The Balikbayan 12 Month Visa

The Balikbayan program allows certain people to enter the Philippines for a stay of 12 Months without needing any other Visa.

A foreign national spouse and/or child of a Balikbayan may only be given the said privilege if he/she is traveling with his/her Balikbayan spouse or parent.

The following text appears to say, in brief:

A Filipino citizen who has to have been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one year, is eligible for a one year Balikbayan program privilege, which allows a spouse to stay in the Philippines for 12 months without a Visa. [Sec 3(c)]

A Filipino citizen who has been naturalized in a foreign country, may not have this one year period limitation applied.

Whether this is checked at immigration or not is another question, but might explain why some people get refused the 1 yr Balikbayan Visa privilege

The Balikbayan program is detailed under the Republic Act Numbered 6768.

It was amended in 2002 with the Republic Act No. 9174

“Section 1. Balikbayan Program. – A Balikbayan Program is hereby instituted under the administration of the Department of Tourism to attract and encourage overseas Filipinos to come and visit their motherland. This is in recognition of their contribution to the economy of the country through the foreign exchange inflow and revenues that they generate.

“Section 2. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act:

(a) The term “balikbayan” shall mean a Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the Philippines for a period of at least one (1) year, a Filipino overseas worker, or former Filipino citizen and his or her family, as this term is defined hereunder, who had been naturalized in a foreign country and comes or returns to the Philippines;

(b) The term “family” shall mean the spouse and the children of the balikbayan who are not balikbayan in their own right traveling with the latter to the Philippines.

Section 3

(c) Visa-free entry to the Philippines for a period of one (1) year for foreign passport holders, with the exception of restricted nationals;

Source:

www.immigration.gov.ph/…/balikbayan-previlege

How to re-acquire Filipino citizenship

A Former natural-born Filipino is able to re-acquire their Philippine citizenship following the changes in Philippine law in 2003.

Until 2003 a Filipino who took on another countries Citizenship lost their Philippine citizenship, as the Philippines did not allow Dual Citizenship.

Republic Act No. 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 is a law passed on 29 August 2003 which grants natural-born Filipinos who have lost their Filipino citizenship through naturalization in a foreign country, the opportunity to retain or re-acquire their Filipino citizenship.  http://www.cfo.gov.ph

Since 2003, A natural born Filipino who becomes a naturalized citizen of another country is deemed NOT to have lost his/her citizenship, and enjoys the benefits of Dual Citizenship.

A Former natural-born Filipino, who lost their Filipino citizenship prior to 2003 must apply for citizenship again, and the information for this is shown at: 

The following is sourced from: http://www.cfo.gov.ph

Filipinos who re-acquire Filipino citizenship under this Act may once again enjoy full civil, economic and political rights under existing laws of the Philippines. Among these are:

right to own real property in the Philippines
right to engage in business or commerce as a Filipino
right to practice one’s profession in accordance with law
right to acquire a Philippine passport
right to vote in Philippine elections under existing laws
other rights and privileges enjoyed by Filipino citizens

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225 August 29, 2003

This act shall be known as the “Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003.”

Section 3. Retention of Philippine Citizenship – Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, natural-born citizenship by reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country are hereby deemed to have re-acquired Philippine citizenship upon taking the following oath of allegiance to the Republic:

“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 imposed this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion.”

Natural born citizens of the Philippines who, after the effectivity of this Act, become citizens of a foreign country shall retain their Philippine citizenship upon taking the aforesaid oath.

Former Philippine citizens who have been naturalized in another country and wish to retain or re-acquire their Philippine citizenship can check at www.immigration.gov.ph for details on this re-acquisition.
The cost at May 2015 was PHP 3,010 (Last changed March 2014)

A foreign national, whose father or mother was a Filipino citizen at the time of the applicant’s birth, and who wishes to be acknowledged as a Filipino citizen can also apply for Filipino citizenship. Details at: www.immigration.gov.ph/…/recognition-as-filipino-citizen
The cost at May 2015 was PHP 12,550 (Last changed March 2014)

Department of Foreign Affairs

Cebu
4th Level, Pacific Mall, Metro Mandaue, U.N. Ave, Mandaue City 6015
Telephone:(032) 520 5898

Manila
2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines
Telephone: (632) 834-4000

DFA Passport Appointment System

Aseana Business Park, Diosdado Macapagal Blvd, Paranaque, Manila