Eligibility quiz
Was your mother a citizen of Taiwan when you were born?
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 a local office
Find a household registration office in Taiwan where you can apply for an ROC Nationality Certificate.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Where is a Taiwan household registration office for an ROC Nationality Certificate application near your city?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the household registration office.
See required documentsGet the application form
Ask the household registration office to print the ROC Nationality Certificate application form for you.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get an ROC Nationality Certificate application form at a Taiwan household registration office in your city?”
Fill in the form
Check and sign the form. If the application is for your child, you apply as their legal representative.
Get help with the formSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete a Taiwan ROC Nationality Certificate application form at a household registration office?”
Hand in your application
Bring the signed form and required documents to the household registration office in person; if applying for your child, go as their legal representative. Pay NT$1,000 for one certificate, for example by postal money order payable to the Ministry of the Interior.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit an ROC Nationality Certificate application at a Taiwan household registration office in your city?”
Wait for the decision
Track your application online and respond if the office asks for more information or documents. You can search by name or passport number if you do not have a Taiwan ID number.
Track your applicationCollect your certificate
After approval, go to the selected office within 30 days of its notice with the signed form, original documents, matching photo and any unpaid fee; if applying for your child, bring the required representative documents too. The office will check your identity and give you the certificate, which you can use to prove ROC nationality.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I collect an ROC Nationality Certificate from a Taiwan household registration office in your city?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificate *
Provide your birth certificate showing your parent-child relationship. If you were born outside marriage and are applying through your Taiwanese father, include the record of his legal acknowledgement of you.
* Only if you use your parent's citizenship to prove your own or need to show your relationship to your legal representative.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationMarriage certificate *
Provide your parents' marriage certificate or record. Get it from the office that issued it.
* Only if your office asks for a marriage record to establish your parent-child relationship.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationParent's citizenship records *
Provide your Taiwanese parent's original citizenship evidence, such as a Taiwan national ID card, household registration record, valid Taiwan passport, citizenship certificate, Taiwan Area Resident Certificate or naturalisation certificate. An overseas compatriot identity certificate may also be accepted, but not if it was issued only on the basis of Chinese ancestry. The evidence must show that your parent was a citizen when you were born, or when they died if they died before you were born.
* Only if you use your parent's citizenship to prove your own.
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
r/TaiwaneseBornAbroad
English Reddit group for people interested in Taiwanese citizenship and visas
Join on RedditForeigners 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 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