New Dual Citizenship Laws Affecting Ownership?

Question

Is this True...does anyone know someone who has done this if the New law is Accurate?

Under the Philippine law, only Filipinos can own land. Foreigners are not allowed to own houses and lots. The easiest way for a non-Filipino to acquire a house & lot is to have a Filipino spouse purchase the property.
However, there are no restrictions on condominium ownership. A foreigner buying a condominium will receive a freehold deed of ownership, exactly the same as Filipino buyers. There are no restrictions on you occupying or renting the Unit.

New Dual Citizenship Laws Affecting Ownership

Dual citizenship allows the citizenship holder full rights of possession of Philippine real property such as a house & lot.

Dual citizenship is now available for the following:

- Former Filipino citizen born in the Phil, but migrated to another count
- A foreign spouse married to a Filipino citizen.

Answer 1

The topic is confusing and the opinions are many. I am not sure of the ever-changing laws being proposed in the Phil. legislative branches. So be diligent before you take a drastic action such as acquiring Filipino citizenship in order to facilitate real estate purchases.

There is a big caveat. The example below applies to Filipinos born in the Philippines who acquire foreign citizenship then decide to reacquire Philippine citizenship later on on:

Neither the U.S. or the Philippines recognizes dual or multiple citizenships--no matter what anybody else claims! This is a present fact! I know there has been a lot of talk about balikbayans reacquiring Filipino citizenship, and supposedly maintaining their US or other foreign citizenship, but that is fraught with real dangers besides being downright incorrect.

If you are foreign-born (by Jus Soli from the USA or, I assume the UK) then the dangers are not so justified.

However, if you were FIlipino-born, naturalized abroad (i.e., the US) and then you reacquire Filipino citizenship, by PHILIPPINE law you have just lost your US citizenship status! More importantly, the U.S. Department of State also considers you to have implicitly renounced your American citizenship. This is a little known fact that needs to be bettwer disseminated.

Since BOTH countries have statutes that are in congruence, you would have no legal basis or recourse in either country to file a case to reassert your US citizenship status, should you choose to do so in the future.

It is very easy for someone who doesn't like you to report your change of status to your US embassy and for this to lead to them explicitly and officially renouncing your old status. It has indeed happened recently. The Philippine govt can also report your new status to your old homeland's authorities, if so inclined or as requested. Once you are considered as officially having renounced your, say American citizenship, you will not be able to seek help from your old embassy (and they would be under no obligation to come to your aid) should you run into trouble with the local authorities--and most Filipinos know that trouble has a way of finding you in-country, even if you keep your nose clean.

Answer 2

if you are a Foreigner then you can not purchase land in my homeland.if you marry a filipina,as your wife,she can buy you property.

if you have dual citizenship,then you buy land in the Philippines.

are you a Filipino or Foreigner?

Answer 3

From the Philippine Embassy in the USA:

Dual Citizenship FAQ

The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to inform that beginning 1 April 2004, it will resume receiving Petitions for Retention and Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship pursuant to Republic Act No. 9225 otherwise known as the "Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003" and Memorandum Circular No. AFF-04-01, "Rules Governing Philippine Citizenship Under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9225 and Administrative Order (A.O.) No. 91, Series of 2004" issued by the Bureau of Immigration.



Who Are eligible?

All natural born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship due to naturalization as a citizen of another country may file a Petition for Retention and Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship on their behalf and that of their unmarried minor children.



What are the requirements for retaining or reacquiring Philippine citizenship?



A. Material or Substantive Requirements

1. The applicant must be a former natural born Filipino;

2. Loss of one's Philippine citizenship must be due to naturalization in a foreign country;

3. The dependent/s of the principal who are retaining or reacquiring their Philippine citizenship together with the latter must be a) minor, and b) unmarried.

B. Formal or Procedural Requirements

1. Petition for Retention and Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship;

2. The Petition must be made under oath;

3. The Petition must contain the applicant's latest forwarding address;

4. Three (3) recent 2" x 2" photographs of the applicant/s (front left side, and right side views over white background);

5. Birth Certificate authenticated by the National Statistics Office (NSO), for those born in the Philippines, or; original copy of the Report of Birth (filed with the appropriate Foreign Service Post) and copy of the foreign issued Birth Certificate, for applicants born abroad;

6. Certificate of Naturalization in a foreign country, or foreign issued passport;


7. The taking of an Oath of Allegiance (in prescribed form) before a Vice-Consul, Consul, or Consul General.

8. Fee of US $ 50.00.

Where to file the Petition?

If the applicant is in the U.S., he or she may file the Petition with any Philippine Foreign Service Post in the U.S. in accordance with the latter's consular jurisdiction. Please see the attached consular jurisdiction.

If the applicant is in the Philippines, the Petition may be filed with the Bureau of Immigration.

What is the procedure for applying for the retention and reacquisition of Philippine citizenship?

1. A Petition for Retention and Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship must be filed with the appropriate Consular Post;

2. The Petition must be submitted together with the following:

a. Three (3) recent 2" x 2" photographs of the applicant/s (front left side, and right side views over white background);

b. The Petition must be under oath;

c. The Petition must contain the latest forwarding address;

d. Birth Certificate authenticated by the National Statistics Office (NSO), for those born in the Philippines, or; original copy of the Report of Birth (filed with the appropriate Foreign Service Post) and copy of the foreign issued Birth Certificate, for applicants born abroad;

e. Certificate of Naturalization in a foreign country, or foreign issued passport;

f. Fee of US $ 50.00.

3. The Petition is referred to an evaluating officer;

4. If the Petition is complete and in order, the same is referred to the

Consul General;

5. The Consul General issues an Order of Approval for the applicant

to proceed with the taking of an Oath of Allegiance;

6. The evaluating officer schedules the date and time for the applicant

to take his or her Oath of Allegiance;

7. The applicant takes his or her Oath of Allegiance before a Vice

Consul, Consul or Consul General.

8. The Petition together with the supporting documents plus a copy of

the Oath of Allegiance is forwarded to the Commissioner of the

Bureau of Immigration;

9. The Bureau of Immigration issues an Identity Card and forwards the same to the applicant's address indicated in his or her Petition.

Further inquiries on the subject may be made with the Dual Citizenship Secretariat c/o Ms. Maria Lourdes Cruz at the following numbers [phone], [phone], or Embassy website: www.philippineembassy-usa.org.

Note: I guess you have to call them to further inquire about property ownerships.