A. JURISDICTION OF MECO UNDER R.A. NO. 9225:
1. As per Memorandum of Agreement dated 29 May 2006 executed
between the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (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. .
B. 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” as aforestated 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.
C. 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
officers/personnel.
by
MECO
authorized
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.
D. 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 - If born in the Philippines - NSOAuthenticated copy in Security Paper (SECPA) 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
E. Forms:
1. Check List – Form No. 1
2. Application/Petition for Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship –
Form No. 2
3. Petition for Cancellation of ACR/ICR/CRTV – Form No. 3
4. Recommendation – Approval/Denial of Petition for Reacquisition or
Retention of Philippine Citizenship – Form No. 4
5. Order of Approval – Form No. 5
6. Oath of Allegiance – Form No. 6
7. Petition for the Issuance of Philippine Passport or Identification
Certificate – Form No. 7
8. Recommendation – Approval/Denial of the Petition for the Issuance
of Philippine Passport – Form No. 8
9. Order of Approval of the Petitioner for the Issuance of Philippine
Passport – Form No. 9
10. Recommendation - Approval/Denial of the Petition for the Issuance
of Identification/Certificate for the Approval of the Bureau of
Immigration – Form No. 10
11. Cover Letter – transmittal of documents to the BI - Form No. 11
F. Fees:
1. Processing Fee
NT$2,050.00 - primary applicants
NT$1,025.00 - every beneficiary included in the application
2. Authentication/VerificationFee – 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