Citizenship By Descent

Citizenship By Descent
Do you have a biological child born in Philippines who has at least one Australian Citizen as a parent? Would you like your child to obtain Australian Citizenship By Descent without a lot of hassle and stress?
If the child is born overseas and where at least one biological parent is an Aussie Citizen at the time of the birth, then the child will be entitled to apply for Australian Citizenship By Descent. The child will then be entitled to apply for an Australian passport, and can travel to and remain in Australia. No visa necessary ever.
This is a great option for those Australian men who have fathered children in the Philippines and wish that those children may become Australian Citizens and to enjoy all the rights of other Australians. Australian Citizenship is not automatic outside of Australia, and whilst it is an entitlement it is an entitlement that must be claimed with a successful application to the Department (Australian Embassy in Manila). It requires strong evidence of biological fatherhood, which may require DNA test evidence to backup of the claim.

Note that claiming to be the biological father of a child as an “act of chivalry” is not only fraudulent, it is also a criminal offense in the Philippines. Avoid the urge to do anything galant, and to say “I’ll give the child my name” if the child does not share your genes. This is especially frowned open in the Philippines where actual paternity is taken very seriously.
When the case is genuine, Citizenship By Descent is a great gift to bestow on your Filipino children as it is permanent. It does not require entry into Australia at any given point, and remains for the lifetime of the child. This option should be considered also when a partner visa application includes biological children. When the biological child of an Australian Citizen is granted Citizenship By Descent, they may travel to Australia with an Australian passport without the need to be included as an applicant in a partner visa application, nor will they need to apply for a dependent child visa or child visa later.
DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this page is of a general nature. Informative, yes, but not a formula for preparing visa applications and should not be relied on as such. The devil is in the detail, rest assured. Australian migration law is complicated and Departmental decisions are inflexible and often final. Readers and future visa applicants and sponsors are advised to rely on professionals to ensure a happy outcome.
It should also be considered by those Australian men who reside full-time in the Philippines, so that their Filipino children may wish to exercise their right to live in Australia at a later time.
If you have a legitimate claim, we can prepare and lodge an application for the child.
To see if we can help you, please fill out our FREE ASSESSMENT FORM
Citizenship By Descent Pros and Cons

- Child never needs an Australian visa ever
- Citizenship is permanent
- Cheaper option than including child as secondary applicant on a partner visa, or applying for a child visa
- Child must be the biological child of an Australian Citizen at their birth
- Has a higher level of expected evidence than including in a partner visa application
- Requires organizing a passport application after the citizenship grant
- There are no bridging visas available for onshore Citizenship applicants, so onshore applications are inadvisable
Australian Citizenship By Descent From the Philippines FAQ
I’ve accepted the child as my own. Can I apply for Citizenship by Descent?
No, definitely not. The child must have at least one parent who is an Australian Citizen. Adding your name as the father, ie. “giving the child your name” sounds very gallant, and no doubt the intentions are wonderful. However it happens to be a crime.
I was thinking of just adding the child onto a Partner Visa application. What’s best?
Citizenship By Descent is quicker and cheaper. Need we say more?
Will we need DNA testing?
It’s not standard, however they may ask for it if there is any doubt. More reasons not to try to be clever with switching babies or claiming to be a child’s father.
Does Citizenship come with an Australian passport?
No, a passport is a separate application. And it’s one you need to do for yourselves.
Can we apply for Citizenship by Descent inside Australia?
If you apply for Citizenship by Descent for a child inside Australia on a tourist visa and the application takes longer than the tourist visa, you could mess everything up. There are no bridging visas associated with Citizenship applications.
Does the Australian Citizen child still need an Australian visa?
No, not at all. The child may enter Australia and remain anytime at all, and will never need a visa.
Do I need a Citizenship by Descent application for my child born inside Australia?
Not at all. A child born to an Australian parent (either or both) inside Australia is an Australian Citizen the moment they pop their head out. It’s automatic.
Have A Citizenship By Descent Question Not Answered Above?

Now, over to you the client (or potential client)! We value our clients opinions, and we believe in keeping all well-informed. What would YOU like to ask about citizenship by descent? What do YOU think needs a bit more explanation? Ask below, and Jeff Harvie RMA will answer your question for you and for others wondering the same thing.
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Further information
Want to read more about Citizenship By Descent from the Philippines? Check out some of our citizenship by descent BLOG posts below.
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Jeff Harvie RMA, MMIA
Hello sir I justjust want to ask about Australian citizenship by descentdescent I’m married by an Australian citizen and get pregnant but the father of my child who are Australian citizen abandoned us and he don’t sign the birth certificate of the child! What should I do can u help us??
I would need more information about your case, and you would need to complete a contact form on our website and tell us the full story including significant dates.
my partner was in a realtionship before with australian man and she had a son with him, he will nto sign any papers to say he is the father of the child, but he does have pictures of the boy in his facebook and even there he tells to his family anf friends it is his son, is there anything my partner can do by law to be able to get citizenship for her son to the australian man
The approval or acknowledgment of the father is not required, however you still need to prove that he is the biological father.
hello sir, will it be okay if my Australian citizen boyfriend will be the one to apply for the citizenship by descent of our child in australia even though the child lives here with me in Philippines? or it is really me who will apply for it? need your help(our baby is two months old by now and got acknowlegde by australian father in her live birth certificate)
Perfectly fine, Jenny. Either one of the parents may lodge a Citizenship application.
Good day..May ask about citizenship of my two sons which is half Australian.. how I can do it? The father of the kids refuse to register the kids in Australia..The father of the kids has signature of the birth certificates. They are 3 three years and turning two years old..I’m hoping I can get any information what I need to do..I have lack of financial to pay the citizenship fees.
Citizenship applications are not free, sorry. You will have to find the money to pay for the applications.
You don’t need the father to apply. You may do that yourself. Your only issue is that you need to ensure you have enough evidence to prove that he is the biological father of the children, and that he is an Australian Citizen himself.
hello i.have son 4years old father is australian how much the citizenship by descent
I replied to you already by email, Rhoda. You should click the link I sent you.
Hi sir am married to Australian man.were lucky to conceive a child last may. Am now lodging spousal visa through immi.my husband wants to get our baby an Australian passport.can he apply for citizenship by decent for our child even his not here to sigh her birth certificate? But his coming here on Feb for baptism plan of our baby.please advice thank you.
Yes you can, however you will have to ensure you have plenty of other evidence of his paternity. If you would like help with this, please use our Contact Form and let me know?
Hello po may I ask how much to apply Australian citizenship by descent? And do really need a DNA test?I am married to aussie man and he is now in Australia, I’m the one lodge the application for our daughter, need to attach DNA test?
I’ve never had a client need a DNA test, Shiela. Can you click here and fill out the questions at the bottom? https://www.downundervisa.com.au/citizenship-by-descent-for-australian-filipino-kids/
Hi Jeff. I was born in the Philippines to a Filipino mother and Australian father. I gained my Australian citizenship by descent as a baby in 1997. I’m just wondering whether I’ve retained my Filipino citizenship and am considered a dual citizen automatically or whether I must reapply for the retention of my Filipino citizenship?
Hello Andi. No, officially you lost Filipino Citizenship when you acquired Australian Citizenship. However there’s a very simple solution! Contact the Australian Embassy or Consulate in Australia and make an appointment to swear an oath of allegiance! You will re-acquire Filipino Citizenship that way. Note that I’m not a Philippines attorney and can’t advise on Philippines law but that is my understanding.
Hi jeff
Good day! I just give birth for my daughter. My husband will apply for citizenship by decent.do we need to get her a Phil passport at the same time? Or just Australian passport for her after citizenship by decent grant?
Pls advice
It depends on what you want to do. To go to Australia you only need an Australian passport for the child, but if you wish to maintain Philippines Citizenship for the child you should (a) speak to Philippines Immigration and (b) apply for a Philippines passport too.
Hello Jeff!
So I am a little bit confused regarding this:
So after applying for Citizenship by Decent and it gets approved, since our son will be an Australian Citizen, How can we travel to Australia? Should I work for a Philippine Passport for him or an Australian Passport so we can travel to his father?
You need to apply for an Australian passport once has Australian Citizenship granted.
Hi! I just want to ask if my son will be qualified to apply for australian citizenship by decent? The father of my child was permanent resident, then. After a month I gave birth to our child here in the philippines, the father was able to pass the citizenship and eventually took oath recently. Does that qualifies our child to apply citizenship by decent?
You can only get Citizenship By Descent for the child if the father was an Australian Citizen at the time of the child’s birth. It’s not retrospective.
Hi,Im an Australian father who has a one year old daughter (filipina) if im to get her a aussie passport by descent, and that is she has the right to everything Australian,if she returns to Philippines and wants to stay there for 6 months does she also have to have a visa like me to enter for that length of time even though she half filipina.
Please check with the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines, or with the Philippines Embassy in Australia. I say this because I have no qualifications in Philippines immigration law, so I can’t advise. In short though you will find that she may regain her Philippines Citizenship (ie become a dual citizen) by the swearing of an oath of allegiance (which I think her mum does this for her).