If you were born a Filipino and later became a Canadian citizen, you can become a Philippine citizen again without giving up your Canadian citizenship. The law is Republic Act No. 9225, the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003. You take a short oath of allegiance before a Philippine consular officer in Canada; the oath does not ask you to renounce Canada.

This guide was checked against the text of RA 9225 and the current pages of the Philippine Consulates General in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary on October 10, 2026. It covers who qualifies, what you get back, the limits that come with it, the documents, the fees, the oath, and what happens to your Canadian citizenship.

What RA 9225 is

Republic Act No. 9225 was approved on August 29, 2003. Its policy is that Philippine citizens who become citizens of another country are deemed not to have lost their Philippine citizenship under the conditions of the Act. In practice this means two groups:

• Re-acquisition: natural-born Filipinos who had already become citizens of another country before the law took effect are deemed to have re-acquired Philippine citizenship when they take the oath.
• Retention: natural-born Filipinos who become citizens of another country after the law took effect retain their Philippine citizenship by taking the same oath.

The oath in Section 3 of the Act reads as follows. The published text, on LawPhil and in the copy posted by the Bureau of Immigration, contains three misprints (“solemny”, “affrim” and “I imposed”); they are corrected here: “I ______, solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and obey the laws and legal orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines; and I hereby declare that I recognize and accept the supreme authority of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; and that I impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion.”

Who qualifies

Only former natural-born Filipino citizens may take the oath under RA 9225. Under the 1987 Constitution, natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their citizenship. The Vancouver consulate lists the three situations that qualify:

• you were born on January 17, 1973 or later and at least one of your parents was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth;
• you were born to a Filipino mother before January 17, 1973 and elected Philippine citizenship when you reached the age of majority (21); or
• you were born under the 1935 or 1973 Constitution and your father was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth.

You then need to have lost that citizenship by being naturalized elsewhere, for example by taking the Canadian citizenship oath. Residency in the Philippines is not a requirement.

Children under 18 (derivative citizenship)

Section 4 of the Act covers your unmarried child below 18, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted. If you include the child in your petition, the child is deemed a citizen of the Philippines with you. Each child pays a dependent fee and needs a supplement form and documents of their own (see the checklist below). A child who is already 18, or who is married, must apply on their own if they are themselves former natural-born Filipinos.

Who does not need RA 9225

• Children born in Canada while a parent was still a Filipino citizen. The Vancouver and Calgary consulates both say these children are already dual citizens by birth and do not apply under RA 9225. Calgary says the step for them is a Report of Birth at the consulate so the birth enters the Philippine civil registry.
• An adult child born when a parent was still Filipino, who was not included in the parent’s petition. The Commission on Filipinos Overseas explains that such a child is a natural-born Filipino and may apply for recognition as a Filipino citizen on their own, with proof that a parent was a Philippine citizen at the time of the birth. The Bureau of Immigration handles recognition in Manila.

What you get back

Section 5 of the Act says that those who retain or re-acquire Philippine citizenship enjoy full civil and political rights, and are subject to all attendant liabilities and responsibilities under Philippine law. The consulates summarize the rights as: the right to own land and property, to engage in business or commerce as a Filipino, to travel with a Philippine passport, to vote in Philippine elections from abroad, and to practise one’s profession. Here is what each one means, with the limits that still apply.

1. Own land in the Philippines

The 1987 Constitution (Article XII, Section 7) says that, save in cases of hereditary succession, private lands may be transferred only to individuals, corporations or associations qualified to acquire or hold lands of the public domain. A Canadian citizen who has not re-acquired Philippine citizenship is therefore not qualified to buy land. Two statutes give former natural-born Filipinos a limited exception:

• Batas Pambansa Blg. 185: up to 1,000 square metres of urban land or one hectare of rural land, for use as a residence.
• Foreign Investments Act (RA 7042, Section 10 as amended by RA 8179): up to 5,000 square metres of urban land or three hectares of rural land, for business or other purposes.

Once you re-acquire Philippine citizenship under RA 9225, those area limits no longer apply to you: you buy land as a Filipino citizen. Note the constitutional wording “save in cases of hereditary succession”: inheriting land was never barred by citizenship, so inheritance is not a reason by itself to apply.

2. Vote from Canada

Section 5(1) of RA 9225 says that those who want to vote must meet the requirements of Section 1, Article V of the Constitution and of the Overseas Absentee Voting Act (RA 9189, since amended by RA 10590). RA 10590 lists among the people disqualified from overseas voting “those who have expressly renounced their Philippine citizenship and who have pledged allegiance to a foreign country”, and then excepts “those who have reacquired or retained their Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225”. In other words, after your oath you may register as an overseas voter at the consulate. Overseas voters vote for President, Vice-President, Senators and Party-List Representatives, and in national referenda and plebiscites. When you register, the law asks for your Order of Approval or your Identification Certificate.

3. Do business as a Filipino

The consulates list “the right to engage in business or commerce as a Filipino”. Lines of business that Philippine law reserves wholly or partly to Filipino citizens open to you on the same footing as any other citizen. Which activities are restricted, and to what percentage, is set by the Foreign Investment Negative List and changes over time, so check the current list before you invest.

4. Practise your profession

Section 5(4) of the Act says those intending to practise their profession in the Philippines “shall apply with the proper authority for a license or permit to engage in such practice”. The Calgary consulate puts it plainly: the licence comes from the Professional Regulation Commission, or from the Supreme Court in the case of lawyers. For lawyers the Supreme Court held in B.M. No. 1678 (Dacanay, December 17, 2007) that a lawyer who re-acquires citizenship under RA 9225 is deemed never to have left the Philippine bar, but has no automatic right to resume practice and must first comply with conditions set by the Court, then retake the lawyer’s oath. See our page on a lawyer in Canada and the Philippines.

5. Hold a Philippine passport and live in the Philippines as a citizen

After the oath you may apply for a Philippine passport. Calgary notes that the dual citizenship documents you receive on oath day are part of the requirements for the passport application, so keep copies and book a separate passport appointment. See our guide to renewing a Philippine passport in Canada. As a citizen you enter and stay in the Philippines without a visa or a retirement permit.

6. Philippine income tax: what changes and what does not

Section 23(B) of the National Internal Revenue Code says that a nonresident citizen is taxable only on income derived from sources within the Philippines. If you keep living and working in Canada, re-acquiring Philippine citizenship does not make your Canadian income taxable in the Philippines. Income from Philippine sources, such as rent from a Philippine property, remains taxable there. A citizen who moves back to the Philippines becomes a resident citizen and is taxed on worldwide income (Section 23(A)). Your Canadian tax residency is a separate question: the Canada Revenue Agency decides it mainly on your residential ties with Canada, not on the Philippine oath.

The limits that come with it

Section 5 of RA 9225 attaches conditions that a guide should not skip:

• Running for office: anyone seeking elective public office in the Philippines must, when filing the certificate of candidacy, make a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before an officer authorized to administer an oath.
• Appointive office: those appointed to public office must swear allegiance to the Republic before assuming office and renounce their oath of allegiance to the other country.
• Who cannot vote or hold office: the right to vote or to be elected or appointed cannot be exercised by those who are candidates for, or occupying, public office in the country where they were naturalized, or who are in active service as commissioned or non-commissioned officers in that country’s armed forces.
• Liabilities too: the rights come “subject to all attendant liabilities and responsibilities under existing laws of the Philippines”.

Does it affect your Canadian citizenship?

No. The Government of Canada’s page for dual citizens says that Canada allows you to have multiple citizenships while keeping your Canadian citizenship. On the Philippine side, the oath has no renunciation clause. Two practical rules do apply to you as a Canadian with a second passport:

• Fly home on your Canadian passport. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says dual Canadian citizens can no longer travel to or transit through Canada by air with a non-Canadian passport; you need a valid Canadian passport to board your flight. Carry both passports: use the Philippine one to enter and leave the Philippines, and the Canadian one to board the flight back.
• Know the consular-help rule. Global Affairs Canada warns that in a country where your Canadian citizenship is not recognized, local authorities may limit Canadian consular assistance. Read its dual-citizenship page before you travel.

Where to apply in Canada

You apply at the Philippine post that serves your province. All three consulates take applications in person by appointment. Toronto and Calgary say they accept mailed applications, and Vancouver’s fee section sets the payment rule for mailed applications; the oath is always in person. The table shows what each post publishes.

Consular outreach missions in other cities also administer the oath; check the post’s advisories. For an overview of the posts, see our note on the Philippine consulate offices in Canada.

Documents checklist (Toronto, 2026 form)

The Toronto consulate’s 2026 checklist asks for the original and two clear photocopies of each document. Vancouver and Calgary publish lists that are the same in substance, with small differences noted below.

Principal applicant

• Application form, completed and signed. Do not leave blanks; write “N/A” where something does not apply. Toronto’s form is in its 2026 checklist PDF.
• Three 2″ x 2″ colour photos, white background. The Toronto form says taken within the last three months (its requirements page says six), no eyeglasses or headwear.
• PSA birth certificate on security paper (SECPA). Order online at psahelpline.ph; see our PSA birth certificate guide. If the PSA has no record: if you were born in or before 1950, a PSA negative certification of birth plus an Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons; if after 1950, file a delayed registration of birth with the local civil registrar where you were born. Calgary and Vancouver also accept a local civil registrar copy when the PSA copy is unreadable.
• Old Philippine passport. If it is lost, an Affidavit of Loss (Toronto). Calgary accepts, instead, a copy of an old PR card, visa or landing record, or old Philippine government IDs.
• Marriage certificate if you are married: PSA copy if married in the Philippines; the provincial long-form certificate if married in Canada (Toronto names Service Ontario and Manitoba Vital Statistics). Add the death certificate of a spouse, or the Philippine court order on annulment or recognition of a foreign divorce, where applicable.
• Canadian passport.
• Canadian citizenship certificate or card, or the certificate of oath-taking as a Canadian. If you no longer have it, Calgary points to IRCC’s search of citizenship records.
• Fee of CAD $77.50 per applicant.

Toronto may ask for supporting documents in some cases: a baptismal certificate, your parents’ marriage certificate, PSA birth certificates of siblings, or an order of adoption.

Each dependent child under 18

• Completed and signed Supplement for Dependent form.
• Birth certificate: PSA copy if born in the Philippines; the provincial birth registration if born in Canada.
• Two 2″ x 2″ photos of the child, plus one extra photo of the parent applicant per child.
• The child’s Canadian citizenship card or certificate, Canadian passport, and Philippine passport if born in the Philippines.
• Fee of CAD $38.75 per child.

Calgary adds that a parent who already holds an Order of Approval and later petitions to include a child must surrender the original Order of Approval with the petition.

Fees and payment

• In person: Toronto takes cash, debit or credit card (0.10% surcharge on cards), Apple Pay or Google Pay, or a bank draft or postal money order. Vancouver and Calgary take cash, debit or credit card.
• By mail: bank draft or postal money order only, in the exact amount, payable to “Philippine Consulate General” (Calgary and Toronto ask for that exact wording; Vancouver’s page says “Consulate General of the Philippines”). No personal cheques. Calgary cannot refund an overpayment on a draft.
• Toronto says processed payments are non-refundable, and charges an expedite fee of CAD $15.50 per document for Saturday services, holidays and outreach missions.

How to apply, step by step

1. Get your PSA documents first. The birth certificate (and marriage certificate, if married) must be the PSA security-paper copy. Order them before you book, because the consulate will not act on an incomplete petition.
2. Complete the application form for your post, and a Supplement for Dependent for each child under 18.
3. Submit. In person: book an appointment and bring the originals, the photocopies, the photos and the fee. By mail: send the signed original form, photos, payment by draft or money order, and photocopies only (never the originals), with your e-mail address and mobile number so the post can reach you.
4. Evaluation. A consular officer checks the petition. If something is missing you are asked to complete it. If approved, the post contacts you to choose an oath date (Toronto: Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday at 10:00 a.m.).
5. Oath of allegiance, in person. Bring the original documents to the ceremony; Calgary will not release the dual citizenship documents until every original has been seen. You take the oath before the consular officer.
6. Receive your documents. Calgary says that on the day of the ceremony the principal applicant receives three certificates: the Identification Certificate (IC), the Order of Approval and the Oath of Allegiance; each child included receives an Identification Certificate, and the parent’s Order of Approval names the children. The IC is a Bureau of Immigration document, and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas primer (2018) describes it being issued after the post forwards your papers to the Bureau, so at another post it may reach you later; ask your post. Toronto’s form carries an “I.C. No.” for it. Keep them safe: you will need them for a Philippine passport, for overseas voter registration and for property transactions.

How long it takes

Calgary states that processing “is typically one (1) month to three (3) months and is subject to certain constraints”. Toronto and Vancouver do not publish a processing time; Vancouver says only that it has no same-day oath-takings. The Commission on Filipinos Overseas primer (2018) says that usually the applicant is “contacted and informed within one week of the decision” and, if approved, given the oath schedule, and that it can take longer depending on the post’s workload and the schedule of mass oath-takings. Calgary’s current one to three months is the better planning figure. Plan around the oath date rather than the submission date, and start by ordering your PSA documents.

Applying in the Philippines instead

If you are in the Philippines, the petition is filed at the Bureau of Immigration main office in Manila: pre-screening, oath, payment, then release of the Certificate of Retention/Re-acquisition, the Order of Approval and the Oath. The Bureau’s page lists an application fee of PHP 2,500 plus a legal research fee and an express fee, PHP 3,010 in total, with a note that the fees are as of March 6, 2014 and may change without notice. Dependents are PHP 1,760 each on the same basis.

After the oath: next steps

• Philippine passport. Book a separate passport appointment and bring copies of your dual citizenship documents. Our passport renewal guide covers the consulate process.
• Overseas voter registration. Register at the consulate with your Order of Approval or Identification Certificate, ahead of the registration deadline for the next election.
• Property. You may now buy land as a Filipino citizen. If you buy or sell from Canada through a representative, see our guide to selling Philippine property from Canada with a Special Power of Attorney.
• Estate planning. Assets in both countries call for a will that works in both. Read our guides on estate tax in the Philippines and settling a Philippine estate from Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose my Canadian citizenship if I reacquire Philippine citizenship?

No. The Government of Canada says Canada allows you to have multiple citizenships while keeping your Canadian citizenship, and the Philippine oath under RA 9225 contains no renunciation of any other citizenship. Your Canadian citizenship continues as before.

How much does Philippine dual citizenship cost in Canada?

CAD 77.50 for the principal applicant and CAD 38.75 for each dependent child under 18. Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary all post the same amounts (read October 10, 2026). A certified true copy of the dual citizenship documents is CAD 38.75 in Toronto and Calgary. Fees are paid in Canadian dollars; Toronto says processed payments are non-refundable.

How long does the dual citizenship application take?

The Calgary consulate says one to three months. Toronto and Vancouver do not publish a processing time, and Vancouver has no same-day oath-taking. The usual sequence is evaluation of a complete petition, a call or e-mail with your oath date, then the oath in person. Calgary hands over the certificates on the day of the oath.

Can I apply by mail?

Yes. Toronto and Calgary say they accept mailed applications, and Vancouver’s fee section covers mailed applications (money order or bank draft only): send the signed original form, photos, a bank draft or postal money order, and photocopies of your documents, never the originals. You must still appear in person for the oath and bring the originals that day.

My child was born in Canada. Does my child need RA 9225?

If a parent was still a Filipino citizen when the child was born, the consulates treat the child as a dual citizen by birth; no RA 9225 petition is needed. Calgary says the step is a Report of Birth so the birth is recorded in the Philippine civil registry. If both parents were already Canadian when the child was born, an unmarried child under 18 can be included as a dependent in a parent’s RA 9225 petition.

My child is over 18 and was not included in my petition. What now?

A child who was born while a parent was still a Philippine citizen is a natural-born Filipino. The Commission on Filipinos Overseas says such a child, now of age, may apply on their own for recognition as a Filipino citizen, with proof that a parent was a Philippine citizen at the time of the birth. The Bureau of Immigration handles recognition.

Will I pay Philippine income tax on my Canadian income?

Not while you remain a nonresident citizen. Section 23(B) of the Philippine Tax Code says a nonresident citizen is taxable only on income derived from sources within the Philippines. Income earned in the Philippines, such as rent, stays taxable there. If you move back to the Philippines you become a resident citizen taxed on worldwide income.

Which passport do I use when I travel?

Use your Canadian passport to board any flight to Canada: IRCC says dual Canadian citizens can no longer travel to or transit through Canada by air with a non-Canadian passport. Use your Philippine passport to enter and leave the Philippines as a citizen. Carry both.

What if the PSA has no copy of my birth certificate?

Toronto’s checklist says: if you were born in or before 1950, present a PSA negative certification of birth and an Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons; if you were born after 1950, file a delayed registration of birth with the local civil registrar of the city or municipality where you were born, then order the PSA copy. Calgary and Vancouver also accept a local civil registrar copy when the PSA copy is unreadable.

Can I run for office or work in government in the Philippines as a dual citizen?

Only with a further step. RA 9225 requires anyone seeking elective public office to make a personal and sworn renunciation of all foreign citizenship when filing the certificate of candidacy, and anyone appointed to public office to swear allegiance to the Republic and renounce their oath of allegiance to the other country. Those who are candidates for or occupy public office in the country where they were naturalized, or who are in active service as commissioned or non-commissioned officers in its armed forces, cannot vote or hold office in the Philippines.

How JCA Law Office can help

Most people complete the consulate application themselves. Where clients come to us is in what follows: buying or selling property in the Philippines, settling a parent’s estate, documents that need notarization or consular acknowledgment, and planning for assets on both sides of the Pacific. Our principal lawyer is licensed in Ontario and in the Philippines.

Sources

• Republic Act No. 9225, Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 (full text, The LawPhil Project; also as posted by the Bureau of Immigration)
• Canada Revenue Agency: Income Tax Folio S5-F1-C1, Determining an Individual’s Residence Status
• Philippine Consulate General in Toronto: Requirements for the Retention and Re-acquisition of Philippine Citizenship and its dual citizenship fees
• Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver: Dual Citizenship
• Philippine Consulate General in Calgary: Dual Citizenship and fee schedule
• Bureau of Immigration: Application for Retention / Re-acquisition of Philippine Citizenship
• Commission on Filipinos Overseas: Primer on the Philippine Dual Citizenship Act (2018 edition)
• Government of Canada: Dual citizens and IRCC: Dual Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport
• Supreme Court of the Philippines, B.M. No. 1678 (Dacanay), December 17, 2007

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Consulate requirements and fees change; the figures above were read from the consulates’ own pages on October 10, 2026. Confirm with your post before you travel to an appointment.