Rules and Guidelines for the Immigration Processing of Arriving and Departing Passengers who Retained or Re-acquired Philippine Citizenship

March 20, 2014

BI OPERATIONS ORDER NO. SBM-2014-015

RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE IMMIGRATION PROCESSING OF ARRIVING AND DEPARTING PASSENGERS WHO RETAINED OR RE-ACQUIRED PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9225, otherwise known as the "Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003" declares that natural-born citizens of the Philippines who become citizens of another country shall retain or re-acquire Philippine citizenship upon taking an Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines subject to the conditions provided therein;

WHEREAS, to be consistent with the spirit and intent of the said Act and in order to extend the full benefits to those who availed thereof, there is a need to streamline the rules and regulations implementing Republic Act No. 9225, particularly in the immigration processing at international ports of entry and exit of passengers who retained or re-acquired Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225.

WHEREAS, Administrative Order No. 91, Section 1, issued on 12 January 2004, designated the Bureau of Immigration as the implementing agency of Republic Act No. 9225;

WHEREFORE, by authority of Section 2 of the same Administrative Order, the following rules and guidelines are hereby ordered: ACTISE

SECTION 1. Proof of Retention or Re-Acquisition of Philippine Citizenship. — For purpose of this Operations Order, the following shall be considered as substantial proof of retention or re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship:

1. Valid Philippine Passport; or

2. Original copy of Identification Certificate (IC) issued either by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) or Foreign Service Post of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); or

3. Original copy of the Certificate of Retention/Re-acquisition of Philippine Citizenship (CRPC) issued by the BI.

SECTION 2. Immigration Processing during Arrival. —

1. Upon arrival at any international port of entry in the Philippines, a passenger who retained or re-acquired Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225 shall present to the Immigration Officer during immigration primary inspection both his/her valid foreign passport and any of the substantial proof of Philippine citizenship enumerated in Section 1 hereof.

2. Upon determination of the validity of the presented proof of Philippine citizenship, such passenger shall be admitted for an indefinite period of authorized stay. The Immigration Officer shall affix the "Arrival" stamp on the passenger's foreign passport and indicate in the provision for "Authorized Stay" therein the presented proof Philippine citizenship as follows: aHTEIA

a. "PP" — for valid Philippine passport; or

b. "RA 9225" — for IC or CRPC.

SECTION 3. Immigration Processing during Departure. —

1. A passenger using a valid foreign passport who retained or re-acquired his/her Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225 shall be cleared for departure without surrendering any certificate, permit or proof of payment imposable immigration fees upon presentment of any substantial proof Philippine citizenship enumerated in Section 1 hereof.

2. Upon determination of the validity of the presented proof of Philippine citizenship, the Immigration Officer shall affix the "Departure" stamp on the passenger's foreign passport and indicate the presented proof Philippine citizenship as follows:

a. "PP" — for valid Philippine passport; or

b. "RA 9225" — for IC or CRPC.

SECTION 4. Failure to Present Proof of Philippine Citizenship. — A passenger using a foreign passport claiming to have retained or re-acquired his/her Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225 but fails to present any of the substantial proof of Philippine citizenship may be admitted or allowed to depart in accordance with existing and applicable rules and regulations. TEDaAc

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — This Order repeals Memorandum Order No. MCL-08-039 dated 21 October 2008. All other issuances that are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. — This order shall take effect immediately.

Furnish a copy of this Operations Order to the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City.

(SGD.) SIEGFRED B. MISONCommissionerBureau of Immigration