臺北市新住民專區網站英文版

After a divorce, a foreign spouse residing in Taiwan as a dependent loses their original reason for residence. In principle, they are not permitted to continue residing in Taiwan, nor can they naturalize to obtain a national ID card. However, under special circumstances, such as having the responsibility to support a child, exercising rights and assuming obligations for a child, having visitation rights to a child, or being the guardian or assistant of a child who either lacks the capacity or has limited capacity to make juridical acts and is a national of the Republic of China (Taiwan), they may apply to the National Immigration Agency for continued residence in Taiwan under new grounds. For example, after a divorce, if a foreign spouse has custody rights to a child, visitation rights to a child, or the responsibility to support a child who is a national of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and has no capacity or limited capacity to make juridical acts, and wishes to apply for a national ID card, they must first apply for naturalization in accordance with the Nationality Act at the Household Registration Office in their area of residence. They also need to provide a certificate of loss of original nationality within one year from the date they are accepted into the naturalization process. If the certificate of loss of original nationality is not provided within the prescribed period, the approval for naturalization will be revoked. However, in cases where the certificate cannot be submitted due to legal or administrative restrictions in the original country, as verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an application for an extension of the deadline may be filed.

I. To apply for naturalization as a citizen of the Republic of China (Taiwan), you must meet the following requirements:

(a) Have legally resided in the territory of the ROC for more than 183 days each year for at least three consecutive years.

(b) Have the capacity to act according to the laws of the ROC and their own state.

(c) Have no bad conduct or criminal records as certified by the Police Clearance Certificate.

(d) Have sufficient property or professional skills to be self-reliant, or have a secure livelihood.

(e) Possess basic language abilities and general knowledge of the rights and duties of ROC citizens.

II. To apply for naturalization, fill out an application form and provide the following documents:

(a) Documents proving sufficient property or professional skills to be self-reliant, or have a secure livelihood.

(b) Evidential documents proving the applicant possess basic language abilities and general knowledge of the rights and duties of naturalized ROC citizens.

(c) A valid Alien Resident Certificate or Alien Permanent Resident Certificate.

(d) A criminal record report issued by the police of the applicant’s country of origin. (If the foreign spouse has originally applied for residence as the spouse of an ROC national and provided a criminal record report from their country of origin, and if they have no record of leaving Taiwan from the time of the divorce until the application, they may be exempted from submitting a new criminal record report.)

(e) One color photograph or digital photo taken within the last 2 years that complies with the National ID card photo specifications. The full name of the applicant should be written on the back of the photo.

(f) NT$1,200 application fee. Applicants can pay the fee by postal money order to the recipient: Ministry of the Interior.

III. After becoming a naturalized ROC citizen, the applicant can apply for the Resident Certificate from the National Immigration Agency. The applicant should provide a certificate of loss of original nationality within one year from the day of approval of naturalization. After the applicant have lived in Taiwan for a prescribed period, the applicant can then proceed to apply for the Permanent Resident Certificate from the National Immigration Agency. Once the Permanent Resident Certificate is obtained, the applicant can apply for initial household registration and their first National ID card at the Household Registration Office.

IV. Documents required for the application of initial household registration are:

(a) Household Certificate (not required for those who establish a household separately, but they must provide proof of property ownership or other relevant documents related to moving into a separate household).

(b) One color photograph or digital photo (taken within the last 2 years that complies with the National ID card photo specifications; photo specifications can be checked on the Department of Household Registration website at http://www.ris.gov.tw/).

(c) There is a NT$30 fee for the initial (or replacement) issuance of the Household Certificate; There is a NT$50 fee for the first-time issuance of the National ID Card.

◎If you want to learn more about the documents required for applying for naturalization, you can visit the website of the Department of Household Registration. From the homepage, go to 'Related Law and Regulations' > 'Naturalization Application Information' > List of Documents as Required for Application for Nationality Alteration.

◎ Documents issued overseas must be authenticated by a Taiwan overseas mission and then re-verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Documents issued in Taiwan by foreign embassies or authorized institutions should also be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the documents are in a foreign language, they must be accompanied by a Traditional Chinese translation, which should either be authenticated by a Taiwan overseas mission and re-verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or notarized by a notary public in Taiwan.

◎ For the documents required for the application of a Resident Certificate and Permanent Resident Certificate, please contact the National Immigration Agency service center in your area.