COMMONWEALTHACTNo.

473
ANACTTOPROVIDEFORTHEACQUISITIONOFPHILIPPINECITIZENSHIPBY
NATURALIZATION,ANDTOREPEALACTSNUMBEREDTWENTYNINEHUNDREDAND
TWENTYSEVENANDTHIRTYFOURHUNDREDANDFORTYEIGHT.
BeitenactedbytheNationalAssemblyofthePhilippines:
Section1.TitleofAct.ThisActshallbeknownandmaybecitedasthe"RevisedNaturalizationLaw."
Section2.Qualifications.SubjecttosectionfourofthisAct,anypersonhavingthefollowing
qualificationsmaybecomeacitizenofthePhilippinesbynaturalization:
First.Hemustbenotlessthantwentyoneyearsofageonthedayofthehearingofthepetition;
Second.HemusthaveresidedinthePhilippinesforacontinuousperiodofnotlessthantenyears;
Third.HemustbeofgoodmoralcharacterandbelievesintheprinciplesunderlyingthePhilippine
Constitution,andmusthaveconductedhimselfinaproperandirreproachablemannerduringthe
entireperiodofhisresidenceinthePhilippinesinhisrelationwiththeconstitutedgovernmentas
wellaswiththecommunityinwhichheisliving.
Fourth.HemustownrealestateinthePhilippinesworthnotlessthanfivethousandpesos,
Philippinecurrency,ormusthavesomeknownlucrativetrade,profession,orlawfuloccupation;
Fifth.HemustbeabletospeakandwriteEnglishorSpanishandanyoneoftheprincipal
Philippinelanguages;and
Sixth.Hemusthaveenrolledhisminorchildrenofschoolage,inanyofthepublicschoolsor
privateschoolsrecognizedbytheOfficeofPrivateEducation1ofthePhilippines,wherethe
Philippinehistory,governmentandcivicsaretaughtorprescribedaspartoftheschool
curriculum,duringtheentireperiodoftheresidenceinthePhilippinesrequiredofhimpriortothe
hearingofhispetitionfornaturalizationasPhilippinecitizen.
Section3.Specialqualifications.Thetenyearsofcontinuousresidencerequiredunderthesecond
conditionofthelastprecedingsectionshallbeunderstoodasreducedtofiveyearsforanypetitionerhaving
anyofthefollowingqualifications:
1.

HavinghonorablyheldofficeundertheGovernmentofthePhilippinesorunderthatofanyofthe
provinces,cities,municipalities,orpoliticalsubdivisionsthereof;

2.

HavingestablishedanewindustryorintroducedausefulinventioninthePhilippines;

3.

BeingmarriedtoaFilipinowoman;

4.

HavingbeenengagedasateacherinthePhilippinesinapublicorrecognizedprivateschoolnot
establishedfortheexclusiveinstructionofchildrenofpersonsofaparticularnationalityorrace,in
anyofthebranchesofeducationorindustryforaperiodofnotlessthantwoyears;

5.

HavingbeenborninthePhilippines.

Section4.Whoaredisqualified.ThefollowingcannotbenaturalizedasPhilippinecitizens:
a.

Personsopposedtoorganizedgovernmentoraffiliatedwithanyassociationorgroupofpersons
whoupholdandteachdoctrinesopposingallorganizedgovernments;

b.

Personsdefendingorteachingthenecessityorproprietyofviolence,personalassault,or
assassinationforthesuccessandpredominanceoftheirideas;

c.

Polygamistsorbelieversinthepracticeofpolygamy;

d.

Personsconvictedofcrimesinvolvingmoralturpitude;

e.

Personssufferingfrommentalalienationorincurablecontagiousdiseases;

f.

Personswho,duringtheperiodoftheirresidenceinthePhilippines,havenotmingledsocially
withtheFilipinos,orwhohavenotevincedasinceredesiretolearnandembracethecustoms,
traditions,andidealsoftheFilipinos;

g.

CitizensorsubjectsofnationswithwhomtheUnitedStates2andthePhilippinesareatwar,during
theperiodofsuchwar;

h.

CitizensorsubjectsofaforeigncountryotherthantheUnitedStates3whoselawsdonotgrant
Filipinostherighttobecomenaturalizedcitizensorsubjectsthereof.

Section5.Declarationofintention.OneyearpriortothefilingofhispetitionforadmissiontoPhilippine
citizenship,theapplicantforPhilippinecitizenshipshallfilewiththeBureauofJustice 4adeclarationunder
oaththatitisbonafidehisintentiontobecomeacitizenofthePhilippines.Suchdeclarationshallsetforth
name,age,occupation,personaldescription,placeofbirth,lastforeignresidenceandallegiance,thedateof
arrival,thenameofthevesseloraircraft,ifany,inwhichhecametothePhilippines,andtheplaceof
residenceinthePhilippinesatthetimeofmakingthedeclaration.Nodeclarationshallbevaliduntillawful
entryforpermanentresidencehasbeenestablishedandacertificateshowingthedate,place,andmannerof
hisarrivalhasbeenissued.Thedeclarantmustalsostatethathehasenrolledhisminorchildren,ifany,in
anyofthepublicschoolsorprivateschoolsrecognizedbytheOfficeofPrivateEducation5ofthe
Philippines,wherePhilippinehistory,government,andcivicsaretaughtorprescribedaspartoftheschool
curriculum,duringtheentireperiodoftheresidenceinthePhilippinesrequiredofhimpriortothehearing
ofhispetitionfornaturalizationasPhilippinecitizen.Eachdeclarantmustfurnishtwophotographsof
himself.
Section6.Personsexemptfromrequirementtomakeadeclarationofintention.Personsborninthe
Philippinesandhavereceivedtheirprimaryandsecondaryeducationinpublicschoolsorthose
recognizedbytheGovernmentandnotlimitedtoanyraceornationality,andthosewhohaveresided
continuouslyinthePhilippinesforaperiodofthirtyyearsormorebeforefilingtheirapplication,
maybenaturalizedwithouthavingtomakeadeclarationofintentionuponcomplyingwiththeother
requirementsofthisAct.Tosuchrequirementsshallbeaddedthatwhichestablishesthatthe
applicanthasgivenprimaryandsecondaryeducationtoallhischildreninthepublicschoolsorin
privateschoolsrecognizedbytheGovernmentandnotlimitedtoanyraceornationality.Thesame
shallbeunderstoodapplicablewithrespecttothewidowandminorchildrenofanalienwhohas
declaredhisintentiontobecomeacitizenofthePhilippines,anddiesbeforeheisactuallynaturalized. 6
Section7.Petitionforcitizenship.AnypersondesiringtoacquirePhilippinecitizenshipshallfilewith
thecompetentcourt,apetitionintriplicate,accompaniedbytwophotographsofthepetitioner,settingforth

hisnameandsurname;hispresentandformerplacesofresidence;hisoccupation;theplaceanddateofhis
birth;whethersingleormarriedandthefatherofchildren,thename,age,birthplaceandresidenceofthe
wifeandofeachofthechildren;theapproximatedateofhisorherarrivalinthePhilippines,thenameof
theportofdebarkation,and,ifheremembersit,thenameoftheshiponwhichhecame;adeclarationthat
hehasthequalificationsrequiredbythisAct,specifyingthesame,andthatheisnotdisqualifiedfor
naturalizationundertheprovisionsofthisAct;thathehascompliedwiththerequirementsofsectionfive
ofthisAct;andthathewillresidecontinuouslyinthePhilippinesfromthedateofthefilingofthepetition
uptothetimeofhisadmissiontoPhilippinecitizenship.Thepetitionmustbesignedbytheapplicantinhis
ownhandwritingandbesupportedbytheaffidavitofatleasttwocrediblepersons,statingthattheyare
citizensofthePhilippinesandpersonallyknowthepetitionertobearesidentofthePhilippinesforthe
periodoftimerequiredbythisActandapersonofgoodreputeandmorallyirreproachable,andthatsaid
petitionerhasintheiropinionallthequalificationsnecessarytobecomeacitizenofthePhilippinesandis
notinanywaydisqualifiedundertheprovisionsofthisAct.Thepetitionshallalsosetforththenamesand
postofficeaddressesofsuchwitnessesasthepetitionermaydesiretointroduceatthehearingofthecase.
Thecertificateofarrival,andthedeclarationofintentionmustbemadepartofthepetition.
Section8.Competentcourt.TheCourtofFirstInstanceoftheprovinceinwhichthepetitionerhas
residedatleastoneyearimmediatelyprecedingthefilingofthepetitionshallhaveexclusiveoriginal
jurisdictiontohearthepetition.
Section9.Notificationandappearance.Immediatelyuponthefilingofapetition,itshallbethedutyof
theclerkofthecourttopublishthesameatpetitioner'sexpense,onceaweekforthreeconsecutiveweeks,
intheOfficialGazette,andinoneofthenewspapersofgeneralcirculationintheprovincewherethe
petitionerresides,andtohavecopiesofsaidpetitionandageneralnoticeofthehearingpostedinapublic
andconspicuousplaceinhisofficeorinthebuildingwheresaidofficeislocated,settingforthinsuch
noticethename,birthplaceandresidenceofthepetitioner,thedateandplaceofhisarrivalinthe
Philippines,thenamesofthewitnesseswhomthepetitionerproposestointroduceinsupportofhispetition,
andthedateofthehearingofthepetition,whichhearingshallnotbeheldwithinninetydaysfromthedate
ofthelastpublicationofthenotice.Theclerkshall,assoonaspossible,forwardcopiesofthepetition,the
sentence,thenaturalizationcertificate,andotherpertinentdatatotheDepartmentoftheInterior,7the
BureauofJustice,8theProvincialInspector9ofthePhilippineConstabularyoftheprovinceandthejustice
ofthepeace10ofthemunicipalitywhereinthepetitionerresides.
Section10.Hearingofthepetition.Nopetitionshallbeheardwithinthethirtydaysprecedingany
election.Thehearingshallbepublic,andtheSolicitorGeneral,eitherhimselforthroughhisdelegateor
theprovincialfiscalconcerned,shallappearonbehalfoftheCommonwealth11ofthePhilippinesatallthe
proceedingsandatthehearing.If,afterthehearing,thecourtbelieves,inviewoftheevidencetaken,that
thepetitionerhasallthequalificationsrequiredby,andnoneofthedisqualificationsspecifiedinthisAct
andhascompliedwithallrequisiteshereinestablished,itshallorderthepropernaturalizationcertificateto
beissuedandtheregistrationofthesaidnaturalizationcertificateinthepropercivilregistryasrequiredin
sectiontenofActNumberedThreethousandsevenhundredandfiftythree.12
Section11.Appeal.Thefinalsentencemay,attheinstanceofeitheroftheparties,beappealedtothe
SupremeCourt.13
Section12.IssuanceoftheCertificateofNaturalization.If,afterthelapseofthirtydaysfromandafter
thedateonwhichthepartieswerenotifiedoftheCourt,noappealhasbeenfiled,orif,uponappeal,the
decisionofthecourthasbeenconfirmedbytheSupremeCourt,14andthesaiddecisionhasbecomefinal,
theclerkofthecourtwhichheardthepetitionshallissuetothepetitioneranaturalizationcertificatewhich
shall,amongotherthings,statethefollowing:Thefilenumberofthepetition,thenumberofthe
naturalizationcertificate,thesignatureofthepersonnaturalizedaffixedinthepresenceoftheclerkofthe
court,thepersonalcircumstancesofthepersonnaturalized,thedatesonwhichhisdeclarationofintention

andpetitionwerefiled,thedateofthedecisiongrantingthepetition,andthenameofthejudgewho
renderedthedecision.Aphotographofthepetitionerwiththedrysealaffixedtheretoofthecourtwhich
grantedthepetition,mustbeaffixedtothecertificate.
Beforethenaturalizationcertificateisissued,thepetitionershall,inopencourt,takethefollowingoath:
"I,...................................,solemnlyswearthatIrenounceabsolutelyandforeverall
allegianceandfidelitytoanyforeignprince,potentate,stateorsovereignty,andparticularlyto
the..................ofwhichatthistimeIamasubjectorcitizen;thatIwillsupportanddefendthe
ConstitutionofthePhilippinesandthatIwillobeythelaws,legalordersanddecreespromulgatedbythe
dulyconstitutedauthoritiesoftheCommonwealth15ofthePhilippines;[andIherebydeclarethatI
recognizeandacceptthesupremeauthorityoftheUnitedStatesofAmericainthePhilippinesandwill
maintaintruefaithandallegiancethereto;16andthatIimposethisobligationuponmyselfvoluntarily
withoutmentalreservationorpurposeofevasion.
"SohelpmeGod."
Section13.Recordbooks.Theclerkofthecourtshallkeeptwobooks;oneinwhichthepetitionand
declarationsofintentionshallberecordedinchronologicalorder,notingallproceedingsthereoffromthe
filingofthepetitiontothefinalissuanceofthenaturalizationcertificate;andanother,whichshallbea
recordofnaturalizationcertificateseachpageofwhichshallhaveaduplicatewhichshallbedulyattested
bytheclerkofthecourtanddeliveredtothepetitioner.
Section14.Fees.TheclerkoftheCourtofFirstInstanceshallchargeasfeesforrecordingapetitionfor
naturalizationandfortheproceedingsinconnectiontherewith,includingtheissuanceofthecertificate,the
sumofthirtypesos.
TheClerkoftheSupremeCourt17shallcollectforeachappealandfortheservicesrenderedbyhimin
connectiontherewith,thesumoftwentyfourpesos.
Section15.Effectofthenaturalizationonwifeandchildren.Anywomanwhoisnowormayhereafterbe
marriedtoacitizenofthePhilippines,andwhomightherselfbelawfullynaturalizedshallbedeemeda
citizenofthePhilippines.
MinorchildrenofpersonsnaturalizedunderthislawwhohavebeenborninthePhilippinesshallbe
consideredcitizensthereof.
Aforeignbornminorchild,ifdwellinginthePhilippinesatthetimeofthenaturalizationoftheparent,
shallautomaticallybecomeaPhilippinecitizen,andaforeignbornminorchild,whoisnotinthe
Philippinesatthetimetheparentisnaturalized,shallbedeemedaPhilippinecitizenonlyduringhis
minority,unlesshebeginstoresidepermanentlyinthePhilippineswhenstillaminor,inwhichcase,he
willcontinuetobeaPhilippinecitizenevenafterbecomingofage.
AchildbornoutsideofthePhilippinesafterthenaturalizationofhisparent,shallbeconsidereda
Philippinecitizen,unlessoneyearafterreachingtheageofmajority,hefailstoregisterhimselfasa
Philippinecitizenatthe

***************************MISSINGPAGE"#329"***********************

thefaultoftheirparentseitherbyneglectingtosupportthemorbytransferringthemto
anotherschoolorschools.Acertifiedcopyofthedecreecancelingthenaturalization
certificateshallbeforwardedbytheclerkoftheCourttotheDepartmentofthe
Interior20andtheBureauofJustice.21
(e)Ifitisshownthatthenaturalizedcitizenhasallowedhimselftobeusedasadummy
inviolationoftheConstitutionalorlegalprovisionrequiringPhilippinecitizenshipasa
requisitefortheexercise,useorenjoymentofaright,franchiseorprivilege.

Section19.PenaltiesforviolationofthisAct.Anypersonwhoshallfraudulentlymake,falsify,forge,
change,alter,orcauseoraidanypersontodothesame,orwhoshallpurposelyaidandassistinfalsely
making,forging,falsifying,changingoralteringanaturalizationcertificateforthepurposeofmakinguse
thereof,orinorderthatthesamemaybeusedbyanotherpersonorpersons,andanypersonwhoshall
purposelyaidandassistanotherinobtaininganaturalizationcertificateinviolationoftheprovisionsofthis
Act,shallbepunishedbyafineofnotmorethanfivethousandpesosorbyimprisonmentfornotmorethan
fiveyears,orboth,andinthecasethatthepersonconvictedisanaturalizedcitizenhiscertificateof
naturalizationandtheregistrationofthesameinthepropercivilregistryshallbeorderedcancelled.
Section20.Prescription.Nopersonshallbeprosecuted,charged,orpunishedforanoffenseimplyinga
violationoftheprovisionsofthisAct,unlesstheinformationorcomplaintisfiledwithinfiveyearsfrom
thedetectionordiscoveryofthecommissionofsaidoffense.
Section21.Regulationandblanks.TheSecretaryofJusticeshallissuethenecessaryregulationsforthe
properenforcementofthisAct.Naturalizationcertificateblanksandotherblanksrequiredforcarryingout
theprovisionsofthisActshallbepreparedandfurnishedbytheSolicitorGeneral,subjecttotheapproval
oftheSecretaryofJustice.
Section22.Repealingclause.ActNumberedTwentyninehundredandtwentysevenasamendedbyAct
NumberedThirtyfourhundredandfortyeight,entitled"TheNaturalizationLaw",isrepealed:Provided,
ThatnothinginthisActshallbeconstruedtoaffectanyprosecution,suit,action,orproceedingsbrought,
oranyact,thing,ormatter,civilorcriminal,doneorexistingbeforethetakingeffectofthisAct,butasto
allsuchprosecutions,suits,actions,proceedings,acts,things,ormatters,thelaws,orpartsoflawsrepealed
oramendedbythisActarecontinuedinforceandeffect.
Section23.DatewhenthisActshalltakeeffect.ThisActshalltakeeffectonitsapproval.
Approved,June17,1939.