Reporting a Birth Abroad to the Philippines

Why the Report of Birth Matters

The 1987 Constitution says that those whose father or mother is a Filipino citizen are citizens of the Philippines. A child born abroad to a Filipino parent is therefore Filipino from birth. The Report of Birth does not make them Filipino. It records the birth in the Philippine civil registry, so that the child can get a Philippine passport, enroll in Philippine schools and later deal with Philippine offices using a PSA Birth Certificate.

The DFA says a birth must be reported if both parents are Filipino, or if one parent was a Filipino citizen at the time of the birth. If the Filipino parent had become a citizen of another country before the birth and had not taken back (reacquired) Philippine citizenship, the rules are different. Ask the embassy or consulate, and see dual citizenship.

Filing at the Embassy or Consulate

File with the Philippine embassy or consulate whose area covers the place of birth. Each post (embassy or consulate) publishes its own list, and many take applications by mail or by appointment only. In general you will be asked for:

• the Report of Birth form, usually in several signed originals, typed, and in some posts notarized;
• the child's foreign Birth Certificate showing the parents' names;
• proof that a parent was a Filipino citizen at the time of the birth, such as a Philippine passport valid at the time;
• the parents' passports or IDs;
• the parents' PSA Marriage Certificate (or Report of Marriage), if they were married before the birth; and
• the consular fee. Check the post's current fee.

The papers needed also depend on the parents' marriage:

If More Than a Year Has Passed: A Delayed Report

The DFA asks that the birth be reported within twelve months. A later report is a delayed report. It is still accepted, but you add:

• a notarized Affidavit of Delayed Registration explaining why the birth was not reported on time;
• often, a PSA negative certification showing there is no birth record yet; and
• other proof the post asks for, such as the child's first passport, photos, or an affidavit of two people who know of the birth. See the Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons.

Already in the Philippines? The DFA's Office of Consular Affairs, Consular Records Division in Manila, and its regional consular offices accept delayed Reports of Birth from families who are now home. Its published list is longer than an embassy's, because it cannot check the foreign records in person. Some countries' Birth Certificates must be apostilled or authenticated first. See apostille.

A child who is already 18 or older may file their own report and sign the forms themselves.

Getting the PSA Copy

1. After the post approves the report, it sends it to the DFA in Manila, which passes it to the PSA.
2. Wait. Posts say the PSA copy is usually available about six months to a year after approval.
3. Get the transmittal details (reference number, dispatch number and transmittal date) from the post or the DFA Consular Records Division. They help the PSA find the record.
4. Request the copy from the PSA through its online ordering service or a PSA outlet. See PSA certificates.

If the PSA says it has no record even with the transmittal details, the DFA directs families to follow up with the PSA's office that handles consular reports, bringing the transmittal details and a copy of the approved report.

Citizenship and the Passport

Many countries give citizenship to children born on their soil, and most give it to children of their citizens. A child born abroad to a Filipino parent may therefore hold two citizenships from birth: Philippine citizenship through the parent, and the other country's citizenship by law there. This child does not need to take the oath under Republic Act No. 9225 (RA 9225). RA 9225 is for natural-born Filipinos (Filipinos from birth) who lost their citizenship by becoming citizens of another country.

Once the Report of Birth is approved, the child can apply for a Philippine passport. Many posts let you apply at the same visit. See passport.

If a parent reacquired Philippine citizenship under RA 9225 after the child was born, the child's status depends on their age at the time. Ask the post or the Bureau of Immigration.

Common Problems

• Mismatched names. The name on the Report of Birth should match the foreign Birth Certificate. Fix errors before the report is sent. Later corrections go through the civil registry process; see PSA corrections.
• Parents' marriage not reported. If the parents married abroad and never reported it, the child may be recorded differently than expected. Report the marriage too.
• A birth registered twice. If the child was also registered as a late birth at a Philippine local civil registry, two records exist. Ask the PSA and the Local Civil Registrar how to fix it before applying for anything else.