The Alien Registration Act of 1950 requires the registration of all aliens permanently or temporarily residing in the Philippines , accept accredited officials of a foreign government recognized by the Philippines and the members of their official staffs and families.

The regulations governing the registration of aliens provide for the following periods for registration:

1.       Any alien who was in the Philippines at the time of the approval of the Alien Registration Act and who was fourteen years of age or more and would remain in the Philippines for thirty (30) days or longer had to apply for registration, and be finger-printed, within 120 days from September 15, 1950 (as amended by R.A. No. 578).

2.       Any alien who enters the Philippines after approval of the Alien Registration Act of 1950 and who is fourteen years of age or more and who will remain in the Philippines for thirty (30) days or longer must apply for registration and be finger-printed immediately upon his entry: Provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to an alien admitted into the Philippines for sixty (60) days or longer.   (As amended, August 13, 1951).

3.       Every parent or legal guardian of any alien child who is in the Philippines at the time of the approval of the Alien Registration Act of 1950 and who is below fourteen years of age and will remain in the Philippines for thirty (30) days or longer must apply for registration of such alien child within thirty days after the approval of said Act.

4.       Every parent or legal guardian of any alien child who enters the Philippine after the approval of said Act and who is below fourteen years of age and who will remain in the Philippines for thirty (30) days or longer must apply for the registration of such alien child immediately upon the entry of said child: Provided, however, That this provision shall not apply to an alien child admitted into the Philippines as a temporary visitor transient, unless said child will remain in the Philippines for sixty (60) days or longer. (As amended, August 13, 1951).

5.       Every parent or legal guardian of any alien child born in the Philippines must apply for the registration of such child within thirty (30) days after the birth of the child. It has been observed that the main reason for failure to comply with this requirement is the difficulty in submitting the photographs of a child less than thirty (30) days old. In order to overcome difficulty, the following procedure in the registration of newly-born children is hereby prescribed:

a.    The parent or legal guardian shall file with the proper registration officer an application for the registration of a newly-born child, within thirty (30) days from the birth of the child, and at the same time pay the filing fee of P2.00;

b.    The registration officer shall note on the space provided for on the application the serial number of the official receipt covering payment of the filing fee, together with the amount and date thereof, and after such notation return the official receipt to the parent or guardian;

c.    After the application has been duly filed, the parent or guardian shall have three (3) months from the birth of the child within which to submit the photographs and comply with all other requirements for the registration of said child;

d.    A child so registered shall for all intents and purposes be considered registered as of the date of the filing of the application for registration;

e.    Failure to comply with the procedure above set forth shall subject the parent or guardian concerned to the penalties provided for by the Alien Registration Act of 1950, as amended.  (As amended, Sept. 22, 1952)

i)     The registering parent or legal guardian of a native born child under 14 years of age shall submit the birth certificate of the child.

ii)     A native born alien, 14 years or over registering for the first time, shall likewise submit his birth certificate.

iii)    The registering officer in turn shall note down on the application for alien registration (AR Form No. 1) the birth certificate submitted, and the fact that it is attached thereto. (As amended by Memo Order No. V-15, Jan. 29, 1963).

6.       Effective on the date of the approval of the Alien Registration Act, whenever any alien attains his fourteenth birthday in the Philippines, he shall, within fifteen days after such birthday apply in person for registration and fingerprinting.

7.       Any alien bonafide seaman entering the Philippines on or after the approval of the Alien Registration Act of 1950 who has been discharged with the consent of the immigration officer in charge of the port where the discharge occurred and who will stay and remain in the Philippines for thirty days or longer must apply for registration and be fingerprinted immediately after his discharge or admission.

Late registration by aliens should be carefully examined because illegal entrants, through trickery and guile might try to apply for late registration to gain legitimate resident status in the Philippines.

Any alien who falls to register with the CID within three (3) years from the expiration of the period prescribed in the rules governing the registration of aliens shall, in addition to the requirements prescribed therein, submit the following documents in support of his application:

1.       ACR and ICR/NBCR of the parents, if still living;

2.       Certified true copies of the birth certificates of parents, if born in the Philippines;

3.       Certified true copy of the parents marriage contract, if born legitimate;

4.       In case of deceased parents, the death certificate;

5.       Certified true copy of the applicant's birth certificate;

6.       Certified true copies of all pertinent school records, from the primary up to the highest grade attended;

7.       Family portraits; if any;

8.       Certificate of registration and inclusive dates of residence from the Barangay Official of the locality where applicant is residing;

9.       If applicant is already employed, certificate of employment from employer,

10.     Affidavits of two disinterested persons as witnessed to the applicant's continuous residence in the Philippines; and

11.     Other documents which may establish the applicants continuous residence in the Philippines since birth.

Aside from the above listed requirements, the parents, if available, together with the applicant shall submit themselves to an investigation or interview.

Applications for late registration should be referred to the Intelligence Division for background check before the requisite investigation or interview may be conducted.

Applicants for late registration shall be required to pay overtime fee of P1 ,000.00 upon filing of their application.

Adopted: 31 July 1988

(SGD.) MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO
Commissioner