STEP 1
Check if you qualify through the jus sanguinis
law. Jus sanguinis means “right of blood,” and it
refers to the right of becoming a citizen if your
parents hold the same citizenship. According to
Filipino law, a person born after 1935 has a right
to obtain Philippine citizenship if he has either a
father or a mother who is Filipino. This applies
regardless of whether you were born in the
Philippines or abroad.
STEP 2
Apply for citizenship if have lived legally in the
Philippines for at least 10 years. This rule only
applies if you’re at least 21 years old at the time
of the application. The naturalization law only
applies to people who don’t have a jus sanguine
right to citizenship.
STEP 3
Meet the ownership and financial requirement.
Besides a 10-year residence, you also need to
own real estate or have a lucrative trade or
company in the Philippines to qualify for
naturalization. You also must speak and write
either Spanish or English plus one of the major
local languages.
STEP 4
Determine if you qualify for a time reduction.
Men married to a Filipino woman, teachers who
have worked there for at least two years and
people who established an innovative industry
or invention in the country can apply for
citizenship after a residency of only five years.
STEP 5
Enroll your children in a public school that
teaches Filipino history, civics and the basis of
how the government works. If your children
don’t attend a school that includes these topics
in the curriculum, you won’t qualify for
citizenship. This means that if you have home-
schooled children or children who attend
alternative schools or those with a foreign-
based curriculum, you might not qualify for
citizenship.
STEP 6
File a declaration with the Bureau of Justice one
year before you intend to apply for citizenship.
This declaration is a sworn bona fide statement
declaring personal information, such as full
name, place of birth and other details — as well
as your intention of becoming a citizen. Once
the declaration is submitted, you will receive an
approval via email. If your application is not
approved, you'll get a letter telling you why so
you can reapply.
 STEP 7

Visit a local court a year after your declaration

has been approved. You’ll need to present a
number of papers, including a filled-out
application, two photographs, proof of
residency and an affidavit signed by at least two
Filipino citizens who know you and can vouch
for your moral character. Paperwork varies
depending on your circumstances – whether
you’re applying under just sanguine or through
marriage, for example -- so make sure you
contact the court in advance to find out what
papers you need. Once you file paperwork, it
can take from days to several months for
approval. This varies based on whether you're
applying from inside the Philippines or at an
embassy. Your application status --child of
Filipino parents, citizen by marriage -- also
affects processing time.