Title
Rules for Repatriation Under RA 8171
Law
Scn
Decision Date
Apr 5, 1999
Filipino women who lost their citizenship by marrying a foreigner and natural-born Filipino citizens who lost their citizenship due to political or economic reasons can apply for repatriation by filing a petition and meeting certain requirements, including taking an oath of allegiance, as outlined in the Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act No. 8171.
repatriation
lost citizenship
marriage to foreigner

Filing requirements and docketing fee

  • A petition for repatriation must be filed in the proper form with the Special Committee on Naturalization.
  • A docketing fee of PHP 15,000.00 must be paid upon filing the petition.
  • The petition must be submitted in five (5) copies, legibly typed, and signed and thumbmarked by the petitioner, and verified by the petitioner.
  • A signed passport-size photograph of the petitioner must be attached to each copy of the petition.
  • The petition must include the particulars required under these rules and must be accompanied by the required supporting documents.

Petition contents and required declarations

  • The petition must state the petitioner’s name and surname and any other name used or by which the petitioner is known.
  • The petition must state the petitioner’s present and former places of residence.
  • The petition must state the petitioner’s place and date of birth, the names and citizenship of the petitioner’s parents, and the parents’ residences if still living, and the reasons for the Filipino citizenship of the parents if that is a fact.
  • If the petitioner lost citizenship by marriage, the petition must state the basis for Filipino citizenship at the time of marriage; if the petitioner is a natural-born Filipino, the petition must state the basis for Filipino citizenship at birth.
  • The petition must state the reasons why citizenship was lost: (a) by marriage for Filipino women who lost citizenship by marriage, or (b) political or economic necessity for natural-born Filipinos, with the necessity specified for the latter.
  • The petition must state the reasons why the petitioner seeks to reacquire Philippine citizenship by repatriation.
  • If the petitioner is single, married, or divorced, or if the marriage was annulled, the petition must state the required marriage status details:
    • For married petitioners: the date and place of marriage and the name, date of birth, birthplace, citizenship, and residence of the spouse (and if widowed, the spouse’s date and place of death).
    • For annulled or divorced petitioners: the date of decree of annulment or divorce and the court that issued it.
  • The petition must state the petitioner’s occupation, and the spouse’s occupation if the petitioner is married.
  • If the petitioner has children, the petition must state for each child the name, date and place of birth, and residence.
  • The petition must include declarations that the petitioner:
    • is not a person opposed to organized government or affiliated with any group that upholds doctrines opposing organized government;
    • is not a person defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault, or assassination for the predominance of ideas;
    • is not a person convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude; and
    • is not a person suffering from mental alienation or incurable contagious diseases.
  • The petition must also declare the petitioner’s intention to reacquire Philippine citizenship and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to the state or country of which the petitioner is a citizen or subject.

Annexes and execution formalities

  • The petition must be accompanied by duplicate original or certified photocopies of the petitioner’s:
    • birth certificate or other evidence of former Filipino citizenship;
    • Alien Certificate of Registration and Native-born Certificate of Residence and Certificate of Arrival or Re-entry Permit into the Philippines, if any.
  • The petition must be accompanied by duplicate original or certified photocopies of the petitioner’s:
    • marriage certificate if married;
    • death certificate of spouse if widowed;
    • decree granting divorce if divorced; or
    • decree annulling the marriage if the marriage was annulled.
  • The petition must be accompanied by duplicate original or certified photocopies of the petitioner’s minor children’s:
    • birth certificates, Alien Certificates of Registration, and Immigrant Certificates of Residence or Native-born Certificates of Residence (if any), when applicable.
  • Every page of the petition and every page of its annexes and supporting documents must be signed by the petitioner in addition to the signatures of the persons executing or issuing the same.
  • Upon filing, the petition must be assigned a docket number and stamped showing the date of filing.
  • The Committee must record the filing of all applications in a record book in chronological order.

Processing, interview, and approval standards

  • After receipt of the petition, the Committee may call the petitioner for interview.
  • After the interview, the Committee must approve the petition if it believes, based on the facts before it, that the petitioner has all qualifications and none of the disqualifications required for repatriation under Republic Act No. 8171.
  • The processing rules require the petitioner to take an oath of allegiance within the period stated in these rules after approval.

Oath of allegiance: timing, form, and fee

  • After approval, the petitioner must take the oath of allegiance within ninety (90) days after being notified of approval.
  • The oath must be taken in the proper form in six (6) copies before the Committee or any of its duly designated representatives.
  • The oath requires the petitioner to renounce absolutely and forever allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, particularly the petitioner’s current state or country of citizenship or subjecthood, and to:
    • support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines;
    • obey the law and legal orders and decrees of duly constituted authorities of the Republic of the Philippines;
    • recognize and accept the supreme authority of the Republic of the Philippines; and
    • maintain true faith and allegiance without mental reservation or purpose of evasion.
  • An oath-taking fee of PHP 25,000.00 must be collected.
  • If the petitioner fails to take the oath within the prescribed time, the approval is deemed withdrawn.

Overseas filing and consular role

  • If the petitioner is a natural-born Filipino and is presently residing outside of the Philippines, the petitioner may file the application with the Philippine Consulate having jurisdiction over the place of residence.
  • The petitioner must pay the corresponding docketing fee with the consulate.
  • On request of the Special Committee on Naturalization, an official of the consulate must interview the petitioner.
  • The consulate must forward to the Committee the application, the docketing fee, and the report of interview.
  • If the Committee finds the petitioner qualified, the petitioner must take the oath of allegiance before any Consul or Vice-Consul at the Philippine Consulate of the petitioner’s place of residence.
  • After the oath is taken in the consulate, the oath must be forwarded to the Special Committee on Naturalization.

Certificate of repatriation and government actions

  • After the petitioner takes the oath of allegiance under these rules, the Committee must issue a certificate of repatriation.
  • The Committee must forward the certificate together with a copy of the oath to the proper Local Civil Registrar for registration.
  • The Committee must forward another copy of the oath to the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID).
  • Upon receipt, the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation must cancel the Alien Certificate of Registration of the repatriated citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 8171.

Falsehood, violations, denial, and revocation

  • Any false statement or misrepresentation in the petition for repatriation and in any of the other documents submitted constitutes adequate basis for:
    • the denial of the petition; or
    • if the petition has already been favorably considered, the revocation of repatriation.
  • Any violation of these Rules and Regulations by the petitioner constitutes adequate basis for denial of the petition or, if already approved, revocation of repatriation.

Issuance, adoption date, and effect

  • These rules and regulations were adopted on April 5, 1999 by the Special Committee on Naturalization.
  • Adoption is signed by the Chairman and members of the Special Committee on Naturalization, with attestation by the Executive Director of the Special Committee on Naturalization.
  • These rules implement Republic Act No. 8171 on repatriation of Filipino women who lost Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens and natural-born Filipinos who lost citizenship on account of political or economic necessity.

Analyze Cases Smarter, Faster
Jur helps you analyze cases smarter to comprehend faster, building context before diving into full texts. AI-powered analysis, always verify critical details.

About Privacy Terms