A child born in the United States may file a Report of Birth in order to be recognized as a Filipino citizen and considered as a dual citizen at birth under the following conditions:

• LEGITIMATE CHILD BORN BEFORE 17 JANUARY 1973: The father must be a Filipino citizen at the time of the child’s birth.  
• ILLEGITIMATE CHILD BORN BEFORE 17 JANUARY 1973: The mother must be a Filipino citizen at the time of the child’s birth.
• CHILD BORN ON OR AFTER 17 JANUARY 1973: (1) Either or both the father or mother must be a Filipino citizen at the time of the child’s birth; or (2) The child was included as a derivative dual citizen when the father or mother reacquired/retained dual citizenship under R.A. 9225.  

A. Reporting Births of Children of Filipino Citizens in the United States

See this CHECKLIST for an easy reference of the requirements, but please read the details below:

1. One (1) Cover letter indicating your request to report a birth with contact information (ex. mobile/telephone number, email address, and permanent address).

2. Four (4) original duly-accomplished Report of Birth (ROB) forms. The following entries must be made:

• • Entries must be printed/typewritten. Handwritten documents will not be accepted. Please use the fillable PDF link to accomplish the form: Report of Birth (ROB) form 
  • The name of the child should follow the Philippine Naming Convention.
  • Entries should be made in the exact format indicated in the ROB form (ex. Date: 28 March 2020, Place: San Francisco, California, USA).
  • The mother should use her maiden name (birth name/ name before marriage) in filling out the ROB form.
  • Entries must be at the time of birth of the child/subject.
  • For the signature of the informant:
    a. If the birth is reported in person by one of the parents, the attending physician, or the person whose birth is being reported if over 18 years of age – all four (4) duly-accomplished forms will be sworn to and signed by the informant before a Consular Officer/Staff; or
    b. If submitting the ROB by mail – item 20 must be notarized by a Notary Public (first copy only, while other three copies may be photocopied with the Notary Public’s seal and signature). Item 21 and item 22 should be left blank.

3. One (1) original and three (3) photocopies of Affidavit of Delayed Registration of Birth, duly notarized, only when reporting the birth a year or more after its occurrence. Otherwise, there is no need to submit said Affidavit.

• • Attach a photocopy of the valid ID of the child/subject if it is already available.

4. The original and four (4) photocopies of the child’s U.S. Certificate of Live Birth.  (The original shall be returned with the processed Report of Birth)

5. Four (4) photocopies of the Marriage Certificate (PSA authenticated marriage certificate or foreign marriage contract) of the parents.

• • If the parents are not married at the time of the child’s birth – see additional requirements below.
  • If the parents were married in the Philippines or had their foreign marriage reported to a Philippine Embassy/Consulate over a year from reporting child’s birth – the Report of Marriage/ Marriage Certificate must be issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) formerly NSO.

6. Four (4) photocopies of the valid passport of both parents, together with any of the following:

• • For the Filipino parent (proof of Philippine Citizenship at the time of birth of the child) – submit photocopies of Philippine Passport, Resident Alien Card/ Permanent Resident Card and/or Philippine Dual Citizenship (Identification Certificate, Oath of Allegiance, and Order of Approval), copy of visa (if tourist, leisure or business purpose), job contract or working permit (if working abroad at the time of child’s birth).
  • For parents who reacquired their Philippine Citizenship after the child’s birth (Dual Citizen/s) – four (4) photocopies of Identification Certificate, Order of Approval, or Petition for Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship, indicating the name of the child as a minor derivative of the parent’s re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship.
  • If the Filipino Parent/s was a former Filipino citizen and have acquired foreign citizenship (i.e. American, etc.) after the child’s birth – four (4) photocopies of U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (the date of naturalization must be after the date of child’s birth)

7. Four (4) photocopies of the Identification Document of the subject (person to be registered). Ex: US passport, Driver’s License, School ID, etc. 

B. R.A. 9255 (An Act Allowing Illegitimate Children to Use the Surname of Their Father, Amending for the Purpose Article 176 of Executive Order No. 209, Otherwise Known as the “Family Code of the Philippines”)

R.A. 9255 shall apply to all illegitimate children born on or after 19 March 2004. Illegitimate children born on 03 August 1988 to 18 March 2004 may still be acknowledged by the father through an Affidavit of Admission of Paternity (AAP) or Private Handwritten Instrument (PHI) but cannot use the surname of the father under Republic Act No. 9255. However, a petition in court may be filed in order that the child can use the surname of the father.

C. If parents are not married at the time of birth of the child

1. If the child will use the mother’s surname, please submit the mother’s PSA birth certificate (the mother MUST be a Filipino citizen at the time of the child’s birth).

2. If the child will use the father’s surname, please submit the following documents (The affidavit/s and/or attestation need to be duly notarized by a Notary Public):

• • Affidavit of Admission of Paternity (AAP)/ Personal Handwritten Instrument (PHI) – executed by the father, if he is willing to acknowledge paternity;
  • Affidavit to Use the Surname of the Father (AUSF) – to be executed by:
    a. If the child is below seven (7) years old – executed by mother
    b. If the child is between seven (7) to 17 years old – executed by the child with Sworn Attestation (SA) executed by the mother
    c. If the child/applicant is already 18 years old and above – executed by the child/applicant. The Sworn Attestation is no longer needed.

D. If parents were married after the child’s birth

1. One (1) original and three (3) copies of Joint Affidavit of Legitimation, duly notarized by a Notary Public.

E. Processing Fees:

All Fees are non-refundable. Fees should be made payable to the “Philippine Consulate General” in Money Order, Bank Draft, Certified Check or Cashier’s Check. Personal checks and credit/debit cards are not accepted.

• • Report of Birth Processing Fee … $25.00
  • Registration/Notarization of AAP/PHI … $25.00
  • Registration/Notarization of AUSF … $25.00
  • Certificate of Registration of Legal Instrument (for those who will execute AAP and/or AUSF) … $25.00

F. All documents will be sent by mail only. Please prepare and provide the following:

1. One (1) Cover letter indicating your request to report a birth with contact information (ex. mobile/telephone number, email address, and permanent address) through which the Consulate can reach you.

2. Submit all the requirements mentioned above. Item 20 in all four (4) duly-accomplished ROB forms must be notarized by a Notary Public. Item 21 and item 22 should be left blank.

3. Provide a (1) Self-Addressed Stamped Return Envelope with appropriate stamps and tracking number (USPS Express or Priority Mail) or (2) Self-Addressed Prepaid Mailing Envelope from courier of choice (do NOT use FEDEX) labeled with the recipient’s address.  As a reminder, please do not put the name of the Philippine Consulate as the sender, should the Shipping Label be “to Bill the Sender”.

4. Processing Fee/s made payable to “Philippine Consulate General” in money order, bank draft, certified check, or cashier’s check,. Please do not enclose cash. Personal Checks are not accepted.

Please mail your documents to the following address upon completion of the above-mentioned requirements:

Philippine Consulate General
Attn: Civil Registry Section
447 Sutter Street, 6th Floor
San Francisco, California 94108, USA

Note: The Philippine Consulate General assumes no responsibility for any delay or loss in the mail, or while the documents are in the custody of the courier service. The applicant should note the tracking numbers of all envelopes used and submitted, and may track their envelopes at the website of their chosen courier.

G. When will I get my Birth Certificate?

It will take around six (6) months to one (1) year from the date of filing a Report of Birth before the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) can generate an official birth certificate on security paper with a barcode. Afterwards, you may request online for a hard copy of the official birth certificate at https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph/. The certificate can be delivered to your US address.

H. Incomplete applications will be returned to the sender.

The Civil Registry Officer may require additional documents upon assessment of the application depending on the circumstances of the applicant’s birth, marriage, or death. Factors such as citizenship, previous civil status, and other details may affect the status of your application. In this regard, it is important that you submit your contact details along with your application documents (mobile phone and email address) so that the Consulate can reach you immediately.

For Inquiries: Please send an email to [email protected]