臺北市新住民專區網站英文版

I. The process for adopting a Chinese name should be conducted in accordance with the resolutions from the meeting on 'Issues Related to the Use of Chinese Names by Taiwanese Nationals and Foreign Nationals,' held on January 30, 2012.

II. As the number of foreign nationals and stateless persons marrying Taiwanese nationals or naturalizing as Taiwanese nationals increases each year, and in order to respect different cultures while considering local customs, the policy has been relaxed. This allows foreign nationals, stateless persons, and their children who are marrying Taiwanese nationals or applying for naturalization to adopt Chinese names during household registration. This is to be done under the following principles:

A. When applying for household registration, foreign nationals and stateless persons who are married to Taiwanese nationals, or are applying for naturalization, should adopt Chinese names. Their children should adopt Chinese names as well.

B. The Chinese names adopted by foreign nationals, stateless persons, and their children should conform to the naming conventions of Taiwanese nationals, where the family name precedes the given name. If there is no family name, only the given name is registered. The Chinese name can be the original Chinese name or transliterated from a foreign language, and must use characters specified in the Name Act. Creation of new characters for names is not allowed. Additionally, there should be no use of periods, commas, or spaces to separate the family and given names.

C. Foreign nationals, stateless persons, and their children who wish to take on a last name, or make any changes to their last name, first name, or full name, should do so in accordance with the Civil Code and the Name Act.

D. Foreign nationals, stateless persons, and their children who have already adopted Chinese names may apply to change their Chinese names once.

III. Administrative agencies should adopt a consistent approach towards foreign nationals and stateless persons adopting Chinese names. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, National Immigration Agency, and the Department of Household Registration should refer to the aforementioned principles when handling visa applications, alien resident certificates, household registration, or naturalization applications that involve the adoption of Chinese names.