The perks of becoming a national of another country apart from a Filipino citizen are highly refreshing. We cannot deny that holding multiple citizenships is a constructive advantage for many, especially if you live in your spouse’s or partner’s country. You may benefit from the pronounced assistance you and your beneficiary or child may collect. Therefore, it is in your best interest to become a Czech citizen, for example. To gain high benefits as a Czech citizen, from gaining a better status of social retirement to a non-complex immigration visa (such as freedom of movement), a better chance of having a great deal for a work contract, achieving better education in the Czech Republic, better health care, to travel free in most of the countries that do not need to apply for an advance visa holding a Czech passport compared to having a Filipino passport. Indeed, to become a Czech citizen is a vast and progressive advantage as a Filipino living in the Czech Republic.
Therefore, dual citizenship is ideal for considering the probable beneficial impact on every Filipino who lives in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, or even Japan because of the positive benefits they may get and possess as citizens of the said countries. Indeed, dual citizenship is advantageous in various ways!
However, what is the status of the former Filipino? Will she/he still be able to enjoy the benefits of being a Filipino citizen while obtaining a foreign nationality?
Status of Filipino Citizenship?
This article clarifies the significance of holding a foreign national passport or a dual citizen. What if your Filipino citizenship is no longer valid after obtaining a foreign national passport? What would you do to retrieve your Philippine passport?
I obtained my US citizenship in March 2012. After that day, I never applied for dual citizenship, and I permitted my Philippine passport to expire in 2015. Every time I travel, I customs my US passport without any problem. I relished every privilege I received with my US passport. It is much better to hold the new national passport because I can freely travel without an advance visa, with further advantages I gained from having a US passport until the last year of 2023 when I purchased a property in the Philippines. Only a Filipino national can wholly own and purchase Land 100% by law. Therefore, I applied to renew my expired Philippine passport at the Embassy of Prague in early November last year. To my surprise, the officer who helped me retrieve my Philippine passport told me, “You are no longer a Filipino anymore.” I knew this would happen when I became a US citizen; I know the law, and the law should prevail. The Embassy explained and walked me through how to gain my Filipino citizenship again. Thankfully, in due time, I am now a dual citizen with my American passport and my Filipino nationality.
How to Retrieve Filipino Citizenship?
To retrieve your Filipino citizenship, you must apply Act 9225, the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 (the Dual Citizenship Law). This act declares that natural-born citizens of the Philippines may be eligible to reacquire or retain their Philippine citizenship.
Are you still a Filipino citizen? If not, decide whether you want to retain your citizenship. Otherwise, you’re good to go.
