Philippine citizenship may also be re-acquired under Republic Act 9225.  In pursuance of an agreement between MECO and the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the MECO has been authorized to perform all the functions granted to Philippine Foreign Service Posts to implement the provisions of R.A. 9225 as well as other subsequent issuances in relation to the implementation of this law. The requirements for renunciation are indicated below.

The application and forms necessary for renunciation are authenticated and notarized prior to filing of the application.  This is undertaken by the MECO Consular Affairs Office where the filing of the application is also filed.  You may also want to check the Bureau of Immigration for details on renunciation and re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship, or dual citizenship.

Who may apply at MECO
 
MECO can process applications for reacquisition of Philippine citizenship filed by the following:

a.    Natural-born Filipinos who acquired the citizenship of another country and are residents of Taiwan at the time application is filed;

b.    Natural-born Filipinos who acquired the citizenship of another country who are residents of Taiwan at the time application is filed and registered with the Bureau of Immigration as aliens. This refers to holders of Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR), Immigration Certificate of Residency (ICR) and Certificate of Residency for Temporary Visitors (CRTV) issued by the BI. (Sec. 3 of MC No. AFF-04-01 – dated 10 March 2004 – published March 18 & 25, 2004 – effective 15 days thereafter).

c.    A child of persons classified in “a” & “b” whether legitimate, recognized illegitimate or legally adopted, not married and below eighteen (18) years of age, shall be considered to have acquired the Philippine citizenship at the same time the father or mother re-acquires Philippine citizenship provided that applicant includes the child as a beneficiary and pays the appropriate prescribed fees.

Procedure at MECO

1.    Filing/submission of duly accomplished Verified Application/Petition for Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship and other documentary requirements. Appropriate fees shall be assessed on documents requiring authentication/verification by MECO.

2.    For those registered with the BI as aliens (holders of ACR/ICR/CRTV) must file together with the Application (C-1) a duly verified Petition for Cancellation of his/her registration and surrender the original copies of IDs/documents evidencing the same;

3.    Payment of the Processing Fee

a.    NT$2,050.00 for primary applicant
b.    NT$1,025.00 for each beneficiary or dependent child

4.    Evaluation of Application/Petition by MECO authorized officers/personnel.

5.    The application/petition filed shall be acted upon by MECO within five (5) working days from receipt of the application/petition and supporting documents including the petition for the cancellation of ACR/ICR/CRTV if applicable. If MECO finds the same in order or in compliance with all the requirements of law, it shall notify the applicant of the approval of the application/petition.

6.    If MECO finds the application/petition not to be in order or failed to comply with the requirements of the law, it shall notify the applicant within thirty (30) working days from receipt of the application to submit the required documents or comply with the requirements of the law.  Within five (5) working days from receipt of said documents/other requirements MECO finds the application/petition to be in order, it shall notify the applicant of the approval of his/her application/petition.  In the event however that MECO still finds the application/petition not to be in order or if still insufficient, then the thirty (30) or five (5) working day notices as the case may be and as herein before mentioned shall apply until applicant shall have fully complied with the requirements of the law or MECO has denied the application/petition.

7.    If the Application/Petition is found to be in accordance with R.A. No. 9225, it’s Implementing Rules and Regulations,  and the Memorandum of Agreement between BI and MECO, the Resident Representative or his/her duly authorized representative shall issue the Order of Approval.

8.    Upon receipt of the Order of Approval the primary applicant shall take his/her Oath of Allegiance before the Resident Representative or his/her duly authorized representative after payment of the required fee of NT$2,050.00.

9.    Petition for the Issuance of Identification Certificate (IC) or Philippine Passport whichever is applicable may be filed after the taking of the Oath of Allegiance.

a.    For the IC - a recommendation for the issuance of the same shall be forwarded to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) together with all the documents (refer to par. 11 hereof) of applicant and his/her dependent/s if any. If the BI finds the petition for  in order it shall issue the same within reasonable time and transmitted the same to MECO or mail said IC directly to the applicant.  
b.    For the Philippine Passport – A recommendation from the officer concerned shall be submitted to the Resident Representative or his/her duly authorized representative. Upon approval the Consular Services in Taipei shall issue the Passport to the applicant and to his/her dependent/s if any.
c.    Only MECO-Taipei is authorized by the DFA to issue Philippine Passport.
d.    Fee for the notarization of the Petition for the issuance of the Identification Certificate – NT$800.00

10.            MECO to date has yet to receive authority from the Department of Foreign Affairs to issue Philippine Passport in favor of those who filed their application for retention/reacquisition of citizenship with and approved by the BI or other Foreign Service Posts.

11.    Transmittal of all records of the Application/Petition to the Records Section of the Bureau of Immigration. BI Records Section will transmit official copies of the Order or Approval and the Oath of Allegiance to the National Statistics Office (NSO). For those with ACR/ICR/CRTV the petition for cancellation as well as all IDs/documents submitted shall be included in the transmittal. In the latter case, BI shall notify the applicant directly (by mail) or through MECO the approval/disapproval of its petition for the cancellation of his alien registration. If Petition for cancellation is denied or disapproved, MECO (even pending administrative/judicial review) shall cause the cancellation of the Passport issued to applicant and to his/her dependents, if applicable. The applicant may however seek administrative or judicial review of such denial/disapproval.

Requirements:

1.    Verified/notarized Application/Petition for Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition (R.A. 9225)

2.    Three (3) pieces – 2x2 colored picture over white background (front, left and right side views)

3.    Photocopy of foreign passport

4.    Proof of payment of application fee (Original Official Receipts)

5.    Birth Certificate

a.    If born in the Philippines - NSO-Authenticated copy in Security Paper (SECPA);

b.    If born abroad – Original Report of Birth issued by the Philippine Foreign Post with the attached authenticated Original Birth Certificate. Applicant may choose to submit certified true copy of the said documents;

c.    In lieu thereof, the original or the certified true copy of at least one of the following may be submitted:

c.1 Old Philippine Passport

c.2 Voter’s Affidavit or Voter’s Identification Card

c.3 Marriage Certificate indicating Philippine Citizenship of applicant

c.4 Such other documents that would show that the applicant is a former natural born citizen of the Philippines.

6.    Authenticated Certificate of Naturalization in a foreign country. In case of change of name (or applicant has adopted a foreign name) this Certificate should indicate the applicant’s name appearing in the Birth Certificate or in the other documents presented to prove that applicant is natural born Philippine citizen is one and the same.

In the absence of a Certificate of Naturalization, an affidavit by the applicant explaining the circumstances by which foreign citizenship was acquired with at least two (2) public/private documents showing/proving that applicant is a natural born Filipino, his/her subsequent acquisition of a foreign citizenship and if there is discrepancy in the name, that applicant is one and the same person.

7.    Two (2) pieces self-addressed stamped envelope (legal size)

8.    All documents issued abroad must be in English and duly authenticated by the appropriate agencies of the issuing country as well as the Philippine Service Post in the country of origin.

9.    Additional Requirements for BI-registered applicants:

a.    Original Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR)

b.    Original Immigration Certificate of Residence (ICR) or Certificate of Residence for Temporary visitors (CRTV)

10.    If with dependent/s, the following additional documents are required for EACH dependent:

a.    Three (3) pieces – 2x2 colored picture over white background (front, left and right side views)

b.    Photocopy of Foreign Passport

c.    Birth Certificate  -

c.1. If born in the Philippines - NSO-Authenticated copy in Security Paper (SECPA)

c.2. If born abroad – Original Report of Birth issued by the Philippine Foreign Post with the attached authenticated Original Birth Certificate. Applicant may choose to submit certified true copy of the said documents.

d.    Photocopy of foreign passport

e.    Proof of payment of processing fee

Click here for the Downloadable Forms

Fees:

1.     Processing Fee

NT$2,050.00 - primary applicants
NT$1,025.00 - every  beneficiary included in the application

2.    Authentication/Verification Fee – NT$800.00/document - set of 4 copies or less – for foreign issued documents

3.    Notarial Fee – NT$800.00

4.    Seen and Verified (as true copy of the original) – NT$400.00

5.    Oath of Allegiance – NT$2,050.00 / primary applicant

6.    Identification Certificate – fee charged by the BI plus applicable mailing charges