Eligibility quiz
Were you born in Taiwan?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
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. You must apply there in person.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Taiwan household registration office serves your city for a citizenship naturalisation application?”
Get your residence card
Get a valid foreign resident card or permanent resident card from the immigration service station for the place where you live. If your card will expire within 30 days when you apply for citizenship, renew it first.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Where is the Taiwan National Immigration Agency service station in your city to get or renew a resident card?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your household registration office.
See required documentsGet the application form
Ask your household registration office to print the citizenship naturalisation application form for you.
Find the application formSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get a Taiwan citizenship naturalisation application form at a household registration office?”
Complete the application form
Check the information on the form, choose a certificate version and sign the form.
See how to completeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete and sign the Taiwan citizenship naturalisation application form?”
Hand in your application
Bring your application and the originals and copies of your documents to your household registration office in person. Pay the NT$1,200 certificate fee using a postal money order payable to the Ministry of the Interior or through e-Bill.
Find application instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a Taiwan citizenship naturalisation application at a household registration office?”
Wait for the decision
The household registration office will send your application on for a decision. Respond if the office asks for more information or documents, and use the citizenship case progress service to follow your application.
Track your applicationCollect your certificate
If your application is approved, the office that accepted it will notify you to collect your citizenship certificate. You become a citizen on the approval date.
Find collection instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I collect my Taiwan citizenship naturalisation certificate from the household registration office?”
Submit loss of nationality
If you have another nationality, submit proof that you have lost it within one year of approval. You may apply for more time if the loss is delayed by legal or administrative limits that Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs verifies; you cannot get permission to settle until you submit the proof.
Find submission instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit proof of loss of nationality after Taiwan citizenship naturalisation?”
Apply for residence
After approval, apply separately for residence in Taiwan. You can then apply for permission to settle.
Find residence applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I apply for Taiwan residence after citizenship naturalisation?”
Apply for settlement
Apply separately for permission to settle in Taiwan. You can then register your household for the first time.
Find settlement applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I apply for settlement in Taiwan after citizenship naturalisation?”
Register your household
Apply for your first household registration in Taiwan. You can then apply for a Taiwan national identity card.
Find registration instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I apply for my first Taiwan household registration after citizenship naturalisation and settlement?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get your birth certificate or another record showing you were born in Taiwan from the hospital or office that issued it. If you are applying because a parent was also born in Taiwan, include their birth or identity record showing their birthplace and your relationship.
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
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