I have been living in the Philippines for a dozen years already, probably more than that by the time you read this.  In all of that time, I have never been back to my country of citizenship, the USA.  Really, I have no desire to go back and probably never will.  I really can’t think of any reason why I would go back. But, I am still a US Citizen, and not a Philippine Citizen.  I have been thinking for several years now of becoming a citizen of the Philippines, but I am still unsure.  One of the reasons why I go back and forth on this is because of the fact that if I want to become a Philippine Citizen, I must renounce my US … [Read more...]

Yep, you read the title correctly.  Did you know that it is possible to obtain Philippine Citizenship through legislation? How?  Why?  Who can get it? Well, the truth is, if you are a foreigner and have made some contribution to the country, or done something that has brought honor or other good things for the Philippines, it is possible that the Legislature of the Philippines may honor you by bestowing upon you Philippine Citizenship. As has been pointed out here on the site, generally, in order to become a naturalized citizen of the Philippines, you must renounce your US Citizenship, or the Citizenship of whatever country you are a … [Read more...]

I recently read a very interesting article in the Philippine Star newspaper regarding United States taxation policies in regard to Americans who live overseas (particularly those in Asia) and what happens if they become naturalized in the country where they reside. Will the IRS come after you if you become a Philippine Citizen? More and more Americans living outside the United States are renouncing their US citizenship on account of increasing tax obligations and stringent reporting requirements mandated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Called the new Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act or FATCA, this requirement by the “taxman” is … [Read more...]

Over the past month or so, I have gotten several e-mails from different people all saying the same thing. I’m getting ready to move to the Philippines.   Before I move, though, what do I need to do to get my citizenship? Well, first off, it is important to know that you do not need to be a Philippine Citizen in order to live in the Philippines.  In fact, the truth is that unless you are a former Philippine Citizen, you can not become a naturalized Philippine Citizen before moving here. Mohamed wants to live in the Philippines In fact, what you need to do is to move to the Philippines first.  You can stay here for up to 16 months on a … [Read more...]

I got an e-mail this morning from Joseph.  Joseph wants to live in the Philippines, and wonders about citizenship issues. Joseph wants to live in the Philippines Here is what Joseph had to say: Hi Bob, I am tired of life in America and I want to relocate to the Philippines.  Can you tell me how to become a citizen of the Philippines so that I can live there? Well, Joseph, thank you for writing.  There are a couple things we need to discuss. Firstly, you do not need to be a citizen of the Philippines to live here.  In fact, at this point of your life you cannot qualify for Philippine Citizenship.  You need to move here and live here for a … [Read more...]

Recently, I have received a number of inquiries concerning language requirements for being naturalized as a Philippine Citizen. Learning Langauges is a good thing The law on this is clear: He must be able to speak and write English or Spanish and any one of the principal Philippine languages A number of people have stated to me that this means that if you can speak English or Spanish, you may be naturalized in the Philippines.  This, however, is clearly incorrect.  The law states that you must speak English or Spanish AND one of the principal Philippine Languages. What are the “principal Philippine languages?  Well, that part is open … [Read more...]

I got a note from Angela today with a question about becoming a Philippine Citizen. … [Read more...]

The Philippine Senate indeed was busy in 2011.  There were lots of scandals for the Senate to investigate! Marcus Eugne Doulhit But, did you know that the Legislature of the Philippines can convey Philippine Citizenship to foreigners that it deems worth?  It’s true.  By an act of the legislature, followed by a signature of the Philippine President, a foreigner can become a citizen of the Philippines without having to go through the normal procedure of Naturalization. In fact, in 2011, the Legislature conferred Philippine Citizenship on Marcus Eugene Douthit. Marcus Eugene Douthit (born April 15, 1980, in Syracuse, New York) is an … [Read more...]