Citizenship via citizen child (Three-year naturalization)Citizenship via citizen child (Three-year naturalization)
Eligibility quiz
Do you have a child who is a citizen of Taiwan and cannot make all legal decisions alone?
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.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Taiwan household-registration office serves your city for a naturalization application?”
Get your residence card
Get a valid residence card or permanent residence card from the immigration service station for the place where you live. If your card expires within 30 days, extend it before applying.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Taiwan National Immigration Agency service station serves your city for a residence card application or extension?”
Take the naturalization test
If you need the test to meet the language and civic-knowledge requirement, apply to take it through a listed local government or household-registration office.
Find naturalization test informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I apply to take the Taiwan naturalization test?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the household-registration office.
See required documentsGet the application form
Download the naturalization application form, or ask the household-registration office to print it for you.
Download the formFill in the form
Check the information on the form, choose the certificate language and provide a Chinese name with the surname first. Sign or seal the form.
Find form instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in and sign the Taiwan naturalization application form?”
Pay the fee online
Pay the NT$1,200 certificate fee through the e-Bill service and keep the payment details. You can instead pay with a postal money order payable to Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior.
Find the payment serviceSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Taiwan naturalization certificate fee through e-Bill?”
Book an appointment
If you want to reserve a visit, book an appointment with your household-registration office online. Booking does not submit your application.
Book an appointmentHand in your application
Go in person to the household-registration office for the place where you live and hand in your signed form and required documents. Give the office your payment details or postal money order.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Where do I hand in a Taiwan naturalization application at the household-registration office in your city?”
Wait for the decision
Respond if the office asks you to correct something or provide more information. You can check your application’s progress online using your residence card number or the other details requested.
Check your applicationReceive your certificate
After approval, follow the issuing office’s notice to receive your naturalization certificate and complete any further steps it requires. You can then move on to any required residence or household-registration steps; approval alone does not register you in a household.
Find certificate instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I receive my Taiwan naturalization certificate after approval?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Child support or contact *
Bring evidence that you support your Taiwanese child, exercise parental rights and duties, or personally meet and spend time with your child. This could be a statement from the person exercising parental rights, a social welfare institution certificate, a court order allowing visits, or evidence that you applied for a court to enforce the delivery of your child or visits. Bring the original or an officially accepted copy.
* Only if your rights and duties concerning your child are not already recorded in Taiwan's household registration system.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
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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