[SIZE=3][SIZE=3]Balik-Pinoy[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](How to re-acquire your Philippine citizenship)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Lost your Philippine citizenship yet you want to avail of its benefits eh? Well, the government thought you might feel that way and so enacted the "Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003” (R.A. 9225).[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Take note that if you are already a dual citizen (with Philippine citizenship and foreign citizenship), then you need not apply for dual citizenship. Naturally. But, how do you know you’re already a dual citizen? You first have to know 2 basic doctrines in determining nationality: 1) the jus soli (right of soil) doctrine which states that the place of birth determines one’s nationality and 2) the jus sanguinis (right of birth) doctrine which states that the nationality of one’s parent/s determines one’s nationality. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]It is important to know that the Philippines follows the right of birth (jus sanguinis) doctrine to determine its citizen’s nationality. Therefore, wherever you may have been born, as long as at least 1 of your parents was a Philippine citizen at the time of your birth, you are a Philippine citizen at birth. You may also be a citizen of the country where you were born in case such country follows the jus soli doctrine to determine its citizen’s nationality.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Thus, if at least 1 of your parents was a Philippine citizen at the time of your birth and you were born in the U.S. - which follows the jus soli doctrine - then you are a U.S and a Philippine citizen at birth. Under U.S. law, you are a U.S citizen since you were born there and under Philippine law you are a Philippine citizen because at least 1 of your parents was a Philippine citizen at the time of your birth. So it’s not necessary for you to apply for dual citizenship. And you can apply for both U.S. and Philippine passports. Sweet.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]You must remember that if your Filipino parent/s lost his/her/their Philippine citizenship at the time of your birth, then you are not a Philippine citizen at birth even if you were born in the Philippines. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Clear? Then on we go to the procedural aspect. There are 4 different application procedures depending on your status:[/SIZE]

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[SIZE=3]Read on from The Legally Inclined blog at http://thelegallyinclined.wordpress.com. [/SIZE]
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