In a recent thread on this subject the following was posted:-
New Dual Citizenship Laws Affecting Property Ownership
Dual citizenship means having two citizenships and passports from two different countries. Dual citizenship is now available for the following:
* Former Filipino citizens born in the Philippines, but have immigrated to another country and obtained citizenship of that country.
* A foreign spouse married to a Filipino citizen.
Dual citizenship allows the citizenship holder full rights of possession of Philippine real property. This is a new law and it is still unclear as to the procedures involved to implement it
This information can be found on several Philippine based property websites and if it was correct would, through the ability of a spouse dual citizenship, solve many problems.
Sadly it is NOT correct. I wrote to various people asking for confirmation and today received a reply from the Bureau of immigration in Manila which states that only former Filipino citizens can apply for dual citizenship, along the lines which are well understood.
So there has been no changes, nor are there any imminent. As a foreign citizen we cannot directly own land so continue to have all the attendant risks involved. This means I will have to continue to persue my plan of establishing a Philippine company under my control, which will be established solely as a vehicle to own my property. This will work, but it is a process which involves attorneys, initial cash deposits with Government and some expense. I think it is worth it though to protect myself from grasping hands should disaster strike.
