An Act To Provide For The Acquisition Of Philippine Citizenship By Naturalization, And To Repeal Acts Numbered Twenty-Nine Hundred And Twenty-Seven And Thirty-Four Hundred And Forty-Eight.

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An Act To Provide For The Acquisition Of Philippine Citizenship By Naturalization, And To Repeal Acts Numbered Twenty-Nine Hundred And Twenty-Seven And Thirty-Four Hundred And Forty-Eight.

Commonwealth Act No. 473

November 6, 1939

Case Overview and Summary

COMMONWEALTH ACT No. 473

Revised Naturalization Law

- Qualifications for naturalization (Section 2):
• At least 21 years old
• Resided in the Philippines for at least 10 continuous years
• Good moral character, believes in Philippine Constitution principles
• Owns real estate worth at least 5,000 pesos or has lucrative trade/profession
• Can speak/write English or Spanish and a Philippine language
• Enrolled minor children in schools teaching Philippine history/civics

- Special qualifications for 5-year residency (Section 3):
• Held government office in the Philippines
• Established new industry or introduced useful invention
• Married to a Filipino woman
• Worked as teacher in the Philippines for at least 2 years
• Born in the Philippines

- Disqualifications from naturalization (Section 4):
• Opposed to organized government or affiliated with such groups
• Advocates violence, assault, or assassination for ideological success
• Polygamists or believers in polygamy
• Convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude
• Suffering from mental alienation or incurable contagious diseases
• Did not mingle socially with Filipinos or embrace their customs
• Citizens of nations at war with the U.S. and Philippines
• Citizens of countries that don't allow Filipino naturalization

- Declaration of intention required 1 year before petition (Section 5)
• Details like name, age, occupation, arrival date, etc.
• Enroll minor children in schools teaching Philippine history/civics

- Exemptions from declaration of intention (Section 6):
• Born in the Philippines and received primary/secondary education
• Resided in the Philippines for at least 30 years
• Widow and minor children of alien who declared intention

- Petition requirements and process (Sections 7-12):
• File petition with competent court with details like qualifications
• Publish notice of petition and hearing for 90 days
• Solicitor-General represents Commonwealth at hearing
• Court issues naturalization certificate if qualified
• Appeal to Supreme Court allowed

- Naturalization certificate and oath (Sections 12-13):
• Certificate details like file number, personal circumstances, dates
• Oath renouncing foreign allegiance, supporting Philippine laws
• Court record books for petitions and certificates

- Effect on wife and children (Section 15):
• Wife of Filipino citizen deemed a citizen if lawfully naturalizable
• Minor children born in Philippines considered citizens
• Foreign-born minor children become citizens during minority
• Children born abroad after parent's naturalization are citizens

- Cancellation of naturalization (Section 18):
• Concealment of material facts or willful misrepresentation
• Dishonorable discharge from Philippine armed forces
• Desertion of U.S. armed forces in Philippine territory
• Failure to enroll children in schools teaching Philippine history/civics
• Used as dummy to violate Constitutional provisions

- Penalties for violations (Sections 19-20):
• Fines up to 5,000 pesos or imprisonment up to 5 years, or both
• Cancellation of naturalization certificate
• 5-year prescription period for offenses

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Commonwealth Acts

naturalization

citizenship

Philippines

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declaration of intention

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An Act To Provide For The Acquisition Of Philippine Citizenship By Naturalization, And To Repeal Acts Numbered Twenty-Nine Hundred And Twenty-Seven And Thirty-Four Hundred And Forty-Eight.

Commonwealth Act No. 473

November 6, 1939

COMMONWEALTH ACT No. 473 AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALIZATION, AND TO REPEAL ACTS NUMBERED TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN AND THIRTY-FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT. Be it enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippines: Section 1. Title of Act. ? This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Revised Naturalization Law." Section 2. Qualifications. ? Subject to section four of this Act, any person having the following qualifications may become a citizen of the Philippines by naturalization: First. He must be not less than twenty-one years of age on the day of the hearing of the petition; Second. He must have resided in the Philippines for a continuous period of not less than ten years; Third. He must be of good moral character and believes in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution, and must have conducted himself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of his residence in the Philippines in his relation with the constituted government as well as with the community...
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An Act To Provide For The Acquisition Of Philippine Citizenship By Naturalization, And To Repeal Acts Numbered Twenty-Nine Hundred And Twenty-Seven And Thirty-Four Hundred And Forty-Eight.

Amends

n/a

Amended by

n/a

Tags

Statutes

Commonwealth Acts

naturalization

citizenship

Philippines

qualifications

disqualifications

declaration of intention

petition

hearing

certificate

cancellation

penalties

offenses

COMMONWEALTH ACT No. 473 AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALIZATION, AND TO REPEAL ACTS NUMBERED TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN AND THIRTY-FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT. Be it enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippines: Section 1. Title of Act. ? This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Revised Naturalization Law." Section 2. Qualifications. ? Subject to section four of this Act, any person having the following qualifications may become a citizen of the Philippines by naturalization: First. He must be not less than twenty-one years of age on the day of the hearing of the petition; Second. He must have resided in the Philippines for a continuous period of not less than ten years; Third. He must be of good moral character and believes in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution, and must have conducted himself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of his residence in the Philippines in his relation with the constituted government as well as with the community...
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An Act To Provide For The Acquisition Of Philippine Citizenship By Naturalization, And To Repeal Acts Numbered Twenty-Nine Hundred And Twenty-Seven And Thirty-Four Hundred And Forty-Eight.