Birth Registration at Philippine Embassies
Registering your child's birth at the Philippine embassy establishes their Filipino citizenship by blood (jus sanguinis) and creates an official record with the Philippine Statistics Authority. This is one of the most important steps for Filipino parents abroad.
Act Early: Register within 1 year of birth for the standard process. Late registration (after 1 year) requires additional affidavits and documentation.
Requirements
- Local birth certificate — Original, from the country of birth (with English translation if needed)
- Filipino parent's Philippine passport
- Filipino parent's PSA birth certificate
- PSA marriage certificate (if parents are married)
- Affidavit of two witnesses — Confirming the birth
- Completed Report of Birth form
- 2 passport-size photos of the child
- Fee: ~USD 30-50
Process
- Gather all required documents
- Visit the Philippine embassy (both parents and child should appear)
- Submit the Report of Birth and supporting documents
- The consular officer reviews and processes the report
- Pay the fee
- The embassy forwards the report to PSA Manila for registration (3-6 months)
- Once registered, order a PSA birth certificate through PSAHelpline.ph
Why Registration Matters
- Filipino citizenship: Officially establishes the child as a Philippine citizen
- Philippine passport: Required before applying for the child's Philippine passport
- Legal identity: Creates a PSA record for all future legal and administrative purposes
- Inheritance rights: Protects the child's rights under Philippine law
- Education: May be required for enrollment in Philippine schools
Next Step: Philippine Passport
After the birth is registered with PSA, you can apply for a Philippine passport for your child at the embassy. The child will need to appear in person for biometric capture.
Key Info
- Register within: 1 year
- Fee: ~USD 30-50
- PSA processing: 3-6 months
- Who: At least 1 Filipino parent