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<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en" data-critters-container><head><meta charset="utf-8" data-next-head><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" data-next-head><link rel="icon" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon.ico" data-next-head><link rel="canonical" href="https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/" data-next-head><title data-next-head>Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen) - Lawyers in the Philippines</title><meta name="description" content="Learn how to apply for Filipino citizenship. Discover eligibility, requirements, and when you can file for naturalization yourself" data-next-head><meta name="author" content="lawyerphilippinesadmin" data-next-head><meta name="keywords" content="Atty. Francesco C. Britanico received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 2006. He graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management majoring in Communications Technology Management, with a minor in International Business, in 2002.
His legal practice has been in litigation, family law, estate law, property and civil law, labor law, immigration law, administrative law, election law, constitutional law, criminal law, corporate law, and legal compliances.
Atty. Britanico has taught Property Law, Statutory Construction, Political Science and Introduction to Law in the Legal Studies program of the Lyceum of the Philippines University. He has also lectured on Political and Constitutional Law at the same university." data-next-head><meta name="google-site-verification" content="cPQxG3_3DNJH6HF3OMexB2VRPv16KgC0HPLOgtEydwc" data-next-head><meta name="robots" content="noindex, follow" data-next-head><meta property="og:title" content="Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen) - Lawyers in the Philippines" data-next-head><meta property="og:description" content="Learn how to apply for Filipino citizenship. Discover eligibility, requirements, and when you can file for naturalization yourself" data-next-head><meta property="og:image" content="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/783/01KW16YQAA2D1Y8BZNR9EEHDVW.jpg" data-next-head><meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/783/01KW16YQAA2D1Y8BZNR9EEHDVW.jpg" data-next-head><meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" data-next-head><meta property="og:url" content="https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/" data-next-head><meta property="og:site_name" content="Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen) - Lawyers in the Philippines" data-next-head><meta property="og:type" content="website" data-next-head><meta property="og:locale" content="en_PH" data-next-head><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" data-next-head><meta name="twitter:title" content="Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen) - Lawyers in the Philippines" data-next-head><meta name="twitter:description" content="Learn how to apply for Filipino citizenship. Discover eligibility, requirements, and when you can file for naturalization yourself" data-next-head><meta name="twitter:image" content="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/783/01KW16YQAA2D1Y8BZNR9EEHDVW.jpg" data-next-head><meta name="twitter:site" content="Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen) - Lawyers in the Philippines" data-next-head><meta name="twitter:creator" content="lawyerphilippinesadmin" data-next-head><meta name="twitter:domain" content="https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/" data-next-head><meta name="generator" content="HASPcms" data-next-head><link rel="preload" href="/fonts/arialnarrow.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin="anonymous"><script type="application/ld+json" data-next-head>{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#website","url":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org","name":"FCB Law Office"},{"@type":["Organization","LegalService"],"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#organization","name":"FCB Law Office","url":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org"},{"@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/784/01KW16YQ6X8R6XN0WCTGDYEGCG.jpg","url":"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/784/01KW16YQ6X8R6XN0WCTGDYEGCG.jpg","description":"Petition for naturalization document","width":1240,"height":697,"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#petition-for-naturalization-document"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#breadcrumb","name":"Breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"FCB Law Office","item":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blogs","item":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen) - Lawyers in the Philippines"}]},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#webpage","url":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#website"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#breadcrumb"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#petition-for-naturalization-document"},"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Judicial Naturalization?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Judicial naturalization is a legal process that allows foreigners to obtain Philippine citizenship by petitioning in court after fulfilling designated residency and other criteria."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How long does the Naturalization Process take?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The administrative naturalization process generally lasts about one year, while the judicial naturalization process can extend up to three and a half years due to the additional legal proceedings involved."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I apply for Naturalization without a lawyer?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, individuals can file for administrative naturalization without legal representation; however, judicial naturalization is more complicated and typically necessitates the support of a lawyer."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can naturalized citizens own land in the Philippines?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, naturalized citizens can own land in the Philippines."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I have to give up my previous citizenship to become a citizen of the Philippines?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The laws actually state that foreign citizenship must be repudiated to become a citizen of the Philippines. If it is discovered that a naturalized citizen still maintains his previous citizenship, it is possible that Philippine citizenship can be stripped from him."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why are petitions for Naturalization dismissed?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Petitions for naturalization are dismissed for lack of compliance with publication; lack of credible witnesses; lack of proof of income, trade or profession; lack of enrollment of children in a school that teaches Philippine history and culture; and the like. These are necessary items for the case, so it is important to coordinate with a lawyer so that it is done well."}}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#person-lawyerphilippinesadmin","name":"lawyerphilippinesadmin","url":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org","jobTitle":"Lawyer","worksFor":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#organization"}},{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#article","url":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#website"},"name":"Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen) - Lawyers in the Philippines","description":"Administrative Naturalization and Judicial Naturalization are the two routes to consider if you are thinking about applying for Philippine Citizenship. You should read this post carefully as it provides information about both. Under certain circumstances, you can Petition for Philippine Citizenship yourself. However, your particular circumstances might require a court process. This will mean hiring a lawyer and presenting evidence to the court. In this post I outline the Process for Naturalization in the Philippines, the fees and timelines and provide practical advice for how to proceed.","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#webpage"},"datePublished":"2026-03-18T07:42:28.000000Z","dateModified":"2026-09-10T05:56:03.000000Z","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Atty. Francesco C. 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class="se-title invisible hidden opacity-0">Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen) - Lawyers in the Philippines</h1><p hidden class="se-description invisible hidden opacity-0">Learn how to apply for Filipino citizenship. Discover eligibility, requirements, and when you can file for naturalization yourself</p><section class="relative"><div class="fixed right-4 top-[150px] z-[10] flex rounded-full bg-white p-3 shadow-md sm:p-4 lg:hidden"><svg class="h-[15px] w-[15px] fill-[#000000] sm:h-[30px] sm:w-[30px]" viewBox="0 0 448 512"><path d="M0 96C0 78.3 14.3 64 32 64H416c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32H32C14.3 128 0 113.7 0 96zM0 256c0-17.7 14.3-32 32-32H416c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32H32c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32zM448 416c0 17.7-14.3 32-32 32H32c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32s14.3-32 32-32H416c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32z"/></svg></div><div class="container min-h-[1000px] bg-white pb-[73px]"><div class="mb-[40px] flex flex-col items-center justify-center pt-[30px] md:pt-[50px] 2xl:pt-[70px]"><div class="text-center text-lg capitalize tracking-[1px]">immigration law</div><div class="text-[22px] sm:text-[32px] lg:text-[48px]"><div class="max-w-[970px] text-center">Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen)</div></div></div><img alt="Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen)" loading="lazy" width="1080" height="600" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="mb-[40px] w-full object-contain lg:aspect-video xl:h-[650px]" style="color:transparent" srcset="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/784/01KW16YQ6X8R6XN0WCTGDYEGCG.jpg?w=1080&q=100 1x, https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/784/01KW16YQ6X8R6XN0WCTGDYEGCG.jpg?w=3840&q=100 2x" src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/784/01KW16YQ6X8R6XN0WCTGDYEGCG.jpg?w=3840&q=100"><div class="mb-4 flex w-[99%] lg:hidden"><div class="col-span-2"><div class="flex items-center gap-x-[16px]"><img alt="fcb logo" loading="lazy" width="74" height="74" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="size-[74px] rounded-full object-cover" style="color:transparent" srcset="/images/atty.png?w=96&q=100 1x, /images/atty.png?w=256&q=100 2x" src="/images/atty.png?w=256&q=100"><div class="flex flex-col text-[14px] sm:text-[16px]"><div class>Atty. Francesco Britanico</div><div class>March 18, 2026</div><div class="font-arialNarrow text-[14px] font-bold text-gray-500 ">0<!-- --> Comments</div></div></div></div><div class="col-span-1 flex flex-1 justify-end gap-x-[5px]"><a class href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Flawyerphilippines.org%2Fzero-rated-sales-philippines-bir-disputes%2F&t=Lawyer%20Philippines%20%3A%20Zero-Rated%20Sales%20in%20the%20Philippines%3A%20How%20to%20Protect%20Your%20VAT%20Position%20and%20Avoid%20Costly%20BIR%20Disputes"><svg fill="none" class="size-6" viewBox="0 0 100 100"><g><path fill="#3d6ad6" d="M40.437 55.166c-.314 0-6.901.002-9.939-.001-1.564-.001-2.122-.563-2.122-2.137a9807.51 9807.51 0 0 1 0-12.129c.001-1.554.591-2.147 2.135-2.148 3.038-.002 9.589-.001 9.926-.001v-8.802c.002-3.974.711-7.778 2.73-11.261 2.067-3.565 5.075-6.007 8.93-7.419 2.469-.905 5.032-1.266 7.652-1.268 3.278-.002 6.556.001 9.835.007 1.409.002 2.034.625 2.037 2.044.006 3.803.006 7.606 0 11.408-.002 1.434-.601 2.01-2.042 2.026-2.687.029-5.376.011-8.06.119-2.711 0-4.137 1.324-4.137 4.13-.065 2.968-.027 5.939-.027 9.015.254 0 7.969-.001 11.575 0 1.638 0 2.198.563 2.198 2.21 0 4.021-.001 8.043-.004 12.064-.001 1.623-.527 2.141-2.175 2.142-3.606.002-11.291.001-11.627.001v32.545c0 1.735-.546 2.288-2.258 2.288H42.541c-1.513 0-2.103-.588-2.103-2.101l-.001-32.732z" opacity="1" data-original="#3d6ad6"/></g></svg></a><a class href="https://x.com/i/jf/onboarding/web?redirect_after_login=%2Fshare%3Ftext%3DLawyer%2520Philippines%2520%253A%2520Zero-Rated%2520Sales%2520in%2520the%2520Philippines%253A%2520How%2520to%2520Protect%2520Your%2520VAT%2520Position%2520and%2520Avoid%2520Costly%2520BIR%2520Disputes%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Flawyerphilippines.org%252Fzero-rated-sales-philippines-bir-disputes%252F&mode=login"><svg viewBox="0 0 1226.37 1226.37" fill="none" class="mt-1 size-4"><g><path d="M727.348 519.284 1174.075 0h-105.86L680.322 450.887 370.513 0H13.185l468.492 681.821L13.185 1226.37h105.866l409.625-476.152 327.181 476.152h357.328L727.322 519.284zM582.35 687.828l-47.468-67.894-377.686-540.24H319.8l304.797 435.991 47.468 67.894 396.2 566.721H905.661L582.35 687.854z" fill="#000000" opacity="1" data-original="#000000"/></g></svg></a><a class href="mailto:[email protected]"><svg viewBox="0 0 512 512" fill="none" class="size-6"><g><path d="M507.49 101.721 352.211 256 507.49 410.279c2.807-5.867 4.51-12.353 4.51-19.279V121c0-6.927-1.703-13.412-4.51-19.279zM467 76H45c-6.927 0-13.412 1.703-19.279 4.51l198.463 197.463c17.548 17.548 46.084 17.548 63.632 0L486.279 80.51C480.412 77.703 473.927 76 467 76zM4.51 101.721C1.703 107.588 0 114.073 0 121v270c0 6.927 1.703 13.413 4.51 19.279L159.789 256 4.51 101.721z" fill="#ffbf00" opacity="1" data-original="#ffbf00"/><path d="m331 277.211-21.973 21.973c-29.239 29.239-76.816 29.239-106.055 0L181 277.211 25.721 431.49C31.588 434.297 38.073 436 45 436h422c6.927 0 13.412-1.703 19.279-4.51L331 277.211z" fill="#ffbf00" opacity="1" data-original="#ffbf00"/></g></svg></a></div></div><div class="fixed left-0 top-0 z-[1002] h-full w-[80vw] overflow-y-auto bg-white px-4 text-[18px] transition-transform duration-300 ease-in-out lg:hidden -translate-x-full"><div class="my-4 text-center">Table of Contents</div><div class="flex flex-col gap-y-[20px] text-[12px]"><div class="cursor-pointer hover:text-neutral-500">Why Should I Get Philippine Citizenship?</div><div class="cursor-pointer hover:text-neutral-500">3 Ways to Get Philippine Citizenship</div><div class="cursor-pointer hover:text-neutral-500">8 Ways you could be Disqualified from Acquiring Philippine Citizenship</div><div class="cursor-pointer hover:text-neutral-500">Naturalization through Administrative Order (R.A. 9139)</div><div class="cursor-pointer hover:text-neutral-500">Naturalization through Judicial Order (C.A. 473)</div></div><div class="absolute right-4 top-4"><svg class="h-[20px] w-[20px] fill-[#000000]" viewBox="0 0 384 512"><path d="M342.6 150.6c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0L192 210.7 86.6 105.4c-12.5-12.5-32.8-12.5-45.3 0s-12.5 32.8 0 45.3L146.7 256 41.4 361.4c-12.5 12.5-12.5 32.8 0 45.3s32.8 12.5 45.3 0L192 301.3 297.4 406.6c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0s12.5-32.8 0-45.3L237.3 256 342.6 150.6z"/></svg></div></div><div class="flex w-full items-start gap-x-[40px] "><div class="no-scrollbar sticky top-[130px] hidden max-h-[calc(100vh-160px)] w-[22%] flex-col gap-y-[20px] overflow-y-auto lg:flex"><div class="flex items-center gap-x-[16px]"><div class="min-w-1/4 size-[74px] rounded-full bg-gray-500"><img alt="fcb logo" loading="lazy" width="74" height="74" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="size-[74px] rounded-full object-cover" style="color:transparent" srcset="/images/atty.png?w=96&q=100 1x, /images/atty.png?w=256&q=100 2x" src="/images/atty.png?w=256&q=100"></div><div class="flex flex-1 flex-col"><div class>Atty. Francesco Britanico</div><div class>March 18, 2026</div></div></div><div class="font-arialNarrow text-[32px] font-bold ">0<!-- --> Comments</div><div class="flex gap-x-[10px]"><a class href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Flawyerphilippines.org%2Fzero-rated-sales-philippines-bir-disputes%2F&t=Lawyer%20Philippines%20%3A%20Zero-Rated%20Sales%20in%20the%20Philippines%3A%20How%20to%20Protect%20Your%20VAT%20Position%20and%20Avoid%20Costly%20BIR%20Disputes"><svg fill="none" class="size-12" viewBox="0 0 100 100"><g><path fill="#3d6ad6" d="M40.437 55.166c-.314 0-6.901.002-9.939-.001-1.564-.001-2.122-.563-2.122-2.137a9807.51 9807.51 0 0 1 0-12.129c.001-1.554.591-2.147 2.135-2.148 3.038-.002 9.589-.001 9.926-.001v-8.802c.002-3.974.711-7.778 2.73-11.261 2.067-3.565 5.075-6.007 8.93-7.419 2.469-.905 5.032-1.266 7.652-1.268 3.278-.002 6.556.001 9.835.007 1.409.002 2.034.625 2.037 2.044.006 3.803.006 7.606 0 11.408-.002 1.434-.601 2.01-2.042 2.026-2.687.029-5.376.011-8.06.119-2.711 0-4.137 1.324-4.137 4.13-.065 2.968-.027 5.939-.027 9.015.254 0 7.969-.001 11.575 0 1.638 0 2.198.563 2.198 2.21 0 4.021-.001 8.043-.004 12.064-.001 1.623-.527 2.141-2.175 2.142-3.606.002-11.291.001-11.627.001v32.545c0 1.735-.546 2.288-2.258 2.288H42.541c-1.513 0-2.103-.588-2.103-2.101l-.001-32.732z" opacity="1" data-original="#3d6ad6"/></g></svg></a><a class href="https://x.com/i/jf/onboarding/web?redirect_after_login=%2Fshare%3Ftext%3DLawyer%2520Philippines%2520%253A%2520Zero-Rated%2520Sales%2520in%2520the%2520Philippines%253A%2520How%2520to%2520Protect%2520Your%2520VAT%2520Position%2520and%2520Avoid%2520Costly%2520BIR%2520Disputes%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Flawyerphilippines.org%252Fzero-rated-sales-philippines-bir-disputes%252F&mode=login"><svg viewBox="0 0 1226.37 1226.37" fill="none" class="mt-1.5 size-9"><g><path d="M727.348 519.284 1174.075 0h-105.86L680.322 450.887 370.513 0H13.185l468.492 681.821L13.185 1226.37h105.866l409.625-476.152 327.181 476.152h357.328L727.322 519.284zM582.35 687.828l-47.468-67.894-377.686-540.24H319.8l304.797 435.991 47.468 67.894 396.2 566.721H905.661L582.35 687.854z" fill="#000000" opacity="1" data-original="#000000"/></g></svg></a><a class href="mailto:[email protected]"><svg viewBox="0 0 512 512" fill="none" class="size-12"><g><path d="M507.49 101.721 352.211 256 507.49 410.279c2.807-5.867 4.51-12.353 4.51-19.279V121c0-6.927-1.703-13.412-4.51-19.279zM467 76H45c-6.927 0-13.412 1.703-19.279 4.51l198.463 197.463c17.548 17.548 46.084 17.548 63.632 0L486.279 80.51C480.412 77.703 473.927 76 467 76zM4.51 101.721C1.703 107.588 0 114.073 0 121v270c0 6.927 1.703 13.413 4.51 19.279L159.789 256 4.51 101.721z" fill="#ffbf00" opacity="1" data-original="#ffbf00"/><path d="m331 277.211-21.973 21.973c-29.239 29.239-76.816 29.239-106.055 0L181 277.211 25.721 431.49C31.588 434.297 38.073 436 45 436h422c6.927 0 13.412-1.703 19.279-4.51L331 277.211z" fill="#ffbf00" opacity="1" data-original="#ffbf00"/></g></svg></a></div><div class>Table of Contents</div><div class="flex flex-col gap-y-[20px]"><div class="cursor-pointer hover:text-neutral-500">Why Should I Get Philippine Citizenship?</div><div class="cursor-pointer hover:text-neutral-500">3 Ways to Get Philippine Citizenship</div><div class="cursor-pointer hover:text-neutral-500">8 Ways you could be Disqualified from Acquiring Philippine Citizenship</div><div class="cursor-pointer hover:text-neutral-500">Naturalization through Administrative Order (R.A. 9139)</div><div class="cursor-pointer hover:text-neutral-500">Naturalization through Judicial Order (C.A. 473)</div><div class="cursor-pointer">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</div></div></div><div class="w-full flex-1 text-[14px] !leading-[125%] xs:max-w-full md:text-[16px] lg:!text-[20px]"><div class="content !text-[14px] md:!text-[16px] lg:!text-[20px]"><p>Administrative Naturalization and Judicial Naturalization are the two routes to consider if you are thinking about applying for Philippine Citizenship. You should read this post carefully as it provides information about both.</p> <p>Under certain circumstances, you can Petition for Philippine Citizenship yourself.</p> <p>However, your particular circumstances might require a court process. This will mean hiring a lawyer and presenting evidence to the court.</p> <p>In this post I outline the Process for Naturalization in the Philippines, the fees and timelines and provide practical advice for how to proceed. If you have any specific questions or concerns you can <a href="https://lawyerphilippines.org/contact-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Me</a></p></div><div class="content-provision flex font-arialNarrow text-[20px] !italic mb-[40px] "></div><div class="mb-[30px] flex w-full flex-row items-center gap-x-4 gap-y-[20px] justify-self-center border border-[#808080] bg-[#F2F2F2] px-[16px] py-[16px] sm:w-fit sm:flex-row sm:px-[35px] sm:py-[30px] sm:text-start lg:w-full lg:gap-x-[40px]"><div class="w-[80%] space-y-3 lg:w-[315px]"><div class="primary-button w-full whitespace-nowrap text-center text-[10px] !font-[400] text-white sm:text-[14px] lg:!py-[30px] lg:text-[16px] 2xl:text-[20px]">FREE Case Evaluation</div><div class><img alt="email icon" loading="lazy" width="24" height="24" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="w-full object-cover" style="color:transparent" srcset="/images/grm.png?w=32&q=100 1x, /images/grm.png?w=48&q=100 2x" src="/images/grm.png?w=48&q=100"></div></div><div class="items-center text-wrap text-[10px] leading-tight sm:text-[14px] lg:flex xl:text-[16px] 2xl:text-[20px]">Get assessed. It's free. <br>Send us an email with the details for<br>personalized recommendations or schedule a consulation if needed.</div></div><div class><div class="flex flex-col border-b" id="why-should-i-get-philippine-citizenship"><div class="flex flex-col gap-y-[10px] sm:gap-y-[30px]"><div class="pt-8 text-center font-arialNarrow text-[16px] font-bold leading-[1.30] tracking-normal lg:text-[26px]">Why Should I Get Philippine Citizenship?</div><div class="content text-[14px] leading-[1.30] tracking-normal md:text-[16px] lg:text-[20px]"><p><img src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/c0hIYlOUmpKFeQO0oJL1GxvIAzMSFLr3Cabcg8cx.webp" alt="Obtaining Philippine Citizenship confers several benefits." width="887" height="591"></p>
<p>Obtaining Philippine Citizenship confers several benefits.</p>
<p>There are compelling reasons for you to Petition to become a Filipino Citizen.</p>
<p>Foreigners often opt to become Philippine Citizens due to the restrictions on foreign ownership of land and business and the practice of a profession.</p>
<p>If you have Citizenship you can buy as much land in the Philippines as you want.</p>
<p>In addition, you no longer have to abide by the 40% foreign ownership cap for most businesses.</p>
<p>And you can practice any profession (some professions are now limited to Filipinos) AND you can participate actively in elections.</p>
<p>Filipino Citizenship is also useful for travel. South East Asia is completely open to you as there are reciprocal travel arrangements in place with several countries.</p>
<p>Given these compelling reasons, foreigners who opt to stay in the Philippines for the long haul often decide to apply for Philippine Naturalization to better pursue their business interests.</p>
<p>If you have decided that the Philippines is the right place for you, then Philippine Citizenship might just be the right decision.</p></div></div></div><div class="flex flex-col border-b" id="3-ways-to-get-philippine-citizenship"><div class="flex flex-col gap-y-[10px] sm:gap-y-[30px]"><div class="pt-8 text-center font-arialNarrow text-[16px] font-bold leading-[1.30] tracking-normal lg:text-[26px]">3 Ways to Get Philippine Citizenship</div><div class="content text-[14px] leading-[1.30] tracking-normal md:text-[16px] lg:text-[20px]"><div id="attachment_4788" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<div id="attachment_4788" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/ROEWdfB3G1MQGZIw0epXtDExtwsxhTi3ADNFweiL.webp" alt="A caucasian woman standing behind the Philippine flag considering Judicial or Administrative Naturalization" width="893" height="595"><br>
<p id="caption-attachment-4788" class="wp-caption-text">You can use the Administrative or Judicial Naturalization processes to obtain Philippine Citizenship.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>There are 3 ways for foreigners to get Philippine Citizenship. This article focuses on 2 of those processes.</p>
<p>The third route is Legislative Naturalization but this requires an act of Congress. Unless you know Congress (!) and have done something incredibly spectacular, it is far more likely that you will go through one of the below processes.</p>
<p><strong>1. Administrative Naturalization</strong></p>
<p>Administrative Naturalization is open to those who were born in the Philippines and who have resided here since birth. If this describes your situation, then it is pretty likely you can Petition for Naturalization using this option.</p>
<p>There are other requirements you will have to comply with but those are far easier to manage.</p>
<p>See our <a href="https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/#Naturalization_through_Administrative_Order">Administrative Section</a> to check if you fit the bill.</p>
<p><strong>2. Judicial Naturalization</strong></p>
<p>If you don’t qualify for Administrative Naturalization, then you will have to Petition for Judicial Naturalization. It is actually a fairly easy, although detailed process. (If you meet all the requirements.)</p>
<p>While one of the stumbling blocks is the 10 year Residency Requirement, this can actually be cut to 5 years under certain conditions.</p>
<p>Be sure to check all the boxes and have competent counsel, however, since Naturalization Petitions are thrown out if they do not strictly adhere to the rules.</p>
<p>Check out our <a href="https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/#Naturalization_through_Judicial_Order">Judicial Naturalization</a> Process for more information.</p>
<p>It is important to note that neither of these processes apply to former Filipinos.</p>
<p>There is a completely separate process to <a href="https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/consular/citizenship/retention-and-re-acquisition-of-philippine-citizenship/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reinstate Philippine Citizenship</a> for former Filipinos but it is not covered in this article.</p>
<h4><strong>Quick </strong><strong>Comparison of Judicial vs. Administrative Naturalization</strong></h4>
<p><img src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/u68yYWQ0cZaH5QAid4TH4J3UXaGiHHaj50Vly8nE.webp" alt="Naturalization process becoming a Citizen" width="893" height="595"> </p>
<p><img src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/cHC0DsKKiJlsW5wEZPWVy2kt7bhqEC37RLK7L5JF.webp" alt="25.01.23 Table" width="894" height="528"></p>
</div></div></div></div><div class="flex flex-col border-b" id="8-ways-you-could-be-disqualified-from-acquiring-philippine-citizenship"><div class="flex flex-col gap-y-[10px] sm:gap-y-[30px]"><div class="pt-8 text-center font-arialNarrow text-[16px] font-bold leading-[1.30] tracking-normal lg:text-[26px]">8 Ways you could be Disqualified from Acquiring Philippine Citizenship</div><div class="content text-[14px] leading-[1.30] tracking-normal md:text-[16px] lg:text-[20px]"><div class="et_pb_section et_pb_section_8 et_pb_with_background et_section_regular">
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<p style="text-align: center;">You can be denied Philippine Citizenship on several grounds.</p>
<p>Any group who accepts new members wants productive and nice applicants, and the Philippine Government is no different.</p>
<p>Some sure-fire ways for being disqualified from becoming a Philippine citizen would be if you were a trouble maker, if you didn’t mingle with Filipinos, or belonged to a country with whom the Philippine Government doesn’t see eye to eye.</p>
<p>So for instance, you would be refused if you opposed the Philippine Government, belonged to groups that opposed the Philippine Government or groups that believe in violence to get the outcome you desire.</p>
<p>Also, you best not apply if you practice or believe in polygamy, were convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, suffer from mental alienation or suffer from an incurable contagious diseases.</p>
<p>Lastly, if your country doesn’t allow Filipinos living there to become citizens or it is at war with the Philippines you should probably save yourself the time and expense of Petitioning for Naturalization in the Philippines.</p>
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</div></div></div></div><div class="flex flex-col border-b" id="naturalization-through-administrative-order-ra-9139"><div class="flex flex-col gap-y-[10px] sm:gap-y-[30px]"><div class="pt-8 text-center font-arialNarrow text-[16px] font-bold leading-[1.30] tracking-normal lg:text-[26px]">Naturalization through Administrative Order (R.A. 9139)</div><div class="content text-[14px] leading-[1.30] tracking-normal md:text-[16px] lg:text-[20px]"><p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/d5PyKE083ieEIztiavOKj3ymdz2pHmHJFXaH2hsN.webp" alt="A white baby with the Philippine map behind him showing and a map marker showing his birthplace in the Philippines." width="722" height="481"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">A Philippine-born foreigner can likely consider Petitioning for Administrative Naturalization.</p>
<p>If you aren’t disqualified by any of the above and you were born and have lived in the Philippines your entire life, you can DIY your Philippine Naturalization.</p>
<p>Administrative Naturalization usually takes 1 year and costs about Php 170,000-205,000 or about USD 4,000. This cost is broken down into:</p>
<ul>
<li>1,000 Form Fee</li>
<li>39,000 Filing and Docketing Fee</li>
<li>100,000 Oath Taking and Naturalization Fee</li>
<li>30,000 to 65,000 Publication Fee</li>
</ul>
<p>The Process for Naturalization through Administrative Order is simple enough to handle by yourself although it can be time-consuming.</p>
<p>It is a 2 step process of <a href="https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/#Create_your_petition">writing your Petition</a> for Naturalization and <a href="https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/#Filing_and_Processing_Your_Petition">then Filing it</a>.</p>
<p>Remember to read the fine print carefully and pay attention to detail.</p>
<p>That way, errors can be avoided and your Petition can be quickly processed and granted.</p>
<h4>Do you qualify for Administrative Naturalization?</h4>
<p>To qualify you have got to have all of the below. Otherwise, it is best if you file for Judicial Naturalization.</p>
<ul>
<li>You were born and have lived in the Philippines your entire life;</li>
<li>You are 18 years old at the time of the Petition;</li>
<li>You are of good moral character, believe in the principles of the Constitution and conduct yourself well with the Government and your community;</li>
<li>You were in a CHED (Commission on Higher Education) recognized school for primary and secondary education where Philippine history, civics and education was taught and where enrollment is for all races. This also applies to your minor children;</li>
<li>You must have enough income to support yourself and your family except if you cannot practice your profession due to Citizenship requirements;</li>
<li>You speak any Filipino dialect;</li>
<li>You mingled with Filipinos.</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="Create_your_petition">Step 1: Create your Petition</h4>
<div id="attachment_4791" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/UrHJYD7PdtZl9QIJS47GfEdZs74s9ILC1InlkfwC.webp" alt="A man and a woman each writing with a giant pencil writing their Petition for Philippine Naturalization." width="897" height="598"><br>
<p id="caption-attachment-4791" class="wp-caption-text">Create your Petition first!</p>
</div>
<p>Break out your pencils, because you will have to write quite a bit.</p>
<p>Thankfully the information you need is pretty simple and is listed below.</p>
<p>In addition, do not forget the attachments you need as these are important requirements and that you will need to have 5 copies.</p>
<p>Please include the following in your Petition:</p>
<ul>
<li>A thumbmark on every page;</li>
<li>A passport-sized photo attached to each copy;</li>
<li>Your full name, nickname and any other name you are known by;</li>
<li>Your place and date of birth;</li>
<li>Your current and former addresses;</li>
<li>Your adoptive or natural parents name, citizenship, and residences;</li>
<li>Your trade or profession and that of your wife and children;</li>
<li>Your civil status and the date and place of all marriages as well as the name, date of birth, birthplace, citizenship, and residence of the spouse. If you were Legally Separated or Annulled, you will have to include the date and the court that granted the Decree. If you have been widowed, you will need to provide the date and place of death of your Spouse.</li>
<li>Declaration that you shall not be a Public Charge (in other words, dependent on the government).</li>
<li>Declaration that you really desire to become a Philippine Citizen and renounce allegiance to any other country or state.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>You will also need to attach the following documents:</p>
<ul>
<li>Your original or Certified Copy of your Birth Certificate</li>
<li>Your original or Certified Copy of your Alien Certificate of Registration and Native-born Certificate of Residence;</li>
<li>Your original or Certified Copy of your Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate if widowed, or Legal Separation Decree if separated;</li>
<li>An original or Certified Copy of your child/children’s Birth Certificate, Certificate of Registration, or Native-born Certificate of Residence;</li>
<li>Affidavit of Financial Capacity supported by documents such as bank, stock or ownership of other properties;</li>
<li>Affidavits of 2 Filipinos of good standing who live in your city and who have known you for at least 10 years. These two witnesses must assure the Special Committee on Naturalization that you are of good moral character and that you are qualified to become a Philippine Citizen;</li>
<li>A Medical Certificate stating that you have no drug dependencies, are not mentally alienated, do not have AIDs or any contagious, incurable disease;</li>
<li>School Records and a Certificate stating that your children are enrolled in DECS (Department of Education, Culture and Sports) Accredited schools with Philippine history, government and civics taught and which is not limited to a particular race;</li>
<li>Income Tax Returns for the past 3 years if employed.</li>
</ul>
<p>I really do recommend that you run your documents by the ladies who are at the Naturalization Desk first. They can check to make sure everything is alright before you file your Petition.</p>
<p> </p>
<h4 id="Filing_and_Processing_Your_Petition">Step 2: Filing and Processing Your Administrative Naturalization Petition</h4>
<div id="attachment_4792" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/1I8aNDBNEyffqik69jiKOyE49bjfOpHsksFQAcHB.webp" alt="A woman sat at a desk opposite a man who is interviewing her as part of her Administrative Naturalization Petition." width="887" height="591"><br>
<p id="caption-attachment-4792" class="wp-caption-text">An interview is part of the Administration Naturalization Process</p>
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<ul>
<li>File your Petition with the Secretariat of the Special Committee on Naturalization. The office of the Committee is at the Office of the <a href="https://www.osg.gov.ph/page?call=contactus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Solicitor General in Makati</a>.</li>
<li>Your Petition will be Assessed.</li>
<li>Your Petition will be raffled off to a newspaper and a part of it will be published once a week for 3 weeks. It will also be posted in the Solicitor General’s office.</li>
<li>You will have to follow up with the newspaper yourself and pay their fees. It can be pretty expensive depending on which newspaper it is.</li>
<li>Your Petition will be forwarded and posted in the offices of the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau of Immigration, and your local Civil Registrar.</li>
<li>These agencies will inform the Secretariat of the Special Committee that they posted the Petition and that you have a clean record;</li>
<li>You will be called for a test and an interview. If all goes well, you will be asked to pay the 100,000 fees.</li>
<li>Afterward, all that remains is the Oath and viola!</li>
</ul>
<p>You are a Philippine Citizen. (Congratulations!)</p>
<p>Your Certificate of Naturalization will be forwarded to the Bureau of Immigration and the local Civil Registrar.</p></div></div></div><div class="flex flex-col border-b" id="naturalization-through-judicial-order-ca-473"><div class="flex flex-col gap-y-[10px] sm:gap-y-[30px]"><div class="pt-8 text-center font-arialNarrow text-[16px] font-bold leading-[1.30] tracking-normal lg:text-[26px]">Naturalization through Judicial Order (C.A. 473)</div><div class="content text-[14px] leading-[1.30] tracking-normal md:text-[16px] lg:text-[20px]"><p>If you do not qualify for <a href="https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/#Naturalization_through_Administrative_Order">Administrative Naturalization</a> you will need to contact a lawyer and go through the Judicial Naturalization Process.</p>
<p>This takes about three and a half years from the filing of the Intention to become a Philippine Citizen. You should be aware that once you have Filed your Petition there is a mandatory 1 year waiting period before you start the court process itself.</p>
<p>Expect the costs to include the regular published fees as well as the lawyers legal fees for accepting the case, preparing the pleadings and appearing in court.</p>
<p>Both the time and the cost estimate really depends on your circumstances and your available documents and proof.</p>
<p>Judicial Naturalization has 2 time-based Requirements among other prerequisites:</p>
<ol>
<li>You must have resided in the Philippines for 10 years;</li>
<li>You must have waited 1 year after you filed your Intention to become a Philippine Citizen with the Office of the Solicitor General.</li>
</ol>
<p>That is a lot of time but thankfully, both can be shorted or waived if certain conditions are met.</p>
<p>For instance, the 10-year Residence Requirement becomes 5 years if you were born in the Philippines or married a Filipina (one hopes this is also true if you married a Filipino!).</p>
<p>This is also true if you were a teacher for at least 2 years in a school not limited to a particular race.</p>
<p>Likewise, you are good if you established a new industry or invention in the Philippines or if you honorably held Office in the Government of the Philippines.</p>
<p>In addition, the 1-year waiting period can also be totally waived if:</p>
<ul>
<li>You have continuously lived in the Philippines for 30 years, or</li>
<li>You were born and educated in the Philippines in a CHED recognized school not limited to a particular race for your primary and secondary education. (You must have also given Philippine education to your children.)</li>
</ul>
<h4>Do you qualify for Judicial Naturalization?</h4>
<div id="attachment_4794" class="wp-caption alignright"><img src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/d19MLjgLQte4AHGgUdAdBvKR2qe6c8bqOYYlAADn.webp" alt="A bearded male foreigner with a large Philippine heart on his chest, indicating his love for the country." width="887" height="591"><br>
<p id="caption-attachment-4794" class="wp-caption-text">There are certain qualifications to become a Philippine Citizen using the Judicial Naturalization Process.</p>
</div>
<p>As with the Administrative Naturalization Process above, there are certain qualifications:</p>
<ul>
<li>You have to be 21 years old at the Hearing of the Petition;</li>
<li>You must have resided in the Philippines for 10 years;</li>
<li>You are of good moral character and believe in the Philippine Constitution. You must also have conducted yourself in an irreproachable manner with the Government and the community in which you live;</li>
<li>You must own real estate not less than 5,000 pesos or must have some lucrative trade or profession (yes, that is USD 100 and just goes to show how old this 1939 law really is! Essentially, it means you have got to be able to support yourself);</li>
<li>You must be able to speak and write English, Spanish or one of the main Philippine languages;</li>
<li>Your minor children must have been enrolled in CHED (Commission on Higher Education) recognized school open to all races where Philippine history, government, and civics are taught during your entire period of residence.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Step 1: File your Intention to Become Philippine Citizen.</h4>
<p>You do not have to file with the Office of the Solicitor General and wait for 1 year if:</p>
<ol>
<li>You have lived in the Philippines for 30 years or</li>
<li>You were born and educated in a non- race restricted CHED recognized school for your primary and secondary education.</li>
</ol>
<p>If either of those two applies to you, then you can immediately file your Petition with the court.</p>
<p>If not, you will have to file a Petition with the Bureau of Immigration. It should have the below information:</p>
<ul>
<li>Your full name;</li>
<li>Your place, date of birth and age;</li>
<li>Your personal description;</li>
<li>Your occupation;</li>
<li>Your current address;</li>
<li>Your last foreign address and citizenship;</li>
<li>Date of your arrival and the name/number of the vessel or aircraft that you used;</li>
<li>Declaration that you enrolled your minor children in a non-race restricted school recognized by the CHED where Philippine history, civics, and government are taught;</li>
<li>Certificate showing the date, place, and manner must be shown to prove lawful entry;</li>
<li>2 photographs of yourself</li>
</ul>
<p>To do this properly, it is really best to consult with a lawyer.</p>
<div id="attachment_4795" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/i9cy94cDW44UrVMXP7gcK1ItlDgHVg7unQZr127j.webp" alt="Client consulting with his lawyer about judicial naturalization." width="890" height="593"><br>
<p id="caption-attachment-4795" class="wp-caption-text">Talk to your lawyer and discuss your Petition thoroughly!</p>
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<p>There are some requirements that can be a bit difficult for a first timer to get right.</p>
<p>I have read some Supreme Court Rulings where the case could have easily succeeded had a lawyer familiar with the process stepped in.</p>
<p>Think about it this way, it will save you having to do the process all over again.</p>
<p>After this filing, you must wait one year before starting the actual court process.</p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Step 2: Creating your Petition at Court</h4>
<p>After you have filed your Intention to Become a Filipino citizen with the Office of the Solicitor General and waited one year, you will need to create a Petition to file in Court.</p>
<div id="attachment_4796" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/pJkiUoqnoh3LrC7NbAWKURkLyXwm6qNlazJJOXVi.webp" alt="Documents everywhere on a green background to show how much paperwork is required" width="890" height="593"><br>
<p id="caption-attachment-4796" class="wp-caption-text">Documents, documents, and more documents!</p>
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<p>You will need to have 3 copies and your Petition will need to include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Your full name;</li>
<li>Your place and date of birth;</li>
<li>Your current and former addresses;</li>
<li>Your occupation;</li>
<li>Your civil status and any changes to it;</li>
<li>The name, age, birthplace, and residence of your wife and children;</li>
<li>Port of debarkation and, if remembered, the ship/plane on which you arrived;</li>
<li>Declaration that you qualify and do not possess any of the disqualifications;</li>
<li>Declaration that you filed your Intention to become a Filipino;</li>
<li>Declaration that you will live in the Philippines from the start of the petition until it is granted;</li>
<li>You will also need to include names and post-office addresses of any witnesses you want to be part of the case;</li>
<li>Your signature</li>
</ul>
<p>You will also need the following attachments:</p>
<ul>
<li>The Affidavit of 2 Filipino citizens who have personally known you for 10 years (or 5, depending on whether you qualify) required. They will attest to your good moral character and state you are qualified for citizenship.</li>
<li>The Certificate of arrival;</li>
<li>The Declaration of Intention;</li>
</ul>
<h4>Step 3: Filing the Petition and the Court Process</h4>
<div id="attachment_4797" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/8SLYcPcJIgZxiCIJdbcCHjPN0oZ4Kkc4bKqukbcJ.webp" alt="People celebrating their successful Philippine naturalization and holding up flags." width="893" height="595"><br>
<p id="caption-attachment-4797" class="wp-caption-text">Congratulations! You’re almost at the end of the process!</p>
</div>
<p>Philippine court process for Naturalization is pretty straightforward. However, it will still take at least a year and a half (sometimes longer) for the process to be complete.</p>
<p>Why?</p>
<p>Well, there are Publication Requirements that take up 3 weeks or a month and a half counting arrangements and raffling.</p>
<p>In addition, there is a waiting period of 3 months after Publication before the court can start.</p>
<p>Document gathering and a case’s particular circumstances can also make this period much longer if it is not addressed prior to court.</p>
<ul>
<li>Your complete Petition will be filed with the Regional Trial Court in your city. You must have lived in that city for at least a year.</li>
<li>Your case will be raffled to a particular judge and courtroom of your city’s Regional Trial Court.</li>
<li>Your court will accept it or raise a concern.</li>
<li>If your Petition has been accepted, the Clerk of Court will Publish your petition once a week for 3 weeks in a newspaper where you live. The newspaper is also determined by raffle.</li>
<li>Your Petition will also be posted by the Clerk of Court in a public place stating your name, birthplace, and residence, your date, and place of arrival in the Philippines, the names of your Witnesses, and the hearing date.</li>
<li>Your first Hearing can only be held sometime after 90 days from the last Publication in a newspaper.</li>
<li>Your evidence and Witnesses will be presented.</li>
<li>Your court decision will be released.</li>
<li>Your Petition will also be forwarded to several other government departments for action and to inform them.</li>
</ul>
<p>And yes, you’re done!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-britanico-58ba53b5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atty. Francesco C. Britanico</a>, <a href="https://lawyerphilippines.org/">FCB Law Office</a><br>Lawyers In the Philippines</p></div></div></div></div><div class="my-[30px] font-arialNarrow text-[24px] font-bold leading-tight sm:text-[32px] sm:leading-normal" id="faqs">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</div><div class="space-y-[20px] text-[18px] leading-tight lg:!text-[20px]"><p>1. What is Judicial Naturalization?</p><p>Judicial naturalization is a legal process that allows foreigners to obtain Philippine citizenship by petitioning in court after fulfilling designated residency and other criteria.</p><p>2. How long does the Naturalization Process take?</p><p>The administrative naturalization process generally lasts about one year, while the judicial naturalization process can extend up to three and a half years due to the additional legal proceedings involved.</p><p>3. Can I apply for Naturalization without a lawyer?</p><p>Yes, individuals can file for administrative naturalization without legal representation; however, judicial naturalization is more complicated and typically necessitates the support of a lawyer.</p><p>4. Can naturalized citizens own land in the Philippines?</p><p>Yes, naturalized citizens can own land in the Philippines.</p><p>5. Do I have to give up my previous citizenship to become a citizen of the Philippines?</p><p>The laws actually state that foreign citizenship must be repudiated to become a citizen of the Philippines. If it is discovered that a naturalized citizen still maintains his previous citizenship, it is possible that Philippine citizenship can be stripped from him.</p><p>6. Why are petitions for Naturalization dismissed?</p><p>Petitions for naturalization are dismissed for lack of compliance with publication; lack of credible witnesses; lack of proof of income, trade or profession; lack of enrollment of children in a school that teaches Philippine history and culture; and the like. These are necessary items for the case, so it is important to coordinate with a lawyer so that it is done well.</p></div><div class="mt-[30px] flex items-center justify-between"><a class="flex gap-x-[20px]" href="/"><div class><img alt="fcb logo" loading="lazy" width="74" height="74" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="aspect-square w-[74px]" style="color:transparent" srcset="/images/logo.jpg?w=96&q=100 1x, /images/logo.jpg?w=256&q=100 2x" src="/images/logo.jpg?w=256&q=100"></div><div class="flex flex-col justify-center"><div class><strong>Atty. Francesco C. Britanico</strong>, FCB Law Office</div><div class>Lawyers In the Philippines</div></div></a></div><div class="mt-8"><form class="relative w-full border bg-white px-4 py-6 text-[16px] sm:px-10 sm:py-10 sm:text-[18px] lg:px-[45px]"><div class="absolute left-0 top-0 h-[10px] w-full bg-secondary sm:h-[16px]"></div><h2 class="text-[18px] font-semibold sm:text-[24px]">Add Comment</h2><div class="mt-3 space-y-3 sm:mt-2 sm:space-y-2"><div class="border p-3 transition focus-within:ring-1 focus-within:ring-secondary sm:p-4"><textarea rows="4" class="min-h-[90px] w-full resize-none bg-transparent text-[14px] outline-none sm:min-h-[100px] sm:text-[16px]" placeholder="Write a comment..."></textarea></div><div class="grid grid-cols-1 gap-3 sm:grid-cols-2 sm:gap-4"><div><div class="border px-3 py-2 transition focus-within:ring-1 focus-within:ring-secondary sm:px-4"><input type="text" class="w-full bg-transparent text-[14px] outline-none sm:text-[16px]" placeholder="Name" value></div></div><div><div class="border px-3 py-2 transition focus-within:ring-1 focus-within:ring-secondary sm:px-4"><input type="email" class="w-full bg-transparent text-[14px] outline-none sm:text-[16px]" placeholder="Email" value></div></div></div><div class="pt-2"><div class="-translate-x-[15%] scale-[70%] xs:-translate-x-0 xs:scale-100"></div></div><div class="flex flex-col-reverse justify-end gap-2 pt-2 sm:flex-row sm:gap-3"><button type="button" class="w-full border px-4 py-2 transition hover:bg-gray-100 sm:w-auto">Discard</button><button type="submit" class="w-full bg-secondary px-4 py-2 text-white transition hover:opacity-90 sm:w-auto">Submit</button></div></div></form></div></div></div></div></section></main></div></div><script id="__NEXT_DATA__" type="application/json">{"props":{"pageProps":{"page":{"type":"contentEntries","id":"philippine-judicial-and-administrative-naturalization-everything-you-need-to-know-about-becoming-a-philippine-citizen","title":"Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen)","data":{"main":{"title":"Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen)","category":{"category":["immigration-law"],"sub-category":["naturalization"],"sub-sub-category":["administrative-naturalization","judicial-naturalization"]},"image":["845b3c1c-92c1-4c29-8b98-d2e92284fc32"],"content":"\u003cp\u003eAdministrative Naturalization and Judicial Naturalization are the two routes to consider if you are thinking about applying for Philippine Citizenship. You should read this post carefully as it provides information about both.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnder certain circumstances, you can Petition for Philippine Citizenship yourself.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, your particular circumstances might require a court process. This will mean hiring a lawyer and presenting evidence to the court.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this post I outline the Process for Naturalization in the Philippines, the fees and timelines and provide practical advice for how to proceed. If you have any specific questions or concerns you can\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://lawyerphilippines.org/contact-us/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eContact Me\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","legal_provision":null,"fb_link":null,"insta":null,"email":null,"quick_guides":[{"header":"Why Should I Get Philippine Citizenship?","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/c0hIYlOUmpKFeQO0oJL1GxvIAzMSFLr3Cabcg8cx.webp\" alt=\"Obtaining Philippine Citizenship confers several benefits.\" width=\"887\" height=\"591\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eObtaining Philippine Citizenship confers several benefits.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are compelling reasons for you to Petition to become a Filipino Citizen.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForeigners often opt to become Philippine Citizens due to the restrictions on foreign ownership of land and business and the practice of a profession.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have Citizenship you can buy as much land in the Philippines as you want.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition, you no longer have to abide by the 40% foreign ownership cap for most businesses.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd you can practice any profession (some professions are now limited to Filipinos) AND you can participate actively in elections.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFilipino Citizenship is also useful for travel. South East Asia is completely open to you as there are reciprocal travel arrangements in place with several countries.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiven these compelling reasons, foreigners who opt to stay in the Philippines for the long haul often decide to apply for Philippine Naturalization to better pursue their business interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have decided that the Philippines is the right place for you, then Philippine Citizenship might just be the right decision.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3 Ways to Get Philippine Citizenship","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_4788\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_4788\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/ROEWdfB3G1MQGZIw0epXtDExtwsxhTi3ADNFweiL.webp\" alt=\"A caucasian woman standing behind the Philippine flag considering Judicial or Administrative Naturalization\" width=\"893\" height=\"595\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-4788\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003eYou can use the Administrative or Judicial Naturalization processes to obtain Philippine Citizenship.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are 3 ways for foreigners to get Philippine Citizenship. This article focuses on 2 of those processes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe third route is Legislative Naturalization but this requires an act of Congress. Unless you know Congress (!) and have done something incredibly spectacular, it is far more likely that you will go through one of the below processes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1.\u0026nbsp;Administrative Naturalization\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdministrative Naturalization is open to those who were born in the Philippines and who have resided here since birth. If this describes your situation, then it is pretty likely you can Petition for Naturalization using this option.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are other requirements you will have to comply with but those are far easier to manage.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee our\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/#Naturalization_through_Administrative_Order\"\u003eAdministrative Section\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;to check if you fit the bill.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.\u0026nbsp;Judicial Naturalization\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you don\u0026rsquo;t qualify for Administrative Naturalization, then you will have to Petition for Judicial Naturalization. It is actually a fairly easy, although detailed\u0026nbsp; process. (If you meet all the requirements.)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile one of the stumbling blocks is the 10 year Residency Requirement, this can actually be cut to 5 years under certain conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBe sure to check all the boxes and have competent counsel, however, since Naturalization Petitions are thrown out if they do not strictly adhere to the rules.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCheck out our\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/#Naturalization_through_Judicial_Order\"\u003eJudicial Naturalization\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;Process for more information.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is important to note that neither of these processes apply to former Filipinos.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a completely separate process to\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/consular/citizenship/retention-and-re-acquisition-of-philippine-citizenship/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eReinstate Philippine Citizenship\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;for former Filipinos but it is not covered in this article.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComparison of Judicial vs. Administrative Naturalization\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/u68yYWQ0cZaH5QAid4TH4J3UXaGiHHaj50Vly8nE.webp\" alt=\"Naturalization process becoming a Citizen\" width=\"893\" height=\"595\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/cHC0DsKKiJlsW5wEZPWVy2kt7bhqEC37RLK7L5JF.webp\" alt=\"25.01.23 Table\" width=\"894\" height=\"528\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"8 Ways you could be Disqualified from Acquiring Philippine Citizenship","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"et_pb_section et_pb_section_8 et_pb_with_background et_section_regular\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_8 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_6 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/AEzvGOAewHGm6HbjMhMpyObdCDm0BZPQftqxy1yQ.webp\" alt=\"One person with a 'President Resign' sign and a 2nd person holding a gun; Political destabilization efforts and violence are grounds to deny a Philippine Citizenship\" width=\"519\" height=\"346\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eYou can be denied Philippine Citizenship on several grounds.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAny group who accepts new members wants productive and nice applicants, and the Philippine Government is no different.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome sure-fire ways for being disqualified from becoming a Philippine citizen would be if you were a trouble maker, if you didn\u0026rsquo;t mingle with Filipinos, or belonged to a country with whom the Philippine Government doesn\u0026rsquo;t see eye to eye.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo for instance, you would be refused if you opposed the Philippine Government, belonged to groups that opposed the Philippine Government or groups that believe in violence to get the outcome you desire.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso, you best not apply if you practice or believe in polygamy, were convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, suffer from mental alienation or suffer from an incurable contagious diseases.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLastly, if your country doesn\u0026rsquo;t allow Filipinos living there to become citizens or it is at war with the Philippines you should probably save yourself the time and expense of Petitioning for Naturalization in the Philippines.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"et_pb_section et_pb_section_9 et_pb_with_background et_section_regular\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_9\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_9 et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Naturalization_through_Administrative_Order\" class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_7 et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_dark\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Naturalization through Administrative Order (R.A. 9139)","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/d5PyKE083ieEIztiavOKj3ymdz2pHmHJFXaH2hsN.webp\" alt=\"A white baby with the Philippine map behind him showing and a map marker showing his birthplace in the Philippines.\" width=\"722\" height=\"481\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eA Philippine-born foreigner can likely consider Petitioning for Administrative Naturalization.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you aren\u0026rsquo;t disqualified by any of the above and you were born and have lived in the Philippines your entire life, you can DIY your Philippine Naturalization.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdministrative Naturalization usually takes 1 year and costs about Php 170,000-205,000 or about USD 4,000. This cost is broken down into:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1,000 Form Fee\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e39,000 Filing and Docketing Fee\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e100,000 Oath Taking and Naturalization Fee\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e30,000 to 65,000 Publication Fee\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Process for Naturalization through Administrative Order is simple enough to handle by yourself although it can be time-consuming.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a 2 step process of\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/#Create_your_petition\"\u003ewriting your Petition\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;for Naturalization and\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/#Filing_and_Processing_Your_Petition\"\u003ethen Filing it\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemember to read the fine print carefully and pay attention to detail.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat way, errors can be avoided and your Petition can be quickly processed and granted.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDo you qualify for Administrative Naturalization?\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo qualify you have got to have all of the below. Otherwise, it is best if you file for Judicial Naturalization.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou were born and have lived in the Philippines your entire life;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou are 18 years old at the time of the Petition;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou are of good moral character, believe in the principles of the Constitution and conduct yourself well with the Government and your community;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou were in a CHED (Commission on Higher Education) recognized school for primary and secondary education where Philippine history, civics and education was taught and where enrollment is for all races. This also applies to your minor children;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou must have enough income to support yourself and your family except if you cannot practice your profession due to Citizenship requirements;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou speak any Filipino dialect;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou mingled with Filipinos.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4 id=\"Create_your_petition\"\u003eStep 1: Create your Petition\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_4791\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/UrHJYD7PdtZl9QIJS47GfEdZs74s9ILC1InlkfwC.webp\" alt=\"A man and a woman each writing with a giant pencil writing their Petition for Philippine Naturalization.\" width=\"897\" height=\"598\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-4791\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003eCreate your Petition first!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBreak out your pencils, because you will have to write quite a bit.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThankfully the information you need is pretty simple and is listed below.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition, do not forget the attachments you need as these are important requirements and that you will need to have 5 copies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease include the following in your Petition:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA thumbmark on every page;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA passport-sized photo attached to each copy;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour full name, nickname and any other name you are known by;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour place and date of birth;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour current and former addresses;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour adoptive or natural parents name, citizenship, and residences;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour trade or profession and that of your wife and children;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour civil status and the date and place of all marriages as well as the name, date of birth, birthplace, citizenship, and residence of the spouse. If you were Legally Separated or Annulled, you will have to include the date and the court that granted the Decree. If you have been widowed, you will need to provide the date and place of death of your Spouse.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeclaration that you shall not be a Public Charge (in other words, dependent on the government).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeclaration that you really desire to become a Philippine Citizen and renounce allegiance to any other country or state.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou will also need to attach the following documents:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour original or Certified Copy of your Birth Certificate\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour original or Certified Copy of your Alien Certificate of Registration and Native-born Certificate of Residence;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour original or Certified Copy of your Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate if widowed, or Legal Separation Decree if separated;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn original or Certified Copy of your child/children\u0026rsquo;s Birth Certificate, Certificate of Registration, or Native-born Certificate of Residence;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAffidavit of Financial Capacity supported by documents such as bank, stock or ownership of other properties;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAffidavits of 2 Filipinos of good standing who live in your city and who have known you for at least 10 years. These two witnesses must assure the Special Committee on Naturalization that you are of good moral character and that you are qualified to become a Philippine Citizen;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Medical Certificate stating that you have no drug dependencies, are not mentally alienated, do not have AIDs or any contagious, incurable disease;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSchool Records and a Certificate stating that your children are enrolled in DECS (Department of Education, Culture and Sports) Accredited schools with Philippine history, government and civics taught and which is not limited to a particular race;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncome Tax Returns for the past 3 years if employed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI really do recommend that you run your documents by the ladies who are at the Naturalization Desk first. They can check to make sure everything is alright before you file your Petition.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 id=\"Filing_and_Processing_Your_Petition\"\u003eStep 2: Filing and Processing Your Administrative Naturalization Petition\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_4792\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/1I8aNDBNEyffqik69jiKOyE49bjfOpHsksFQAcHB.webp\" alt=\"A woman sat at a desk opposite a man who is interviewing her as part of her Administrative Naturalization Petition.\" width=\"887\" height=\"591\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-4792\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003eAn interview is part of the Administration Naturalization Process\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFile your Petition with the Secretariat of the Special Committee on Naturalization. The office of the Committee is at the Office of the\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://www.osg.gov.ph/page?call=contactus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eSolicitor General in Makati\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour Petition will be Assessed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour Petition will be raffled off to a newspaper and a part of it will be published once a week for 3 weeks. It will also be posted in the Solicitor General\u0026rsquo;s office.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou will have to follow up with the newspaper yourself and pay their fees. It can be pretty expensive depending on which newspaper it is.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour Petition will be forwarded and posted in the offices of the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau of Immigration, and your local Civil Registrar.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThese agencies will inform the Secretariat of the Special Committee that they posted the Petition and that you have a clean record;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou will be called for a test and an interview. If all goes well, you will be asked to pay the 100,000 fees.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAfterward, all that remains is the Oath and viola!\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou are a Philippine Citizen. (Congratulations!)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour Certificate of Naturalization will be forwarded to the Bureau of Immigration and the local Civil Registrar.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Naturalization through Judicial Order (C.A. 473)","content":"\u003cp\u003eIf you do not qualify for\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know/#Naturalization_through_Administrative_Order\"\u003eAdministrative Naturalization\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;you will need to contact a lawyer and go through the Judicial Naturalization Process.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis takes about three and a half years from the filing of the Intention to become a Philippine Citizen. You should be aware that once you have Filed your Petition there is a mandatory 1 year waiting period before you start the court process itself.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect the costs to include the regular published fees as well as the lawyers legal fees for accepting the case, preparing the pleadings and appearing in court.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth the time and the cost estimate really depends on your circumstances and your available documents and proof.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJudicial Naturalization has 2 time-based Requirements among other prerequisites:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou must have resided in the Philippines for 10 years;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou must have waited 1 year after you filed your Intention to become a Philippine Citizen with the Office of the Solicitor General.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is a lot of time but thankfully, both can be shorted or waived if certain conditions are met.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor instance, the 10-year Residence Requirement becomes 5 years if you were born in the Philippines or married a Filipina (one hopes this is also true if you married a Filipino!).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is also true if you were a teacher for at least 2 years in a school not limited to a particular race.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLikewise, you are good if you established a new industry or invention in the Philippines or if you honorably held Office in the Government of the Philippines.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition, the 1-year waiting period can also be totally waived if:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou have continuously lived in the Philippines for 30 years, or\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou were born and educated in the Philippines in a CHED recognized school not limited to a particular race for your primary and secondary education. (You must have also given Philippine education to your children.)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDo you qualify for Judicial Naturalization?\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_4794\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/d19MLjgLQte4AHGgUdAdBvKR2qe6c8bqOYYlAADn.webp\" alt=\"A bearded male foreigner with a large Philippine heart on his chest, indicating his love for the country.\" width=\"887\" height=\"591\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-4794\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003eThere are certain qualifications to become a Philippine Citizen using the Judicial Naturalization Process.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with the Administrative Naturalization Process above, there are certain qualifications:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou have to be 21 years old at the Hearing of the Petition;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou must have resided in the Philippines for 10 years;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou are of good moral character and believe in the Philippine Constitution. You must also have conducted yourself in an irreproachable manner with the Government and the community in which you live;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou must own real estate not less than 5,000 pesos or must have some lucrative trade or profession (yes, that is USD 100 and just goes to show how old this 1939 law really is! Essentially, it means you have got to be able to support yourself);\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou must be able to speak and write English, Spanish or one of the main Philippine languages;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour minor children must have been enrolled in CHED (Commission on Higher Education) recognized school open to all races where Philippine history, government, and civics are taught during your entire period of residence.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eStep 1: File your Intention to Become Philippine Citizen.\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou do not have to file with the Office of the Solicitor General and wait for 1 year if:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou have lived in the Philippines for 30 years or\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou were born and educated in a non- race restricted CHED recognized school for your primary and secondary education.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf either of those two applies to you, then you can immediately file your Petition with the court.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf not, you will have to file a Petition with the Bureau of Immigration. It should have the below information:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour full name;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour place, date of birth and age;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour personal description;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour occupation;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour current address;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour last foreign address and citizenship;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDate of your arrival and the name/number of the vessel or aircraft that you used;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeclaration that you enrolled your minor children in a non-race restricted school recognized by the CHED where Philippine history, civics, and government are taught;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCertificate showing the date, place, and manner must be shown to prove lawful entry;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 photographs of yourself\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo do this properly, it is really best to consult with a lawyer.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_4795\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/i9cy94cDW44UrVMXP7gcK1ItlDgHVg7unQZr127j.webp\" alt=\"Client consulting with his lawyer about judicial naturalization.\" width=\"890\" height=\"593\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-4795\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003eTalk to your lawyer and discuss your Petition thoroughly!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are some requirements that can be a bit difficult for a first timer to get right.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have read some Supreme Court Rulings where the case could have easily succeeded had a lawyer familiar with the process stepped in.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThink about it this way, it will save you having to do the process all over again.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter this filing, you must wait one year before starting the actual court process.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eStep 2: Creating your Petition at Court\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter you have filed your Intention to Become a Filipino citizen with the Office of the Solicitor General and waited one year, you will need to create a Petition to file in Court.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_4796\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/pJkiUoqnoh3LrC7NbAWKURkLyXwm6qNlazJJOXVi.webp\" alt=\"Documents everywhere on a green background to show how much paperwork is required\" width=\"890\" height=\"593\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-4796\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003eDocuments, documents, and more documents!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou will need to have 3 copies and your Petition will need to include:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour full name;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour place and date of birth;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour current and former addresses;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour occupation;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour civil status and any changes to it;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe name, age, birthplace, and residence of your wife and children;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePort of debarkation and, if remembered, the ship/plane on which you arrived;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeclaration that you qualify and do not possess any of the disqualifications;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeclaration that you filed your Intention to become a Filipino;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeclaration that you will live in the Philippines from the start of the petition until it is granted;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou will also need to include names and post-office addresses of any witnesses you want to be part of the case;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour signature\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou will also need the following attachments:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Affidavit of 2 Filipino citizens who have personally known you for 10 years (or 5, depending on whether you qualify) required. They will attest to your good moral character and state you are qualified for citizenship.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Certificate of arrival;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Declaration of Intention;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eStep 3: Filing the Petition and the Court Process\u003c/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_4797\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/tinyeditor_uploads/8SLYcPcJIgZxiCIJdbcCHjPN0oZ4Kkc4bKqukbcJ.webp\" alt=\"People celebrating their successful Philippine naturalization and holding up flags.\" width=\"893\" height=\"595\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-4797\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003eCongratulations! You\u0026rsquo;re almost at the end of the process!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilippine court process for Naturalization is pretty straightforward.\u0026nbsp; However, it will still take at least a year and a half (sometimes longer) for the process to be complete.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell, there are Publication Requirements that take up 3 weeks or a month and a half counting arrangements and raffling.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition, there is a waiting period of 3 months after Publication before the court can start.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDocument gathering and a case\u0026rsquo;s particular circumstances can also make this period much longer if it is not addressed prior to court.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour complete Petition will be filed with the Regional Trial Court in your city. You must have lived in that city for at least a year.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour case will be raffled to a particular judge and courtroom of your city\u0026rsquo;s Regional Trial Court.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour court will accept it or raise a concern.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf your Petition has been accepted, the Clerk of Court will Publish your petition once a week for 3 weeks in a newspaper where you live. The newspaper is also determined by raffle.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour Petition will also be posted by the Clerk of Court in a public place stating your name, birthplace, and residence, your date, and place of arrival in the Philippines, the names of your Witnesses, and the hearing date.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour first Hearing can only be held sometime after 90 days from the last Publication in a newspaper.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour evidence and Witnesses will be presented.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour court decision will be released.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour Petition will also be forwarded to several other government departments for action and to inform them.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd yes, you\u0026rsquo;re done!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-britanico-58ba53b5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eAtty. Francesco C. Britanico\u003c/a\u003e,\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://lawyerphilippines.org/\"\u003eFCB Law Office\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLawyers In the Philippines\u003c/p\u003e"}],"faq":"\u003cp\u003e1. What is Judicial Naturalization?\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJudicial naturalization is a legal process that allows foreigners to obtain Philippine citizenship by petitioning in court after fulfilling designated residency and other criteria.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e2. How long does the Naturalization Process take?\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe administrative naturalization process generally lasts about one year, while the judicial naturalization process can extend up to three and a half years due to the additional legal proceedings involved.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e3. Can I apply for Naturalization without a lawyer?\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes, individuals can file for administrative naturalization without legal representation; however, judicial naturalization is more complicated and typically necessitates the support of a lawyer.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e4. Can naturalized citizens own land in the Philippines?\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes, naturalized citizens can own land in the Philippines.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e5. Do I have to give up my previous citizenship to become a citizen of the Philippines?\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe laws actually state that foreign citizenship must be repudiated to become a citizen of the Philippines. If it is discovered that a naturalized citizen still maintains his previous citizenship, it is possible that Philippine citizenship can be stripped from him.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e6. Why are petitions for Naturalization dismissed?\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePetitions for naturalization are dismissed for lack of compliance with publication; lack of credible witnesses; lack of proof of income, trade or profession; lack of enrollment of children in a school that teaches Philippine history and culture; and the like. These are necessary items for the case, so it is important to coordinate with a lawyer so that it is done well.\u003c/p\u003e"}},"order":24,"published_at":"2026-03-18T07:42:28.000000Z","route_url":"/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know","locale":"en","created_at":"2026-05-26T07:45:58.000000Z","updated_at":"2026-09-10T05:56:03.000000Z","mediaHandler":{"main.image":[{"original":"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/784/01KW16YQ6X8R6XN0WCTGDYEGCG.jpg","conversions":[],"original_url":"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/784/01KW16YQ6X8R6XN0WCTGDYEGCG.jpg","generated_conversions":[],"custom_properties":[]}]},"jsonlds":[{"type":"jsonLd","id":"435","json_ld_type":"graph","json_ld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#website","url":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org","name":"FCB Law Office"},{"@type":["Organization","LegalService"],"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#organization","name":"FCB Law Office","url":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org"},{"@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/784/01KW16YQ6X8R6XN0WCTGDYEGCG.jpg","url":"https://haspcms-fcb-lawyer.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/media/784/01KW16YQ6X8R6XN0WCTGDYEGCG.jpg","description":"Petition for naturalization document","width":1240,"height":697,"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#petition-for-naturalization-document"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#breadcrumb","name":"Breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"FCB Law Office","item":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blogs","item":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen) - Lawyers in the Philippines"}]},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#webpage","url":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#website"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#breadcrumb"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#petition-for-naturalization-document"},"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Judicial Naturalization?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Judicial naturalization is a legal process that allows foreigners to obtain Philippine citizenship by petitioning in court after fulfilling designated residency and other criteria."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How long does the Naturalization Process take?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The administrative naturalization process generally lasts about one year, while the judicial naturalization process can extend up to three and a half years due to the additional legal proceedings involved."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I apply for Naturalization without a lawyer?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, individuals can file for administrative naturalization without legal representation; however, judicial naturalization is more complicated and typically necessitates the support of a lawyer."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can naturalized citizens own land in the Philippines?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, naturalized citizens can own land in the Philippines."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I have to give up my previous citizenship to become a citizen of the Philippines?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The laws actually state that foreign citizenship must be repudiated to become a citizen of the Philippines. If it is discovered that a naturalized citizen still maintains his previous citizenship, it is possible that Philippine citizenship can be stripped from him."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why are petitions for Naturalization dismissed?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Petitions for naturalization are dismissed for lack of compliance with publication; lack of credible witnesses; lack of proof of income, trade or profession; lack of enrollment of children in a school that teaches Philippine history and culture; and the like. These are necessary items for the case, so it is important to coordinate with a lawyer so that it is done well."}}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#person-lawyerphilippinesadmin","name":"lawyerphilippinesadmin","url":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org","jobTitle":"Lawyer","worksFor":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#organization"}},{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#article","url":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org#website"},"name":"Philippine Judicial and Administrative Naturalization (Everything you need to know about becoming a Philippine Citizen) - Lawyers in the Philippines","description":"Administrative Naturalization and Judicial Naturalization are the two routes to consider if you are thinking about applying for Philippine Citizenship. You should read this post carefully as it provides information about both. Under certain circumstances, you can Petition for Philippine Citizenship yourself. However, your particular circumstances might require a court process. This will mean hiring a lawyer and presenting evidence to the court. In this post I outline the Process for Naturalization in the Philippines, the fees and timelines and provide practical advice for how to proceed.","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.lawyerphilippines.org/philippine-judicial-administrative-naturalization-everything-need-know#webpage"},"datePublished":"2026-03-18T07:42:28.000000Z","dateModified":"2026-09-10T05:56:03.000000Z","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Atty. Francesco C. 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