Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis)

Your eligibility depends primarily on the Philippine Constitution that was in effect on the date you were born.

• Born on or after January 17, 1973: You qualify if either your father or your mother was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth.
• Born before January 17, 1973:
  • If your father was a Filipino citizen, you are a Filipino citizen.
  • If only your mother was a Filipino citizen, you were required to "elect" (formally choose) Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority (21). If you did not do this within a reasonable window (usually by age 24), you may have lost the right to this pathway, though legal remedies exist if you have lived your life as a Filipino.
• Illegitimate Children: If you were born outside of marriage to a Filipino mother and a foreign father, you follow the citizenship of your mother and are considered a Filipino citizen from birth.

Key Thresholds and Disqualifiers

• The "Moment of Birth" Rule: The most critical factor is your parent's status at the second you were born. If your Filipino parent naturalized as a citizen of another country (e.g., became a US citizen) before you were born, they had already lost their Philippine citizenship, and you did not inherit it. If they naturalized after you were born, your Philippine citizenship remains intact.
• Adoption: Being legally adopted by a Filipino citizen does not confer citizenship by descent. This pathway is strictly reserved for biological filiation.