Eligibility quiz
Is one of your parents, including a parent who adopted you, a citizen of Taiwan now?
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 your child’s address in Taiwan. You will apply there as your child’s legal representative.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Taiwan household-registration office in your city handles minor child naturalization?”
Download the application form
Download the naturalization application form for your child. You can also ask the household-registration office to print it for you.
Download the formFill in the form
Fill in the form for your child, including the Chinese-name information and certificate version it asks for. Both parents sign if they share legal responsibility for the child; otherwise, the parent with sole legal responsibility signs.
See how to completeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Taiwan minor child naturalization application form as a legal representative?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the documents required for your child’s application at the household-registration office.
See required documentsPay the fee online
Pay the NT$1,200 certificate fee for your child through the domestic online payment service and keep evidence of payment. You can instead pay by postal money order payable to the Ministry of the Interior.
Pay the feeBook an appointment
You can book a visit to your household-registration office online for your child’s application. Booking is optional and does not submit the application.
Book an appointmentHand in the application
Go in person as your child’s legal representative to the household-registration office for your child’s address. Bring the completed form, required documents, photograph and evidence of payment.
Find application instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I hand in a Taiwan minor child naturalization application at a household-registration office?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the decision on your child’s application and respond by the stated deadline if the office asks you to correct anything. You can check the case’s progress online.
Check case progressReceive the approval certificate
If your child’s application is approved, the Ministry of the Interior issues a naturalization approval certificate, and your child becomes a Taiwanese citizen on the approval date. You can then pursue the separate household-registration process for your child.
See what happens nextSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens after a Taiwan minor child naturalization application is approved?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificate
Bring your birth certificate or another document showing your identity and your relationship to your Taiwanese parent. If you were adopted, bring the adoption decision. A court judgment establishing the relationship can also be used with a certificate showing it is final.
Parent's citizenship records *
Bring proof that your parent or adoptive parent is currently a Taiwanese citizen. A Taiwan household registration record may show this.
* Only if your parent's citizenship cannot be checked in Taiwan's household registration records.
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
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