臺北市新住民專區網站英文版Household Laws And Identity

What are the principles for foreign nationals, stateless persons, and their children to adopt Chinese names?

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:33:00 GMT

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.

How does a foreign spouse obtain a national ID card after a divorce?

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:09:00 GMT

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.

(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.

(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.

What is the procedure for new immigrants (foreign spouses) to obtain a national ID card after acquiring a Resident Certificate? What documents should be prepared?

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 09:09:00 GMT

I. The new immigrant must apply for naturalization in accordance with the Nationality Act at the Household Registration Office in their area of residence. The applicant must have legally resided in the territory of the ROC for more than 183 days each year for at least three consecutive years and should prepare the following documents:

(a) Application for Nationality Naturalization

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

(c) One household certificate transcript with marriage registration (the applicant is exempt from providing the household certificate transcript; the Household Registration Office will verify electronically).

(d) Evidential documents as listed in Article 3 of the Standards for Identification of Basic Language Abilities and Common Sense of National Rights and Duties of Naturalized ROC Citizens.

(e) One ID photo (matching the specifications for the new ROC/Taiwan ID card).

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

II. After becoming a naturalized ROC citizen, the applicant can apply for the Resident Certificate from the National Immigration Agency. The applicant can provide a certificate of loss of original nationality within one year from the day of approval of naturalization. Please submit a certificate of loss of original nationality within the prescribed period to avoid revoking the approval of naturalization. However, an application for a deadline extension may be filed in the event of an inability to submit said certificate due to legal or administrative restrictions of their original country as verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

III. After provided a certificate of loss of original nationality and have lived in Taiwan for a certain 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 and the National ID Card are:

(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.

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.

How can new immigrants (foreign nationals or stateless persons) apply for ROC citizenship? And what is the qualification for applying for the ROC national ID card?

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 09:08:00 GMT

I. To apply for naturalization as a citizen of the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the Household Registration Office in your area of residence, you must meet the requirements specified in either Article 3 or Article 4 of the Nationality Act.

(a) Foreign nationals or stateless persons who currently have domicile in the territory of the ROC, and have legally resided in the territory of the ROC for more than 183 days each year for at least three or five consecutive years. Have the capacity to act according to the laws of the ROC and their own state.

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

(d) Possess enough property or professional skills to support themselves or lead a stable life. (applicants who are spouses of ROC citizens or who have acquired an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate are not required to submit the documents).

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

III. After obtaining the Resident Certificate for a certain period (and having provided a certificate of loss of original nationality), 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.

What is the process for foreigners (excluding individuals from Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China) to apply for a national ID card? How long after obtaining a Resident Certificate can one obtain a national ID card? What is the process?

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 09:07:00 GMT

I. First, apply for naturalization in accordance with the Nationality Act at the Household Registration Office in your area of residence. The Household Registration Office will then forward the application to the respective special municipality, county, or city governments, and subsequently to the Ministry of the Interior for approval.

II. The Ministry of the Interior approved for naturalization as a citizen of the Republic of China.

III. Apply for a Resident Certificate at any of the National Immigration Agency service center, and provide a certificate of loss of original nationality within one year from the day of approval of naturalization by the Ministry of the Interior. Please submit a certificate of loss of original nationality within the prescribed period to avoid revoking the approval of naturalization. However, an application for a deadline extension may be filed in the event of an inability to submit said certificate due to legal or administrative restrictions of their original country as verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

IV. After submitting a certificate of loss of original nationality, the applicant must reside in Taiwan for a certain period as stipulated by the Immigration Act. This period can be met by living in Taiwan for 1 year following the approval of the Resident Certificate, residing in Taiwan for at least 270 days each year over 2 consecutive years, or accumulating at least 183 days of residence in Taiwan each year for 5 consecutive years. Following these residency requirements, the applicant can then apply for a Permanent Resident Certificate at any National Immigration Agency service center.

V. 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.

If a foreign national marries and comes to Taiwan or works in Taiwan for a long period and wishes to apply for a Republic of China (Taiwan) ID card, what documents do they need to prepare for the application?

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 09:06:00 GMT

If a foreign national wishes to apply for a Republic of China (Taiwan) ID card, they must reside legally in Taiwan for a continuous period of either 3 or 5 years, spending more than 183 days in the country each year.

The application process is as follows:

I. First, apply for naturalization in accordance with the Nationality Act at the Household Registration Office in your area of residence, and prepare the following documents:

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

(b) A criminal record report issued by the police or other equivalent certificates issued by the government of the applicant’s country of origin. (naturalization applicants who are the spouse of an ROC national whose reason for residence as recorded on the Alien Resident Certificate is to reside with relatives, need not submit a criminal record; applicants who were previously spouses of citizens of the Republic of China and have no record of leaving the country after the dissolution of the marriage).

(c) Documents proving sufficient property or professional skills to be self-reliant, or have a secure livelihood (applicants who are spouses of ROC citizens or who have acquired an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate are not required to submit the documents).

(d) Evidential documents as listed in Article 3 of the Standards for Identification of Basic Language Abilities and Common Sense of National Rights and Duties of Naturalized ROC Citizens.

(e) One ID photo (matching the specifications for the new ROC/Taiwan ID card).

(f) NT$1,200 application fee. Applicants can pay the fee by postal money order to the recipient: Ministry of the Interior. The fee can also be paid digitally through the FISC's "e-Bill National Payment Network" or by using the "e-Bill National Payment Network App" on a mobile device with a digital debit 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.