CA 63 RA 965 RA 2630 RA 8171 RA 9225 PD 725

PERSONS WHO LOST SUCH REPATRIATION OF Declares that PROVIDING FOR

LOST SUCH CITIZENSHIP BY FILIPINO WOMEN natural-born REPATRIATION OF FILIPINO
CITIZENSHIP BY RENDERING WHO HAVE LOST citizens of the WOMEN WHO HAD LOST
SERVICE TO, OR THEIR PHILIPPINE Philippines who THEIR PHILIPPINE
1. RENDERING ACCEPTING CITIZENSHIP BY become citizens of CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE
SERVICE TO, OR COMMISSION IN, MARRIAGE TO another country TO ALIENS AND OF NATURAL
ALIENS AND OF shall be deemed BORN FILIPINOS
2. ACCEPTING THE ARMED NATURAL-
not to have lost
COMMISSION IN, FORCES OF THE BORN FILIPINOS 1) Filipino women who lost their
their Philippine
THE ARMED UNITED STATES Philippine citizenship by marriage
FORCES OF AN a.Filipino women citizenship under
to aliens; and (2) natural born
ALLIED FOREIGN who lost their conditions provided Filipinos who have lost their
COUNTRY, AND Philippine citizenship therein Philippine citizenship may require
by marriage to aliens; Philippine citizenship through
3. TAKING AN and repatriation by applying with the
OATH OF Special Committee on
ALLEGIANCE b.            Natural- Naturalization created by Letter of
INCIDENT born Filipinos Instruction No. 270, and, if their
THERETO including their minor applications are approved, taking
children who lost the necessary oath of allegiance
their Philippine to the Republic of the Philippines,
citizenship on after which they shall be deemed
account of political or to have reacquired Philippine
economic necessity. citizenship.

1. He has to file 1. proof of as a

his petition natural born
for citizen –NSO
repatriation birth
with the certificate
Special 2. Oath of
Committee on allegiance to
Naturalization
 (SCN) the Philippines
2. applicants for 3. Photograph of
repatriation address
are required to
submit
documents in
support of
their petition
such as their
birth
certificate and
other
evidence
proving their
claim to
Filipino
citizenship

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 965

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 965 - AN ACT PROVIDING FOR REACQUISITION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP BY PERSONS
WHO LOST SUCH CITIZENSHIP BY RENDERING SERVICE TO, OR ACCEPTING COMMISSION IN, THE ARMED
FORCES OF AN ALLIED FOREIGN COUNTRY, AND TAKING AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE INCIDENT THERETO

Section 1.    Any person who, being a citizen of the Philippines on December eight, nineteen hundred forty-one, had lost said
citizenship by rendering service to, or accepting commission in, the armed forces of an allied foreign country, and taking an oath of
allegiance incident thereto, may reacquire Philippine citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and
registering the same with the Local Civil Registry in the place where he resides or last resided in the Philippines within one year from
the date of the approval of this Act. The said oath of allegiance shall contain, in addition, a renunciation of any other citizenship.   

Sec. 2.    This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2630

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2630 - AN ACT PROVIDING FOR REACQUISITION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP BY PERSONS
WHO LOST SUCH CITIZENSHIP BY RENDERING SERVICE TO, OR ACCEPTING COMMISSION IN, THE ARMED
FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES

Section 1.    Any person who had lost his Philippine citizenship by rendering service to, or accepting commission in, the Armed Forces
of the United States, or after separation from the Armed Forces of the United States, acquired United States citizenship, may reacquire
Philippine citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and registering the same with the Local Civil
Registry in the place where he resides or last resided in the Philippines. The said oath of allegiance shall contain a renunciation of any
other citizenship.   

Sec. 2.    This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

RA 8171
a.Filipino women who lost their Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens; and

b.            Natural-born Filipinos including their minor children who lost their Philippine citizenship on account of political or
economic necessity.

[REPUBLIC ACT 8171]

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REPATRIATION OF FILIPINO WOMEN WHO HAVE LOST
THEIR PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE TO ALIENS AND OF NATURAL-
BORN FILIPINOS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Filipino women who have lost their Philippine citizenship by
marriage to aliens and natural-born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship,
including their minor children, on account of political or economic necessity, may
reacquire Philippine citizenship through repatriation in the manner provided in Section 4
of Commonwealth Act No. 63, as amended: Provided,  That the applicant is not a:
(1) Person opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or
group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing organized government;
(2) Person defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal
assault, or association for the predominance of their ideas;
(3) Person convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude; or
(4) Person suffering from mental alienation or incurable contagious diseases.
SEC. 2. Repatriation shall be effected by taking the necessary oath of allegiance
to the Republic of the Philippines and registration in the proper civil registry and in the
Bureau of Immigration. The Bureau of Immigration shall thereupon cancel the pertinent
alien certificate of registration and issue the certificate of identification as Filipino citizen
to the repatriated citizen.
Republic Act 8171

A reading in Section 1 of RA 8171 shows that the manifest intent of the legislature to limit the benefit of repatriation only to natural-
born Filipinos who lost their Philippine citizenship on account of political or economic necessity, in addition women who lost their
Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens. The precursor of RA 8171, Presidential Decree No. 725 (P.D. 725), which was enacted on
June 5, 1975 amending Commonwealth Act No. 63, also gave to the same groups of former Filipinos the opportunity to repatriate but
without the limiting phrase, “on account of political or economic necessity” in relation to natural-born Filipinos. By adding the said
phrase to RA 8171, the lawmakers clearly intended to limit the application of the law only to political or economic migrants, aside
from the Filipino women who lost their citizenship by marriage to aliens. This intention is more evident in the sponsorship speech of
Rep. Andrea B. Domingo where she stated that there are only four types of Filipinos who leave the country.

The first is what we call the “economic refugees” who go abroad to work because there is no work to be found in the country. Then
we have the “political refugees” who leave the country for fear of their lives because they are not in consonance with the prevailing
policy of government. The third type are those who have committed crimes and would like to escape from the punishment of said
crimes. Lastly, we have those Filipinos who feel that they are not Filipinos, thereby seeking other citizenship elsewhere.

Of these four types of Filipinos, the first two have to leave the country not of choice, but rather of sacrifice to look for a better life, as
well as for a safer abode for themselves and their families. It is for these two types of Filipinos that this measure is being proposed for
approval by this body.

Republic of the Philippines 

Department of Justice 
BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION 
Manila
 
MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. AFF-04-01
 
RULES GOVERNING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP UNDER REPUBLIC ACT (R.A.) NO. 9225 AND
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER (A.O.) NO. 91, SERIES OF 2004.
WHEREAS, R.A. No.  9225 declares that natural-born citizens of the Philippines who become
citizens of another country shall be deemed not to have lost their Philippine citizenship under
conditions provided therein;

WHEREAS, A.O. No. 91, Section 1 designated the Bureau of Immigration (BI), in consultation
with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Civil
Registrar-General, National Statistics Office (NSO), as the implementing agency of R.A. No.
9225;

WHEREAS, A.O. No. 91, Sec. 2 authorizes the BI to promulgate and issue rules and regulations
to implement R.A. No. 9225;
WHEREFORE, by authority of A.O. No. 91 Sec. 2 in relation to Commonwealth Act. No. 613, Sec.
3, as amended, the following rules are hereby adopted to carry out the provisions of R.A. No.
9225.chan robles virtual law library
Section 1. Coverage. – These rules shall apply to former natural-born citizens of the
Philippines, as define by Philippine law and jurisprudence, who have lost their Philippine
citizenship by reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country. chan robles virtual law library

Sec. 2. Former natural-born Philippine citizen already in the Philippines and a BI-registered
alien – A former natural-born citizen of the Philippines who is already in the Philippines and
registered in the BI shall file a petition under oath to the Commissioner of Immigration for the
cancellation of Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and issuance of an Identification
Certificate (IC), as the case may be, underR.A. No. 9225.chan robles virtual law library

Sec. 3. Former natural-born Philippine citizen who is abroad but a BI registered alien – A
former natural-born citizen of the Philippines who is abroad but is a BI-registered alien shall
file a petition under oath to the nearest Philippine Foreign Post for evaluation. Thereafter, it
shall forward the entire records to the Commissioner of Immigration for the cancellation of
Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and issuance of an IC under R.A. No. 9225.chan robles virtual
law library

Sec. 4. Former natural-born Philippine citizen already in the Philippines and not a BI-registered
alien – A former natural-born citizen of the Philippines who is already in the Philippines but has
not registered with the BI within sixty (60) days from date of his arrival shall file a petition
under oath to the Commissioner of Immigration for the issuance of an IC under R.A. No.
9225.chan robles virtual law library

Sec. 5. Former Natural-born Philippine citizen who is abroad and not a BI-registered alien – A
former natural-born citizen of the Philippines who is abroad and is not a BI-registered alien
shall file a petition under oath to the nearest Philippine Foreign Post for the issuance of an IC
under R.A. No. 9225.chan robles virtual law library

Sec. 6. Forwarding address. Photographs. – In all petitions under Sections 2 to 5 hereof, the
applicant must indicate his or her latest forwarding address. Three (3) recent 2” x ”2
photographs of the applicant (front, left side, and right side views over white background)
shall be attached to the petition.chan robles virtual law library
Sec. 7. Fees. – Each applicant under these Rules shall pay a one-time fee for the processing of
the application and issuance of the corresponding IC.
Applicants already in the Philippines shall attach the official receipt for the amount of
P2,500.00 as proof of payment of processing fee. Applicants who are abroad shall attach the
official receipt for the amount of US$50 or its equivalent in foreign currency acceptable to the
Philippine Foreign Post concerned.

Sec. 8. Proof as natural-born citizen of the Philippines. – A former natural-born citizen of the
Philippines, who was born in the Philippines, shall submit the NSO-authenticated copy of his or
her birth certificate.chan robles virtual law library

On the other hand, a former natural-born citizen of the Philippines, who was born abroad, shall
submit the original copy of the Report of Birth issued by the Philippine Foreign Post and in
applicable cases, the Birth Certificate issued by competent foreign authorities.

These documents shall be sufficient to establish that the applicant is a natural-born citizen of
the Philippines for purposes of these Rules.

Sec. 9. Submission of the Oath of Allegiance – Applicants under these Rules shall also sign and
attach an Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines as follows: chan robles virtual law library
"I,  (name of the applicant)  solemnly swear  (or affirm)  that I will support and defend
the  Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines  and obey the laws and local orders
promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines, and I hereby declare that I
recognize and accept the supreme authority of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and
allegiance thereto, and that I impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental
reservation or purpose of evasion."

Sec. 10. Strict compliance. Effect of non-compliance. – All petitions must strictly comply with
the preceding requirements prior to filing at the Office of the Commissioner or at the nearest
Philippine Foreign Post, as the case may be. After the filing of the petition, the same shall be
assigned to an evaluating officer who shall evaluate the petition without further proceedings.
In the case of petitions that do not comply with the requirements, the applicant shall be
notified to submit the required documents within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof.
Otherwise, the petition shall not be favorably acted upon by the Bureau of Immigration or by
the Philippine Foreign Post.

If after evaluation, the documents submitted fail to establish that the applicant is a natural-
born citizen of the Philippines, the applicant shall be notified of such fact in writing by the
Commissioner of Immigration or by the Philippine Foreign Post.
Sec. 11. Approval Procedures. – If the petition is found to be sufficient in form and in
substance, the evaluating officer shall submit the findings and recommendation to the
Commissioner of Immigration or Consul-General, as the case may be, within five (5) days from
date of assignment.
For Applications filed under Sec. 2 and 4 of these Rules, the Commissioner of Immigration shall
issue, within five (5) days from receipt thereof, an Order of Approval indicating that the
petition complies with the provisions of R.A. No. 9225and its IRR, and further direct the chief of
the Alien Registration Division (ARD) to cancel the subject ACR and/or to issue the
corresponding IC to the applicant.

Each cancelled ACR shall, however, be attached to the Order of Approval to form part of the
records of the applicant.
For applications filed under Sec. 3 and 5 of these Rules, the Consul-General shall issue, within
five (5) days from receipt thereof, the Order of Approval indicating that the petition complies
with the provisions of R.A. No. 9225 and its IRR. He shall then transmit copies of the Order of
Approval, Oath of Allegiance, including the authenticated Record of Birth or Birth Certificate to
the BI. Immediately upon receipt thereof, the BI shall issue the corresponding IC to the
applicant and forward the same to the Philippine Foreign Post concerned. If the applicant is a
BI-registered alien, the BI shall also cancel the subject ACR. chan robles virtual law library

Sec. 12. Conferment of Philippine citizenship. Conditions. – Subject to full compliance with
these Rules, the Oath of Allegiance shall be the final act that confers Philippine citizenship. chan
robles virtual law library
In case the applicant is in the Philippines, he may take his Oath of Allegiance before the
Commissioner of the Immigration or any officer authorized under existing laws to administer
oath. In the latter case, the applicant must submit the Oath of Allegiance to the BI to form part
of his records.chan robles virtual law library

In case the applicant is abroad, only the Consul General or a duly commissioned foreign service
officer of the Philippine Foreign Post concerned shall administer the Oath of Allegiance. chan robles
virtual law library
The Oath of Allegiance shall thereafter be registered in accordance with the provisions of the
Civil Registry laws.
Sec. 13. Repository of Records – The BI Records Section shall maintain the integrity of all the
documents filed under these Rules. It shall send official copies of the Order of Approval and
Oath of Allegiance to the NSO.chan robles virtual law library
Sec. 14. Copies for the Applicant. Identification Certificate. Correction of errors. – The applicant
shall be provided with an official copies of the Order of Approval and the Oath of Allegiance.
Further, all IC’s issued under these Rules shall indicate Philippine citizenship under R.A. No.
9225 and A.O. N0. 91 s. 2004. Any clerical error or errors in the entries of the IC may be
corrected, upon written request to and approval by the Commissioner of Immigration. The NSO
shall be promptly provided with a copy of the corrected IC. chan robles virtual law library
Sec. 15. Confidentiality of Records. – Any application, document of information given before the
Bureau of Immigration or any Philippine Foreign Post shall not be divulged in any manner to
any person or entity without the express written consent of the person to whom such
application, record or information belongs.chan robles virtual law library
Sec. 16. Other beneficiaries of R.A. No. 9225. – This memorandum circular shall equally apply
to the unmarried child, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted, below eighteen (18) years
of age, of those who re-acquire Philippine citizenship upon the activity of R.A. No. 9225.
Sec. 17. Exemption from administrative review. Limitations. – The conferment of Philippine
citizenship under these Rules shall no longer be subject to the affirmation by the Secretary of
Justice pursuant to the DOJ Policy Directive of 7 September 1970 and Opinion No. 108, s. 1996.
However, Philippine citizenship under these Rules may be revoked by competent authority
upon a substantive finding of fraud, misrepresentation or concealment on the part of the
applicant.chan robles virtual law library
Sec. 18. Effectivity. – This memorandum circular takes effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the two (2) newspapers of general circulation. ch
MALACAÑANG
Manila
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 725 June 5, 1975
PROVIDING FOR REPATRIATION OF FILIPINO WOMEN WHO HAD LOST THEIR PHILIPPINE
CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE TO ALIENS AND OF NATURAL BORN FILIPINOS
WHEREAS, there are many Filipino women who had lost their Philippine Citizenship by marriage to aliens;
WHEREAS, while the new constitution allows a Filipino woman who marries an alien to retain her Philippine
citizenship unless by her act or omission, she is deemed under the law to have renounced her Philippine
citizenship, such provision of the new Constitution does not apply to Filipino women who had married aliens
before said Constitution took effect;

WHEREAS, the existing law (C.A. Nos. 63, as amended) allows the repatriation of Filipino women who lost their
citizenship by reason of their marriage to aliens only after the death of their husbands or the termination of their
marital status; and
WHEREAS, there are natural born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship but now desire to re-
acquire Philippine citizenship;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me
vested by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order that: 1) Filipino women who lost their Philippine
citizenship by marriage to aliens; and (2) natural born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship may
require Philippine citizenship through repatriation by applying with the Special Committee on Naturalization
created by Letter of Instruction No. 270, and, if their applications are approved, taking the necessary oath of
allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines, after which they shall be deemed to have reacquired Philippine
citizenship. The Commission on Immigration and Deportation shall thereupon cancel their certificate of
registration.
The aforesaid Special Committee is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations and prescribe the
appropriate forms and the required fees for the effective implementation of this Decree.
This Decree shall take effect immediately.