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Republic Act No. 7919· Enacted 1995-02-24

Alien Social Integration Act (RA 7919) — BatasKo ELI5

RA 7919 ang nagbigay ng legal residence status sa mga ilegal na alien na naninirahan sa Pilipinas bago June 30, 1992 — sa pamamagitan ng social integration program na may registration at integration fees.

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Ang Batas sa Madaling Salita— ELI5

Ang RA 7919 o Alien Social Integration Act of 1995 ay nagbigay ng pagkakataon sa mga ilegal na dayuhan na naninirahan sa Pilipinas bago June 30, 1992 na makuha ang legal residence status sa pamamagitan ng pagbabayad ng integration fees at pagsasagawa ng registration requirements. Ang application period ay mula June 1, 1995 hanggang December 31, 1996 lamang — ito ay expired na batas, pero may kasaysayan at legal effects na pa rin ito ngayon para sa mga nakapag-avail nito.

Official text — Republic Act No. 7919

Jump to section ↓19 sections

Preamble

Nineth Congress

Third Regular Session

[ REPUBLIC ACT No. 7919, February 24, 1995 ]

AN ACT GRANTING LEGAL RESIDENCE STATUS TO CERTAIN ALIENS THROUGH A SOCIAL INTEGRATION PROGRAM IN THE PHILIPPINES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1

Section 1.

Title.

- This Act shall be known as "The Alien Social Integration Act of 1995."

Section 2

Section 2.

Declaration of Policy.

- The State shall control and regulate the admission and integration of aliens into its territory and politic. Towards this end, aliens with unlawful residence status shall be integrated into the mainstream of Philippine society subject to national security and interest, and in deference to internationally recognized human rights.

Section 3 — Coverage.→

Section 3.

Coverage.

- Upon effectivity of this Act, all aliens whose stay in the Philippines is otherwise illegal under existing laws, and who have entered the country prior to June 30, 1992, including those who availed in good faith of the benefits of Executive Order No. 324 whose applications have been approved before or after November 21, 1988, are hereby granted legal residence status upon compliance with the provisions of this Act, and shall not be prosecuted for crimes defined under Commonwealth Act No. 613, otherwise known as the Immigration Act of 1940, which are inherent to illegal residence such as the absence of valid travel documents or visa:

Provided,

That in no case shall alien refugees in the Philippines be qualified to apply under this Act.

The bar to prosecution shall apply only to such crimes or felonies committed due to acts necessary or essential to maintain a false or fraudulent or illegal residence, such as falsification of marriage, birth or baptismal certificates or travel documents, visas or alien certificates of registration.

Section 4 — Integration Requirements and Fees.→

Section 4.

Integration Requirements and Fees.

- The social integration of aliens established under Section 3 shall be effective and its benefits enjoyed by illegal residents upon completion of all the following acts:

4.1. Filing of registration forms with the following agencies: (1) the civil register of his place of residence; (2) the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); (3) the Bureau of Immigration; (4) the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); and (5) the commercial or universal bank to which the alien pays the integration fee as hereafter provided.

In lieu thereof, the filing of registration forms may be done in five (5) sets with a commercial or universal bank certified by the BIR as authorized collectors for income tax.

4.2 The registration forms shall contain the applicant's full name and one alias by which he may be known; proof of his identity, good moral character and financial capacity through affidavits from two (2) Filipino citizens of good reputation in his/her place of residence; history of stay in the Philippines; residential address for the immediate past five (5) years; four (4) passport size pictures and a complete fingerprint card for each of the agencies mentioned in 4.1, including his/her most recent dental records which shall be submitted to the NBI.

4.3 Payment of the integration fees to any duly licensed commercial or universal bank accredited by the BIR as authorized to receive income tax payments in the following amounts:

4.3.1. One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) upon filing of the registration forms with the bank plus Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) per year over a three-year period from the payment of the first installment. The subsequent three (3) installment payments should be paid within twelve (12) months from the date of the first payment without any extensions:

Provided,

that the payments made by those who availed of the benefits of Executive Order No. 324 whose applications were approved before or after November 20, 1988 shall be credited to their favor.

In lieu of the above installment payments, the applicant may immediately pay Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000) .

A single payment of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) for the spouse and Twenty-five thousand pesos (P25,000) for each legitimate child below eighteen (18) years of age.

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Children born after June 30, 1992 of parents who received the benefits of this Act shall, upon proper registration with the Bureau of Immigration, become legal residents.

The integration fees paid by an alien shall be in lieu of all immigration fees and fines said alien may have incurred during his unlawful residence in the country.

4.4. Submission of a medical certificate stating that the applicant is not a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug addict and that he is not afflicted with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Section 5 — Official Receipt.→

Section 5.

Official Receipt.

- The commercial or universal bank shall issue an official receipt acknowledging receipt of the integration fee, upon payment by the applicant of a processing fee of One thousand pesos (P1,000). In the event registration was effected under paragraph 2 of subsection 4.1, the bank shall furnish copies of the registration documents to the following agencies: (1) the civil register of the applicant's place of residence; (2) the BIR; and (3) the NBI. Thereafter, the bank shall issue a certification to this effect in favor of the applicant.

Section 6 — Duties of the Bureau of Immigration.→

Section 6.

Duties of the Bureau of Immigration.

- Upon presentation by the applicant of the official receipt from the bank, together with a certification from the bank or the agency concerned, as the case may be that the civil registrar, BIR and NBI received copies of the registration forms, and the submission to the Bureau of Immigration of the registration forms defined in Section 4.2 hereof, the Bureau of Immigration shall immediately issue an alien certificate of registration (ACR) to the applicant. The legal residence granted under this Act shall commence from the date the Bureau of Immigration issues the ACR.

The Bureau of Immigration shall publish, at the applicant's cost, the names, ages, addresses, and a photograph of each of the applicants in a national newspaper of general circulation at the end of each calendar month during the effectivity of the application period, as hereinafter provided in Section 8. The banks authorized under this Act to collect the fees herein required shall collect a publication fee of Five thousand pesos (P5,000) from the applicant.

Show 12 more sections +→
Section 7 — Ministerial Duty of the Civil Registrar, the BIR and the NBI.→

Section 7.

Ministerial Duty of the Civil Registrar, the BIR and the NBI.

- The civil registrar, the BIR and the NBI shall have the ministerial duty to accept the registration forms required under Section 4. Each of these agencies may charge no more than One hundred pesos (P100) for the filing of the registration forms. Upon payment of the filing fee, the agency concerned shall issue a certification that the alien has filed with said office by himself/herself or through the bank, all the forms required under Section 4.

Section 8 — Application Period.→

Section 8.

Application Period.

- The benefits extended by Section 3 can be availed of from June 1, 1995 to December 31, 1996.

Section 9 — Administrative Confirmation.→

Section 9.

Administrative Confirmation.

- The procedure herein provided may be availed of by any alien who may want a confirmation or affirmation of his stay in the Philippines.

Section 10 — Eligibility for Citizenship.→

Section 10.

Eligibility for Citizenship.

- Aliens granted legal residence under this Act shall be eligible to apply for naturalization after five (5) years from the approval of his/her application.

Section 11 — Compliance Report and Oversight Functions.→

Section 11.

Compliance Report and Oversight Functions.

- The Bureau of Immigration shall submit to the chair of the committees on justice of each chamber of Congress, copy furnished the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a written report on the developments in the implementation of this Act on November 30, 1995, May 31, 1996, November 30, 1996, and May 31, 1997 for purposes of oversight functions.

Section 12 — Perjury.→

Section 12.

Perjury.

- The registration forms, together with the proof required therein, shall be supported by affidavits of two (2) Filipino citizens of good reputation in the applicant's place of residence.

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All applications shall be under oath or affirmation, which oath or affirmation shall be required for their registration. Applicants who violate their oath or affirmation by knowingly making untruthful statements on any material matter in their applications shall be liable for perjury under the Revised Penal Code.

In addition to the penalty imposed on perjury, the subsequent convictions of the applicant shall revoke the legal residence granted him/her and shall subject the applicant to deportation proceedings.

Section 13 — Appropriation.→

Section 13.

Appropriation.

- There is hereby appropriated, out of the payments received under Section 4 hereof, an amount of Five million pesos (P5,000,000) to cover administrative and other expenses to be incurred in the implementation of this Act.

Section 14 — Privacy Clause.→

Section 14.

Privacy Clause.

- Information submitted by an alien applicant pursuant to this Act, shall be used only for the purpose of determining the veracity of the factual statements by the applicant or for enforcing the penalties prescribed by this Act.

Section 15 — Rule-making Powers.→

Section 15.

Rule-making Powers.

- The provisions of this Act are self-executory and shall not be dependent on the issuance of any rules or regulations. The Secretary of Justice is hereby authorized, however, to promulgate only such rules and regulations as may be needed to efficiently and administratively implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 16 — Separability Clause.→

Section 16.

Separability Clause.

- If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 17 — Repealing Clause.→

Section 17.

Repealing Clause.

- All laws, decrees or rules inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 18 — Effectivity Clause.→

Section 18.

Effectivity Clause.

- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.)

EDGARDO J. ANGARA

President of the Senate

(Sgd.)

JOSE DE VENECIA, JR.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 21, 1995.

(Sgd.)

EDGARDO E. TUMANGAN

Secretary of the Senate

(Sgd.)

CAMILO L. SABIO

Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: February 24, 1995

(Sgd.)

FIDEL V. RAMOS

President of the Philippines

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

Full text on BatasKo. Original source: Official Gazette / Lawphil.

Mayroon kang kaibigan o kamag-anak na dayuhan — Chinese-Filipino, Indian-Filipino, o kaya ay ibang nationalidad — na matagal nang naninirahan sa Pilipinas. Nagtataka ka kung paano sila naging legal residents o citizens.

Para sa maraming long-time resident aliens na naninirahan sa Pilipinas bago ang 1992, ang sagot ay RA 7919 — ang Alien Social Integration Act of 1995.

ELI5: Sa simula ng 1990s, maraming dayuhan ang naninirahan sa Pilipinas nang matagal — ilang dekada na — ngunit technically "illegal" ang kanilang status dahil sa expired visas o hindi kumpletong immigration papers. Nilikha ng RA 7919 ang isang "amnesty window" — mula June 1995 hanggang December 1996 — kung saan ang mga dayuhang ito ay maaaring mag-register, magbayad ng integration fees, at makakuha ng legal residence status. Ang mga nakapag-avail ay naging legal residents, at pagkatapos ng 5 taon, maaari silang mag-apply para sa naturalization bilang Filipino citizen.

Real Filipino Scenario: Pamilya Tan ng Cebu City

Si Mr. Tan, isang 60-taong-gulang na Chinese national na naninirahan sa Cebu City simula 1978, ay matagal nang may tindahan at pamilyang Filipino. Ngunit ang kanyang visa ay nag-expire noong 1985 at hindi na niya nairenew.

Nang lumabas ang RA 7919 noong 1995, pumunta si Mr. Tan sa bangko, nagbayad ng ₱100,000 na integration fee (at ₱200,000 kung one-time payment), nag-register sa civil registrar, BIR, Bureau of Immigration, at NBI, at nagsumite ng medical certificate.

Sa loob ng ilang linggo, nakatanggap siya ng Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) mula sa Bureau of Immigration. Legal na siya. Pagkatapos ng 5 taon, nag-apply siya para sa naturalization.

Ano ang Sinasabi ng Batas

Inaprubahan ni Pres. Fidel V. Ramos ang RA 7919 noong February 24, 1995. Ang buong titulo: An Act Granting Legal Residence Status to Certain Aliens Through a Social Integration Program in the Philippines.

Sino ang Saklaw (Section 3)

Ang batas ay sumasaklaw sa mga:

  • Aliens na nakatira sa Pilipinas nang illegal sa ilalim ng existing laws
  • Na pumasok sa bansa bago June 30, 1992
  • Kasama ang mga nag-avail ng Executive Order No. 324 na ang applications ay na-approve bago o pagkatapos ng November 21, 1988

Hindi saklaw: Alien refugees sa Pilipinas.

Integration Requirements at Fees (Section 4)

Para makuha ang legal residence status, dapat makumpleto ng alien ang:

  1. Registration sa: (a) civil register ng kanyang lugar ng tirahan, (b) BIR, (c) Bureau of Immigration, (d) NBI, at (e) accredited commercial bank

  2. Registration forms na naglalaman ng:

    • Full name at isang alias
    • Proof ng identity, good moral character, at financial capacity (sa pamamagitan ng affidavits ng 2 Filipino citizens)
    • History ng pananatili sa Pilipinas
    • Residential address para sa nakaraang 5 taon
    • 4 passport-size pictures at complete fingerprint card
    • Most recent dental records (para sa NBI)

  3. Payment ng integration fees:

    • ₱100,000 sa pag-file + ₱50,000 bawat taon sa loob ng 3 taon (total: ₱250,000)
    • O kaya naman, one-time payment na ₱200,000
    • Para sa asawa: ₱50,000 flat
    • Para sa bawat legitimate na anak na wala pang 18 taong gulang: ₱25,000 bawat isa

  4. Medical certificate na nagpapatunay na:

    • Hindi gumagamit ng prohibited drugs o drug addict
    • Hindi may AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

Legal Residence at Naturalization (Sections 6, 10)

  • Kapag na-issue ang Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) ng Bureau of Immigration, magsisimula na ang legal residence
  • Pagkatapos ng 5 taon mula sa approval ng application, maaari nang mag-apply para sa naturalization (paggiging Filipino citizen)

Privacy at Perjury (Sections 12, 14)

  • Ang impormasyon na isinumite ng alien ay gagamitin lamang para sa verification o enforcement ng batas
  • Ang sinumang nagsumite ng maling impormasyon ay maaaring ma-charge ng perjury
  • Ang perjury conviction ay nagre-revoke ng legal residence at nagbubukas ng deportation proceedings

Ano ang Kahulugan Nito Para sa Iyo Ngayon

Importanteng paalala: Ang application period ng RA 7919 ay June 1, 1995 hanggang December 31, 1996 na lang. Expired na ang window para mag-avail ng bagong applications sa ilalim ng batas na ito.

Ngunit ang batas ay may patuloy na legal effects para sa mga nakapag-avail na nito:

  • Ang mga alien na nakakuha ng legal residence sa ilalim ng RA 7919 ay may valid na legal status
  • Ang kanilang mga anak na ipinanganak pagkatapos ng June 30, 1992 ay nagiging legal residents din "upon proper registration with the Bureau of Immigration" (Section 4.3.1)
  • Ang mga qualifications para sa naturalization (5-year residency) ay nakabatay sa approval date ng kanilang application

Para sa mga ilegal na alien ngayon: Ang RA 7919 ay hindi na applicable. Dapat silang makipag-konsulta sa Bureau of Immigration para sa current legal options — tulad ng regular visa regularization, long-term resident visas, o Section 9(g) special non-immigrant visas.

Ano ang Karaniwang Mali ang Alam ng mga Tao

Mali: "Ang RA 7919 ay nagbibigay ng automatic na citizenship sa mga dayuhan." Tama: Hindi. Ang RA 7919 ay nagbibigay ng legal residence status lamang — hindi citizenship. Para sa naturalization, kailangan pang mag-apply hiwalay pagkatapos ng 5 taon ng legal residence.

Mali: "Ang lahat ng Chinese-Filipino ay nag-avail ng RA 7919." Tama: Ang RA 7919 ay applicable sa lahat ng nationalities — hindi lang Chinese nationals. At maraming Chinese-Filipino ang maaaring may legal immigration status na kahit bago ang 1995. Ang RA 7919 ay para specifically sa mga technically "illegal" na residents na naninirahan na sa bansa nang matagal.

Mali: "Pwede pa rin mag-apply sa ilalim ng RA 7919 ngayon." Tama: Hindi na. Ang application period ay expired na noong December 31, 1996. Para sa mga kasalukuyang immigration issues ng mga dayuhan sa Pilipinas, makipag-ugnayan sa Bureau of Immigration.

Para sa OFWs at Kanilang Pamilya

Ang RA 7919 ay may indirect na relevance para sa ilang OFW families:

Foreign Spouses ng OFWs: Kung ang iyong asawa ay dayuhan na naninirahan sa Pilipinas, ang kanilang immigration status ay important. Bagama't expired na ang RA 7919, ang Bureau of Immigration ay may iba pang mechanisms para sa long-term residence ng foreign spouses ng Filipino citizens.

Mixed-Nationality Families: Kung ang iyong pamilya ay may miyembro na nakapag-avail ng RA 7919 at ngayon ay nag-a-apply para sa naturalization, maaari kang humingi ng legal assistance mula sa isang immigration lawyer o sa PAO.

Long-Time Resident Foreign Relatives: Kung ang isang dayuhan na kamag-anak ay naninirahan sa Pilipinas nang matagal at may uncertain immigration status, dapat silang kumonsulta sa Bureau of Immigration para sa kanilang options.

Bureau of Immigration Contact: Bureau of Immigration, Intramuros, Manila. Hotline: (02) 8465-2400 | immigration.gov.ph

Ano ang Dapat Mong Gawin

  1. Kung ikaw ay nakapag-avail ng RA 7919 at gusto mong mag-naturalize: Siguraduhing kumpleto ang iyong records at ang 5-taon residency requirement ay natutupad na. Makipag-ugnayan sa Bureau of Immigration para sa current naturalization procedures.

  2. Kung ikaw ay isang dayuhan na naninirahan sa Pilipinas nang matagal at may irregular status: Huwag gumamit ng RA 7919 — expired na ito. Makipag-ugnayan sa Bureau of Immigration para sa current regularization options. Isaalang-alang ang pagkuha ng immigration lawyer.

  3. Kung may miyembro ng pamilya na may immigration concerns: Kumonsulta sa Bureau of Immigration o sa isang licensed immigration attorney bago kumilos.

  4. Para sa verification ng RA 7919 records: Makipag-ugnayan sa Bureau of Immigration at sa DSWD para sa records ng mga nakapag-avail ng batas.

  5. Para sa legal advice: Makipag-ugnayan sa PAO sa 1-800-10-PAO-8888 o sa isang private immigration lawyer.

Kaugnay na Batas

Mga Madalas na Tanong (FAQ)

T: Kung ang isang dayuhan ay nakapag-avail ng RA 7919 noong 1996 at ngayon ay 2026 na, pwede pa bang mag-naturalize? S: Oo, posible — basta natutupad ang requirements. Ang RA 7919 ay nagsabi na ang alien ay "eligible to apply for naturalization after five (5) years from the approval of his/her application" (Section 10). Gayunpaman, ang naturalization process ay hiwalay na proseso sa ilalim ng ibang batas. Makipag-ugnayan sa Bureau of Immigration at kumonsulta sa immigration lawyer para sa current procedures.

T: Ang mga anak na ipinanganak sa Pilipinas ng mga alien na nakapag-avail ng RA 7919 — automatic ba silang Filipino? S: Depende sa kung saan sila ipinanganak at kung kailan. Ang batas ay nagsabi na ang mga anak na ipinanganak pagkatapos ng June 30, 1992 ng mga magulang na nakapag-avail ng RA 7919 ay magiging legal residents "upon proper registration with the Bureau of Immigration." Para sa citizenship (hindi lang residence), mas kumplikado ang proseso — kumonsulta sa Bureau of Immigration.

T: Paano nalalaman kung ang isang tao ay nakapag-avail ng RA 7919? S: Ang Bureau of Immigration ang nagtatago ng records ng mga nakapag-avail ng RA 7919. Ang mga compliance reports ay isinumite din sa Congress ayon sa Section 11. Para sa record verification, makipag-ugnayan sa Bureau of Immigration sa Intramuros, Manila.

Mga Pinagkukunan

  • Republic Act No. 7919 (The Alien Social Integration Act of 1995), approved February 24, 1995. Lawphil

Pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang ito. Hindi ito legal advice. Para sa tukoy na legal na tulong, makipag-ugnayan sa Public Attorney's Office (PAO) sa 1-800-10-PAO-8888.

Ni Irvin Abarca & Claude (AI Research Partner) | Published 2026-05-13 | 8 min read

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