PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA AUSTRALIA
CITIZEN’S CHARTER
7. DUAL CITIZENSHIP UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225 (RE-ACQUISITION OR RETENTION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP)
Republic Act No. 9225, otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, declares that natural born Filipinos who were naturalized in other countries could re-acquire or retain their Philippine citizenship after undergoing the procedure provided for under the law. R.A. 9225 took effect on September 17, 2003 and is also commonly referred to as the Dual Citizenship Act.
Philippine citizenship is reacquired by taking the Philippine oath of allegiance before a duly authorized Philippine official. This does not require one to renounce his allegiance to any other country. The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne accepts applicants by appointment and walk-in on a first come first serve basis during Consular hours, Mondays to Fridays, 9:00am – 3:00pm, excluding public holidays. Waiting times may vary depending on the volume of clients.
Office or Division: | Consular Section |
Classification: | Complex Transaction |
Type of Transaction: | Government to Citizen |
Who may avail: | Eligible former Filipino citizens and their minor dependents if parent/s were Filipino citizens at the time of birth |
FILING BY MAIL | ||||||||
STEP | LOCATION | CLIENT | SERVICE PROVIDER | DURATION | PERSON- IN-CHARGE | FEE | FORM / REQUIREMENTS | |
1 | By Mail | • Downloads the Petition under Oath to Re-Acquire/Retain Philippine Citizenship under R.A. 9225 from the website: melbournepcg.org • Fills out the Petition and prepares the complete requirements • Sends the accomplished Petition and requirements via mail to the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne at Level 10, 257 Collins St. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, if the client intends to take an Oath of Allegiance in Melbourne. | • Ensures the requirements are complete • If incomplete, advises client of requirements to be submitted • If complete, provides the schedule for Oath-taking to be conducted in person at the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne, which is usually once a week together with other clients | - | Consular Assistant | AU$90.00 - Principal AU$45.00 - Derivative Payment shall be done by postal money order or bank cheque, payable to the Philippine Consulate General, in the exact amount. (This payment is non-refundable). | FOR PRINCIPAL PETITIONER • Two (2) original accomplished Petition under Oath to Re-Acquire/Retain Philippine Citizenship under R.A. 9225 to be signed in the presence of the Consular Officer; • Four (4) passport-sized colored photos with white background, taken within the last three months. The following shall be certified by either a NOTARY PUBLIC, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE or POLICE OFFICER: • Two (2) certified true copies of PSA Birth Certificate; • For married women applicants wishing to use their married name, Two (2) certified true copies of the following: If applicant was married in the Philippines, PSA-issued Philippine Marriage Certificate with Registry Number is required; If the applicant was married in Australia while still a Filipino, Report of Marriage issued by the concerned Philippine Consulate or Embassy is required. If the Report of Marriage was reported to the Consulate or Embassy six months or more after the date of the marriage, a PSA-issued Marriage Certificate is required; If the applicant was married in Australia when she was already an Australian citizen, an Australian Marriage Certificate is required; If the applicant’s name in the Philippine birth certificate differs from the name in the Certificate of Naturalization or Australian Passport, the applicant must show an official document that bears the current name, and an Affidavit must be submitted to explain the change in name (fee will apply); If the applicant is widowed, Marriage Certificate and Death Certificate of the deceased spouse (from PSA if spouse is Filipino, or from Australian government, if Australian) are required; If the applicant had a previous marriage recorded in the Philippines, the PSA Marriage Certificate with annotation of annulment, or declaration of nullity of the marriage, or recognition of foreign divorce, as the case may be, is required; If the applicant had a previous Australian marriage, the Marriage Certificate and final divorce decree issued by the concerned Australian court or tribunal are required. • Two (2) certified true copies of data page of old Philippine passport; • Two (2) certified true copies of Australian Certificate of Naturalization (Citizenship); •Two (2) certified true copies of the data page of Australian passport. FOR DERIVATIVE (Below 18 Years of Age included in the Petition of the parents) • Two (2) Accomplished Identification Certificate application forms for each dependent;
The following shall be certified by either a NOTARY PUBLIC, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE or POLICE OFFICER: • If born in the Philippines, and subsequently naturalized with the parent/s: PSA Birth Certificate of each dependent - Two (2) certified true copies; • If born in Australia when the parent/s have been naturalized as Australian/foreign citizens, foreign Birth Certificate - Two (2) certified true copies; • Two (2) certified true copies of Certificate of Australian Citizenship of each dependent child or of their parents; • Two (2) certified true copies of data page of Australian passport; • The original documents must be shown to the Consulate for verification. | |
FILING IN PERSON | ||||||||
STEP | LOCATION | CLIENT | SERVICE PROVIDER | DURATION | PERSON- IN-CHARGE | FEE | FORM / REQUIREMENTS | |
1 | Reception Desk | • Proceeds to the Reception Desk for appointment verification. | • Confirms appointment; • Provides relevant information to client, when asked; • Requests the client to proceed to Window No. 2 for Dual Citizenship Services. | 1-2 minutes | Receptionist | None | ||
2 | Window 2 - Dual Citizenship Services | • Proceeds to Window No. 2 for processing; • Submits documents required to the Consular Assistant. | • Checks and evaluates the Petition and if requirements are complete. • Fills out Request for Payment form and hands it to Client, together with pertinent documents, for cash / debit card payment to the Cashier. • Requests Client to proceed to Window 1 (Cashier) for cash / debit card payment; | 5 minutes (but may take longer in the queue) | Consular Assistant | None | FOR PRINCIPAL PETITIONER • Two (2) original accomplished Petition under Oath to Re-Acquire/Retain Philippine Citizenship under R.A. 9225 to be signed in the presence of the Consular Officer; • Four (4) passport-sized colored photos with white background, taken within the last three months. The following shall be certified by either a NOTARY PUBLIC, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE or POLICE OFFICER: • Original and Two (2) certified true copies of PSA Birth Certificate; • For married women applicants, Original and Two (2) certified true copies of the following: If applicant was married in the Philippines, PSA-issued Philippine Marriage Certificate with Registry Number is required; If the applicant was married in Australia while still a Filipino, Report of Marriage issued by the concerned Philippine Consulate or Embassy is required. If the Report of Marriage was reported to the Consulate or Embassy six months or more after the date of the marriage, a PSA-issued Marriage Certificate is required; If the applicant was married in Australia when she was already an Australian citizen, an Australian Marriage Certificate is required; If the applicant’s name in the Philippine birth certificate differs from the name in the Certificate of Naturalization or Australian Passport, the applicant must show an official document that bears the current name, and an Affidavit must be submitted to explain the change in name (fee will apply); If the applicant is widowed, Marriage Certificate and Death Certificate of the deceased spouse (from PSA if Filipino, or from Australian government, if Australian) are required; If the applicant had a previous marriage recorded in the Philippines, the PSA Marriage Certificate with annotation of annulment, or declaration of nullity of the marriage, or recognition of foreign divorce, as the case may be, is required; If the applicant had a previous Australian marriage, the Marriage Certificate and final divorce decree issued by the concerned Australian court or tribunal are required. • Original and Two (2) certified true copies of data page of old Philippine passport; • Original and Two (2) certified true copies of Australian Certificate of Naturalization (Citizenship); •Original and Two (2) certified true copies of the data page of Australian passport. FOR DERIVATIVE (Below 18 Years of Age included in the Petition of the parents) • Two (2) Accomplished Identification Certificate application forms for each dependent;
The following shall be certified by either a NOTARY PUBLIC, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE or POLICE OFFICER: • If born in the Philippines, and subsequently naturalized with the parent/s: PSA Birth Certificate of each dependent - Original and Two (2) certified true copies; • If born in Australia when the parent/s have been naturalized as Australian/foreign citizens, foreign Birth Certificate - Original and Two (2) certified true copies; • Original and Two (2) certified true copies of Certificate of Australian Citizenship of each dependent child or of their parents; • Original and Two (2) certified true copies of data page of Australian passport; • The original documents must be shown to the Consulate for verification. | |
3 | Window 1 - Cashier | • Proceeds to Window No. 1 for cash / debit card payment; • Submits cash / debit card payment;
• Waits for official receipt. | • Receives payment and issues an official receipt; • Official receipt is given to the applicant; • Cashier requests the client to return to Window 2 with the receipt. | 5 minutes (but may take longer in the queue) | Cashier | AU$90.00 - Principal AU$45.00 - Derivative | Official Receipt | |
4 | Window 2 - Dual Citizenship Services | • Client to book for passport appointment on the date of the oath-taking ceremony; • Client to book for civil registry appointment (if born and married in Australia) on the date of the oath-taking ceremony. | • Inform the client on the date of the Oath-taking Ceremony. | 2 minutes | ||||
TOTAL PROCESSING TIME : 14 minutes *Duration of processing and releasing may vary due to unusual circumstances; i.e., unforeseen events beyond the control of the Consulate or incomplete/incorrect submission of main and supporting documents | ||||||||
ON THE SCHEDULE OF THE OATH-TAKING CEREMONY | ||||||||
1 | Consular Receiving Area | • Proceed to the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne on the date and time of oath-taking with proper attire; • Checks all the information on the documents, signs and affixes thumbprints; • Receives the Oath of Allegiance, Order and Identification Certificate for the oath-taking ceremony. | • Assists client on the administrative procedures before the oath-taking ceremony; • Provides client with Oath of Allegiance, Order and Identification Certificate during the oath-taking ceremony; • Returns original documents to the client. | 60 minutes (includes actual oath taking and singing of Philippine National Anthem) | Consular Assistant | None | Oath of Allegiance, Order and Identification Certificate | |
2 | Consular Receiving Area | • Takes an Oath of Allegiance, sings the National Anthem and asks questions, if there is any. | •Administering Officer conducts oath, singing of the Philippine National Anthem and Question and Answer session | Administering Officer | Oath of Allegiance, Order and Identification Certificate | |||
TOTAL PROCESSING TIME : 60 minutes | ||||||||