WHY YOU SHOULD BE A DUAL CITIZEN

Filipinos who re-acquire Filipino citizenship under Republic Act No. 9255,
or the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, even more popurlary
known as the Dual Citizenship Law, may once again enjoy full civil, economic and
political rights enjoyed by all Filipino citizens. Among these are: (1) right to
own real property; (2) right to engage in business or commerce as a
Filipino; (3) right to practice one’s profession in accordance with law;
(4) right to acquire a Philippine passport; and (5) right to vote in
Philippine elections.

Dual citizen has the ability to own property in either country. Some
countries restrict land ownership to citizens only, and as a legal citizen of two
countries, you would be able to purchase property either or both countries. If
you travel frequently between the two countries, this might be especially useful
since property ownership might offer a more economical way to live in two
places.

Former natural-born Filipinos who are now naturalized citizens of another

country can buy and register, under their own name, land in the Philippines but
limited in land area. However, those who can avail the Dual Citizenship
Law in the Philippines can buy as much as any other Filipino citizen.

Many businesses and professions in the Philippines are reserved only for
Filipinos. For example, the retail business and almost all professions that required
a license to practice are reserved for Filipino citizens. Many former Filipinos who
want to retire in the Philippines envision themselves as having a small business,
or a small office, to keep a means of being busy in retirement, not to mention
the additional income that comes with it. Dual citizenship is thus a must for
former Filipinos who wish to retire in the Philippines and have a small business or
exercise a profession. Retirement in the Philippines does not mean the end of a
productive economic or professional life. A business or profession is a means of
keeping social status and keeping in touch with one’s community. Through Dual
Citizenship, retirement in the Philippines can be the start of a brand new avenue
in life as a businessman or professional.

Many former Filipinos take pride in their possession of the passport of

their new country of citizenship. This means no restrictions on how long the
person can stay in the Philippines, no restrictions on employment or education –
no restrictions at all in so far as foreigners are concerned, for after all, the holder
is a Filipino citizen.

Dual citizenship has no tax effects in the Philippines. This is because

Philippine taxation is based on where income is earned or where property is
located, regardless of citizenship. Under Republic Act 8424, only incomes derived
from the Philippines are subject to taxation by the Philippine government. Thus,
a person need not pay income tax to the Philippine government for income
earned abroad, whether or not he is a Filipino. Conversely, if a person earns
income in the Philippines, he will have to pay income tax in the Philippines,
whether or not he is a Filipino. The same is true with property taxes, and other
taxes for that matter. If a person owns real property in the Philippines, he will
have to pay real property taxes in the Philippines, regardless of his citizenship.
There is, then, everything to gain and nothing to lose by reacquiring or
retaining Philippine citizenship.