Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9139)
The short title of Republic Act No. 9139 is "The Administrative Naturalization Law of 2000."
The State shall control and regulate the admission and integration of aliens into its territory and body politic, including the grant of citizenship to aliens, allowing those born and residing in the Philippines to obtain citizenship by administrative proceedings subject to national security and interest requirements.
The applicant must be born and residing in the Philippines since birth, at least 18 years old, of good moral character, educated in Philippine schools where Philippine history, government, and civics are taught, have a lawful occupation or business, able to read, write, and speak Filipino or any Philippine dialect, and must have mingled with Filipinos showing a sincere desire to embrace Filipino customs and ideals.
Those disqualified include: persons opposed to organized government or teaching doctrines against it, those advocating violence or assassination, polygamists, persons convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude, persons with mental alienation or incurable contagious diseases, those who have not mingled with Filipinos, citizens of countries at war with the Philippines during that period, and citizens of countries that do not grant reciprocal naturalization rights to Filipinos.
The petition must include five copies of the petition with the petitioner's personal details, declarations of qualifications and intentions, photographs, and supporting documents like birth certificate, alien and residence certificates, marriage and children’s birth certificates, affidavit of financial capacity, affidavits on good moral character, medical certificate, school records, and income tax returns if employed.
The Special Committee consists of the Solicitor General as chairman, Secretary of Foreign Affairs or representative, and the National Security Adviser as members. It has the power to approve, deny, or reject naturalization applications and meets as often as necessary to consider petitions.
Within 15 days, the Committee checks if the petition is complete. If complete, it publishes the petition in a newspaper for three consecutive weeks and posts it in public places. Relevant government agencies are informed, which then investigate and report on the petitioner within 30 days.
The petition will be dismissed without prejudice if it is incomplete in substance or form.
The petitioner must pay a naturalization fee of 100,000 pesos in two installments, obtain a certificate of naturalization, and take an oath of allegiance within 60 days from the certificate issuance. Failure to take the oath results in abandonment of the petition approval.
The alien lawful wife and minor children may file petitions for cancellation of their alien certificates of registration with the Special Committee, paying specified filing and naturalization fees, payable in two installments upon approval and oath-taking.
No, the approval of a married woman's naturalization petition does not benefit her alien husband. Minor children, however, may petition for cancellation of their alien certificates subject to existing laws.
Persons who fraudulently make or assist in forging or altering naturalization certificates, or assist another in obtaining naturalization in violation of the Act, may be fined up to 500,000 pesos, imprisoned up to 5 years, and if a naturalized citizen, their certificate will be cancelled.
Yes, such individuals may file a petition for acquisition of Philippine citizenship within two years from the effectivity of this Act, so long as they meet all qualifications and none of the disqualifications under the Act and subject to existing laws.
Twenty-five percent of the filing fee paid by applicants will accrue to the University of the Philippines Law Center, and another twenty-five percent will support the publication of the Journal of the House of Representatives, both treated as automatically appropriated receipts.