Eligibility quiz
Were you adopted by someone who is now a citizen of Taiwan?
Benefits
Benefits for your childBenefits for your child
Taiwanese passport and ID
Taiwanese citizens can hold a passport for international travel that also proves their citizenship.
An ordinary passport is valid for up to 10 years and is not renewed automatically.
A passport can allow visa-free travel or a visa on arrival in certain countries, with conditions and lengths of stay set by each destination.
Citizens whose household is registered in Taiwan can also get a national ID card.
Live in Taiwan for life
Taiwanese citizenship has no normal expiry date and does not need to be renewed.
Citizens with a registered household have an enduring right to live in Taiwan.
Citizens without household registration may need to complete an entry and residence process before they can register a household and get the full domestic ID-card package.
Taiwanese citizens can enter and leave Taiwan as citizens, rather than as immigrants with a residence permit.
Study in Taiwan
Taiwanese citizens can study in Taiwan without a foreign student visa or residence card.
Admission to a university depends on its education rules.
Work in Taiwan
Taiwanese citizens can work in Taiwan without a foreign-worker permit or residence card.
Citizenship does not guarantee a job.
Get help abroad
Taiwanese citizens can receive help from Taiwan's overseas offices, including emergency assistance and passport services.
Vote and run for office
Taiwanese citizens can vote from age 20 if they meet the residence and registration rules.
These generally require four months for local public-office elections and six months for presidential and vice-presidential elections.
Citizens also have rights to take part in removing elected officials, proposing measures and voting on public questions, with separate age and residence rules for public votes.
Citizens can in principle take public examinations and hold public office, subject to the relevant qualifications.
Use public healthcare
Taiwanese citizens can use National Health Insurance when they meet its eligibility rules.
A citizen with household registration generally joins after six months' residence, but someone employed in Taiwan does not have to wait.
A Taiwanese citizen baby born in Taiwan is covered from birth.
Insurance payments and charges for care apply.
Get social support
Taiwanese citizens can use social insurance and assistance on the same basis as other eligible citizens, including the National Pension and certain welfare payments.
Eligibility often depends on household registration, age, work, income, disability, family status and residence.
How to apply
Applying at a local officeApplying at a local office
Find your local office
Find the household registration office for the place where you live in Taiwan. Your legal representative will apply there for you.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Taiwan household registration office serves your city for minor child naturalization?”
Get the application form
Your legal representative can ask your household registration office for the naturalization application form and the checklist for an unmarried minor with a Taiwanese parent. The office prints the form for your application.
Find the formSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get the Taiwan minor child naturalization application form for an adopted child?”
Fill in the form
Your legal representative completes and signs the form for you. Both parents sign if they share parental authority; all guardians sign where applicable.
See how to completeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a legal representative complete and sign the Taiwan minor child naturalization application form?”
Gather your documents
Your legal representative should prepare the documents required by your household registration office.
See required documentsHand in your application
Your legal representative brings your completed application and documents in person to the household registration office for the place where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How does a legal representative file a Taiwan minor child naturalization application at the household registration office in your city?”
Pay the certificate fee
Your legal representative pays the NT$1,200 naturalization certificate fee online or by postal money order payable to the Ministry of the Interior.
Find payment optionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Taiwan minor child naturalization certificate fee online or by postal money order?”
Wait for the decision
Your legal representative should respond to any requests to correct the application or provide more documents. The household registration office sends your application for review and a decision.
See what happensSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens after I file a Taiwan minor child naturalization application?”
Receive your citizenship certificate
After approval, your legal representative receives your naturalization permission certificate. It confirms that you have become a Taiwanese citizen.
Learn about the certificateSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a child receive a Taiwan minor child naturalization permission certificate after approval?”
Get your residence document
Your legal representative applies for your Taiwan-area residence document after your naturalization is approved. This is part of the process toward your first household registration.
Find residence informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a child get a Taiwan-area residence document after minor child naturalization?”
Provide loss of nationality
If you have another nationality, your legal representative must follow the rules for giving it up and submit proof that you have lost it.
Find loss requirementsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a child provide proof of loss of original nationality after Taiwan minor child naturalization?”
Arrange your settlement
Your legal representative applies for your settlement residence after the naturalization and residence steps. This is the next step toward your first household registration.
Find settlement informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a child apply for settlement residence after Taiwan minor child naturalization?”
Register your household
Your legal representative applies for your first household registration after completing the residence and settlement steps. Household registration lets you move on to getting a Taiwanese national ID card.
Find registration informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a child apply for first household registration after Taiwan minor child naturalization?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Adoption documents
Bring the court adoption ruling that shows your relationship to your Taiwanese adoptive parent. Also bring the certificate confirming that the ruling is final.
Parent's citizenship records
Bring proof that your adoptive parent is a Taiwanese citizen. This can be their identity or nationality document; the office may also check their household registration record.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Household registration abroad
After two years abroad, your household registration can be moved out of Taiwan.
This can affect voting, health insurance, the National Pension and other benefits, but it does not end your citizenship.
You may need to return and restore your registration to regain access.
Military service for men
Men of military service age may have to serve in the military, depending on household registration, overseas status and time spent in Taiwan.
A man who becomes a citizen through naturalization becomes subject to service one year after the day following his first household registration.
A man with overseas status can become subject after the specified 183-day return or registration threshold.
Women are not generally required to serve.
Limits on public office
A person who becomes a citizen through naturalization cannot hold certain senior or elected offices for 10 years after becoming a citizen.
A citizen who also holds another citizenship generally cannot hold public offices with nationality restrictions unless they give up that other citizenship as required.
Citizenship can be revoked
Approval of naturalization can be taken back if the requirements were not met.
It must also be taken back if required proof of giving up the original citizenship is not supplied within the legal period, unless an exception applies.
There is normally a time limit for correcting or taking back approval.
That limit does not protect a person when a final court finding says a marriage or adoption was faked to obtain naturalization.
Giving up citizenship
An adult who voluntarily acquires another citizenship can apply to give up Taiwanese citizenship, but needs permission from the Ministry of the Interior.
Permission is barred in certain cases, including an unfulfilled military duty, active military service, public office, unresolved legal proceedings or enforcement, and unpaid taxes.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Foreigners in Taipei&Taiwan/外國人在台北&台灣《生活Live&Life/資訊Information/工作Jobs》
Facebook group for people living in Taiwan interested in Taiwanese local life (English & Chinese)
Join on FacebookForeigners In Taiwan
Facebook group for people living in Taiwan interested in Taiwanese local life (English & Chinese)
Join on Facebook外國人在台北&台灣/Foreigners in Taipei&Taiwan《生活Live&Life/資訊Information/工作Jobs》
Facebook group for people living in Taiwan interested in Taiwanese local life (English & Chinese)
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
Adavia doesn't provide advice, but we're building a directory of professionals who do. If you'd like, we can notify you when help is available.
Updated