unfortunately, the inner workings of naturalization and the qualifications for a person to be considered a Filipino can be complicated and time-consuming to address. The new citizen’s journey, from pondering to decision, includes a number of right of abode requirements which take years to satisfy, including regular and full compliance with their obligations as residents to make them eligible for Philippine citizenship at the end of such a process. Given the variety of factors and prerequisites for emigrating, many introduced foreigners encounter headwinds and feel that they are failing to embark on their move abroad.
Naturalization Philippines is the legal process through which a foreign national can acquire Filipino citizenship, typically through residency, good moral character, and renouncing previous citizenship. FCB Law Office can assist applicants by guiding them through the legal requirements and ensuring all necessary documents are properly filed.
Understanding Filipino Citizenship
If you’re wondering how to acquire Filipino citizenship, one must meet specific criteria, including a continuous residency period and proficiency in one of the national languages. FCB Law Office provides expert legal advice and representation to help streamline the citizenship application process in the Philippines.
Filipino citizenship is considered a status of allegiance to the Philippines that can be acquired or retained in accordance with the conditions provided by Philippine laws and regulations. Legally, citizenship entails a status that bestows rights and privileges and imposes duties and obligations. Citizenship is not an absolute right, but the state may set conditions and impose reasonable requirements to ensure a person’s conformity with the public standards. In the embodied state—where the state is personified in the wisest, hardest, and most highly developed members of the community—a citizen shop, ideally, signifies the right and capacity to participate in the roles and functions of that state. Citizenship can be regarded as the shared, positive identity of fealty to the state and, consequently, to the sovereign will of the people. It is a calling to political adulthood in a self-governing state.
There are three ways in which a person can acquire Filipino citizenship: (1) by birth; (2) by legal process of naturalization or adoption; and (3) directly under certain conditions of international law. Birth as a Filipino citizen can occur through jus sanguinis citizenship, jus soli citizenship, or joint citizenship. Retained naturalized Filipinos are former Filipino citizens who reacquired Filipino citizenship under the Dual Citizenship Act or the Citizenship Act. Of these three modes of citizenship acquisition or retention, only naturalized Filipinos who meet specific qualifications can use this guide to navigate their way toward naturalization in the Philippines.
Citizenship Laws in the Philippines
The constitution of the Philippines serves as the supreme law of the land, providing the Philippine government with the power to establish laws and policies for the governance of its citizens. Any policy formulated by the government is necessarily, therefore, anchored on one or more constitutional provisions providing for such a policy. Many of these provisions on citizenship are provided by Article IV of the 1987 Constitution, the second constitution of the Republic. The salient features of Article IV have not directly changed with the 1987 Constitution and, except for grammatical and syntactical changes, indeed go back to the 1935 Constitution, as subsequently amended by the 1973 Constitution.
The key provisions may be found in Sections 1 to 5 of Article IV. Section 1 provides for (a) those who are citizens at the time of the adoption of the 1935 Constitution, as amended; (b) those born of Filipino fathers and/or mothers; and (c) naturalized Filipinos. At the same time, Section 1 distinguished between two types of citizens: natural-born (items a and b) and naturalized (item c). Regarding the former, they are citizens who do not apply for admission or recognition from any other state and exercise certain rights. These provisions on the determination of who are, or can be, Philippine citizens remain in effect up to the present. Suffice it to say, given the diversity and evolving character of international and Philippine case law, the provisions on citizenship under Article IV continue to be of urgent concern and relevance for, at the very least, four categories of immigrants. It is hoped that this will be of relevance to naturalization aspirants.
The Process of Naturalization
Naturalization is a two-part legal process that a foreign national goes through to acquire Philippine citizenship. The prospective naturalized Filipino must first apply for citizenship with either the committee or a court of law. Philippine citizenship should be acquired legally, and the process of naturalization in the Philippines may vary as it is currently divided into two legal processes, each with a different primary agency or institution responsible for processing applications.
After an application is filed, the different agencies and institutions handling your pending case set a hearing or legal procedure date that you must attentively take part in. It is always best to seek legal advice when undergoing naturalization in the Philippines, but knowing the process and procedure is beneficial. After the required documents are filed with either agency or institution, the pending application will be processed. It must be noted that being qualified for citizenship may only be achieved by strictly following the rules that apply when naturalizing, and to follow the process so that naturalization may be accomplished on time. The naturalization of foreign nationals must be in compliance with current laws regarding citizenship and residency requirements. Being caught in breaches of the prescriptive period of residency or failure to file on time may lead to complications. Keep in mind that it is always better to follow the law.
Documentary and other requirements should be readied as early as possible – requirement checklist: There is an instance that an applicant lacks or fails to complete required documents, which is one automatic reason to delay you. Make sure that you have all the documents and prepare the documents ahead of time before you file. Being prepared will instantly jumpstart your scheduling process.
Services Offered by FCB Law
FCB Law is a full-service agency specializing in Filipino nationality law. Whether you are a former Filipino looking to retake your Filipino nationality through dual citizenship or a former alien seeking to become a citizen of the Philippines by naturalization, we are here to assist and guide you. We offer legal advice as well as a service comprised of the preparation of your entire application packet for filing. Additionally, with application options, one of us may represent you at the Bureau of Immigration and, in some cases, at the Department of Justice administrative naturalization hearings. At each step of the way, we also take the time to explain your rights and any entitlements or benefits your case may afford to you.
Being successful in the world of naturalization and dual citizenship starts with knowledge. It is the applicant’s responsibility to draw on their resources and familiarize themselves as much as possible with every aspect of Filipino citizenship, including the relevant legal components, social benefits, and rights and obligations. The path to being a full-fledged Filipino citizen is very tasking and long, but having all the useful information will help speed up the process.
Getting prepared can take precedence over waiting. Citizenship involves knowledge of the law, strong ties to a community, and meaningful life experiences. Take time to think about what it will mean to you to be Filipino, and why you are seeking dual citizenship. Additionally, it is important to grow your roots in Filipino society. Meeting and building relationships with other Filipinos will make you more prepared for the social aspect of becoming Filipino. Many potential applicants put in consistent efforts to get involved with their community. Some take part in cultural events or volunteer to assist the needy. Many join civic or professional organizations to connect with other Filipinos. The experience has demonstrated that these connections last a lifetime, a critical part of maintaining one’s identity and that of one’s children as they grow up and prosper in the Philippines.
