Eligibility quiz
Are you married to a citizen of 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. This is where you apply in person.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Taiwan household registration office in your city handles my naturalization application as the spouse of a Taiwanese citizen?”
Extend your residence
If your Alien Resident Certificate or Alien Permanent Resident Certificate expires within 30 days, extend your residence period at the immigration service centre for your area before applying.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Where is the Taiwan National Immigration Agency service centre in your city for extending an Alien Resident Certificate before naturalization?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the household registration office.
See required documentsTake the naturalization test
If you are using the test to meet the language and civics requirement, apply at a household registration office or your local government and bring your valid residence certificate. Take the test and obtain your pass certificate.
Find test applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I apply for the Taiwan naturalization test as the spouse of a Taiwanese citizen?”
Book an appointment
You can book an appointment online at your household registration office if you wish. Booking is optional and does not submit your application.
Book an appointmentSign your application
At the household registration office, check and sign the naturalization application that the office prints for you.
See how to applySearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I sign the Taiwan naturalization application as the spouse of a Taiwanese citizen?”
Hand in your application
Hand in your signed application and required documents in person at the household registration office for where you live. Pay the NT$1,200 fee by postal money order payable to the Ministry of the Interior, or use the online nationality-fee method where the office accepts it.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Where do I submit a Taiwan naturalization application as the spouse of a Taiwanese citizen at the household registration office in your city?”
Wait for the decision
The office will send your application through the local government to the Ministry of the Interior for a decision. You can check its progress online and respond if the office asks for more information.
Check your applicationSubmit loss of nationality
After approval, submit proof that you have lost your former nationality within one year, unless an exception applies. This does not apply if you have no former nationality.
Find submission instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit proof of loss of former nationality after Taiwan naturalization as the spouse of a Taiwanese citizen?”
Complete your registration
After approval, complete the separate residence and household registration steps. Household registration lets you apply for a Taiwanese identity card.
Find registration stepsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete residence and household registration after Taiwan naturalization as the spouse of a Taiwanese citizen?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Marriage certificate *
Get the certificate of your marriage to your Taiwanese spouse from the office that issued it.
* Only if your Taiwanese spouse has no household registration in Taiwan or your marriage is not registered in Taiwan.
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
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