CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES    
                        Los Angeles, CA

CIVIL REGISTRY

Reporting Births of Children of Filipino Citizens

Recognition as a Filipino Citizen

Reporting a Marriage Contracted Abroad

Guidelines for Shipment of Remains to the Philippines

Downloadable Forms

Reporting Births of Children of Filipino Citizens

The Report of Birth is a declaration of the person furnishing information on the birth abroad of a Filipino child. It is important for Filipinos permanently residing abroad to promptly register with the Consulate the birth of a child in order for such a birth to be registered with the Office of the Civil Registrar General in Manila.

When a child is born abroad to parents who are both Filipino citizens or to one (1) parent who is a Filipino citizen, i.e. one who has not been naturalized as a citizen of a foreign country, the child's birth must be immediately reported to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate which exercises jurisdiction over the place of birth.

Ideally, the birth must be reported to the Consulate within twelve (12) months after its occurrence. When the parents neglect to report the birth within twelve (12), the birth may, nevertheless be recorded upon the determination of the consular officer of satisfactory evidence on the authenticity of the report. In these cases, the person who executed the report shall furnish the Consulate with an explanation surrounding the delay in reporting the birth.

PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. The Report of Birth Form (download Form No. 40) should be executed by one of the parents or the attending physician or nurse. The Form must be executed in quadruplicate (four copies): a copy each for the parents, the Office of the Civil Registrar General, and the Consulate. When the birth is reported in person, the Report of Birth will be sworn to before a consular officer. If the Report is sent through mail, the Form shall be signed in the presence of two (2) witnesses.

2. The original copy of the child's Certificate of Birth issued by local health authorities or by the local County Registrar must be presented. The Birth Certificate should also be reproduced in quadruplicate.

3. A copy of the Philippine passport(s) of Filipino parent(s) must be submitted, also reproduced in quadruplicate, in order to determine Filipino citizenship.

4. A copy of the marriage license or marriage certificate of parents, reproduced in quadruplicate.

5. The fee for this service is $25.00 in cash, postal money order or cashier's check payable to the Philippine Consulate General. Personal checks, personal money orders, ATM and credit cards are not accepted as mode of payments. Do not send payment in cash when reporting by mail. An additional fee of $6.00 is required if the Report will be returned by mail.

The Consulate assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage through the mail.

Recognition as a Filipino Citizen

Under the Bureau of Immigration's Law Instruction No. RBR-99002, issued on 15 April 1999, any child born of a Filipino parent may be recognized as a Filipino citizen under existing laws. The following documents are to be submitted to the Commissioner of Immigration:

1. Petition, in the form of a letter-request, made under oath by the Filipino parent or legally appointed guardian. A person who is 18 years old must apply in his/her own capacity.

In default of parents or a judicially appointed guardian, the following presons shall exercise substitute parental authority over the child in the order indicated:

    1. the surviving grandparent as provided in Article 214 of the Family Code;
    2. the oldest brother or sister over 21 years of age, unless unfit or disqualified; and
    3. the child's actual custodian, over 21 years of age, unless unfit or disqualified;

    In case the letter-request is made by a person on behalf of any of the parents, the legally appointed guardian, or persons exercising substitute parental authority, he or she must be duly authorized through a power of attorney to file such petition.

2. Authenticated birth certificate of the child

3. Birth certificate of the Filipino parent

4. Affidavit of Citizenship executred by the applicant's Filipino parent attesting to his/her citizenship at the time of the birth of the child

5. Photocopy of the child's passport, if he/she has one

6. Photocopy of the Filipino parent's passport, if he/she has one

7. Proof of Filipino citizenship of a parent at the time of birth of the child other than the parent's passport or the child's passport

     All documents issued by the foreign governments and those executed in a foreign country shall be duly authenticated by the authorized officer of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over them.

     Communications, statements, or documents executed in a language other than English or Filipino should be officially translated under the seal of the authorized officer of the appropriate foreign embassy.

     Pursuant to Executive Order No. 292, the Bureau of Immigration, through its Records Section, will automatically furnish the Department of Justice an official copy of its Order of Recognition within 12 days from its date of approval. Identification Certificates shall be issued only after confirmation by the Secretary of Justice.

 

For more information, please contact:

Office of the Commisioner

Bureau of Immigration

Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila

Tel. Nos. (632) 527-3261/527-3277

Fax No. (632) 338-4538

www.immigration.gov.ph

Procedures and Requirements for Reporting a Marriage Contracted Outside the Philippines

A marriage where one or both of the contracting parties is a Filipino citizen must be reported to the Consulate in order for the said marriage to be properly registered and recorded with the Office of the Civil Registrar General in Manila.

The Consulate can only undertake the marriage registration process if the marriage took place within in its jurisdiction, i.e., Southern California, Southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. For marriages outside of its jurisdiction, the Report of Marriage must be filed with the Philippine Embassy or Consulate which exercises jurisdiction over the place of marriage.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Four (4) original duly accomplished Report of Marriage Contracted Abroad form signed by husband and the wife.

    1. Four (4) identical colored photographs of the husband and the wife, 1.77 in x 1.37 in, plain white background, taken within six months before the date of application, (Blurred or low quality photos are not accepted).
    2. One (1) original or certified true copy and four (4) photocopies of the Marriage Certificate or Contract Extended Form (Original will be returned).
    3. One (1) original or certified true copy and four (4) photocopies of the Birth Certificate of the husband and the wife.  The Consular Officer reserves the right to require additional proof or documents from an applicant, to prove his/her citizenship or identity pursuant to the Philippine Passport Law (R.A. 8239) and the Foreign Service Act (R.A. 7157).
    4. Report of Marriage Processing Fee: US$25.00 (non-refundable, payable only in cash when personally applying, or Postal money order or cashiers' check payable to the Philippine Consulate General, when applying by mail or courier; personal check and personal money order are not accepted).

    Additional Requirements

    1. If either spouse was previously married and divorced, or previously married and marriage was subsequently annulled:

      1. One (1) original or certified true copy and four (4) photocopies of the Judicial Decree of Divorce or Annulment.

    2. If either spouse is a widow/widower:

      1. One (1) original or certified true copy and four (4) photocopies of Death Certificate of deceased spouse (Original supporting documents ar returned).

    3. Requirements for applicants who wishes to have his/her Report of Marriage returned by mail or courier separate from Passport Application.

      1. Enclose either a $6.00 postal money order or cashiers' check or pre-paid U.S. Postal Service express mail envelope or courier of choice such as FEDEX, DHL or UPS. All applications submitted by mail or courier service, through travel agencies or representatives shall be duly notarized.

    Note: Please take note of the mailing or courier tracking number since the Philippine Consulate General cannot assume responsibility for documents which have been mailed through the U.S. Postal Service or courier service.

    4. RELEASING TIME

      1. APPLICATION SUBMITTED PERSONALLY - Report of Marriage is released at least two (2) business days by the Consulate of the duly accomplished application form and all requirements.
      2. APPLICATION SUBMITTED THROUGH MAIL OR COURIER - Report of Marriage is mailed within five (5) working days after receipt by the Consulate of the duly accomplished application form and all requirements.

      ONLY marriages contracted in the following places can be registered or reported at the Philippine Consulate General, Los Angeles, CA: (1) Southern California; (2)Southern Nevada; (3) Arizona; (4) New Mexico; and (5) Texas

      In general, divorces between Filipinos are not recognized under Philippine law, wherever the decree is obtained. However, in the case of mixed marriages e.g. between Filipinos and foreigners, Philippine law would allow a divorced Filipino to re-marry, if the alien spouse initiated the divorce proceedings.  In this case, however, the Filipino spouse may be required to show proof or document of her previous husband's foreign citizenship

      Decrees of annulment issued by Philippine courts pursuant to the Family Code would allow Filipinos to re-marry. A judicial decree declaring the nullity of a marriage from the beginning would allow re-marriage.

Please call (213) 637-3021 (Civil Registry Section) for further assistance or any questions.

Guideline for Shipment of Remains to the Philippines

Requirements for Shipment of Human Remains/Cremated Remains to the Philippines:

  1. Certificate of Death;
  2. Burial Transit Permit;
  3. Health Certificate issued by the Department of Health stating that death was not due to a contagious disease and/or that the human remains do not pose any danger to public health;
  4. Mortuary Certification that the casket contains only the human remains of the deceased or Crematory Certificate that the urn contains only the ashes of the deceased (notarized);
  5. Duly accomplished Report of Death (ROD) for Filipino citizens (click here to download ROD Form);
  6. Transportation arrangements:
    • Flight details;
    • Address and phone number of the consignee in the Philippines;
    • Address and phone number of the next-of-kin in the United States and in the Philippines;
  7. Passport of the deceased or any other form of identification (Birth certificate/State Identification, etc.)
  8. Payment of US$50.00 for Philippine passport holder or US$25.00 for American passport holder.  Payment should be in cash, postal money order or cashiers' check only.

Note:
All documents to be submitted must be one (1) original and two (2) photocopies.



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