Can Former Natural-born Filipino Citizens now Naturalized American Citizens Own Lands in the Philippines?

I’m a Balikbayan who has become a naturalized American citizen. Can I acquire Real Property in the Philippines?

Yes, a natural born Filipino who has acquired American or any foreign citizenship may still own lands in the Philippines but with limitations in land area. For residential purposes, you may own up to 1,000 square meters of urban land and/or 1 hectare of rural land. For commercial/business purposes, you may own up to 5,000 square meters of urban land and/or 3 hectares of rural land. In case of married couples, each of them can avail of this privilege given that the total area acquired does not exceed the maximum land area allowed. However, if you avail of the Dual Citizenship Law, you can buy as much as any other Filipino citizen.

According to R.A.9225 (Dual Citizenship Law of 2003), former Filipino citizens who have acquired foreign citizenship or citizens of other countries have not lost their Philippine citizenship. Therefore, they can still enjoy all the rights and privileges of any other Filipino when it comes to land ownership in the Philippines.

How can I gain Dual Citizenship?
Here are the steps:

1. File a “Petition for Dual Citizenship and Issuance of Identification Certificate (IC) pursuant to RA 9225” at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and for the cancellation of your alien certificate of registration.
2. If you are not in the Philippines or not Bureau of Immigration registered, you should file the petition at the nearest embassy or consulate in your place.

What are the requirements?

• Birth certificate authenticated my the National Statistics Office (NSO) of the philippines. (This can be accomplished online and mailed to you)
• Accomplish and submit a “Petition for Dual Citizenship and Issuance of Identification Certificate (IC) pursuant to RA 9225” to a Philippine embassy, consulate or the Bureau of Immigration.
• Pay a processing fee $50. Then schedule and take an “Oath of Allegiance” before a consular officer.
• The Bureau of Immigration in Manila receives the petition from the embassy or consular office. The Bureau of Immigration issues and sends an Identification Certificate of citizenship to the embassy or consular office.