HOUSEHOLD REGISTRATION LAW

Prescribed and promulgated by National Government on December 12, 1931; full text, 132 articles
Article 17, and Article 23 to Article 25 revised by National Government on March 31, 1934
Revised by National Government on January 3, 1946; full text, 61 articles
Article 17 and Article 18 amended by Order of President on December 18, 1954
Revised by Order of President, No. Tai-Tung (1)-Yi 3206, on July 17, 1973; full text, 71 articles
Revised by Order of President, No. Hua-Tsung (1)-Yi 3129, on June 29, 1992
Revised by Order of President, No. Hua-Tsung (1)-Yi 8600116250, on May 21, 1997; full text, 61 articles
Revised by Order of President, No. Hua-Tsung -1-Yi 8900166150, on July 5,2000

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1　The household registration for the nationals of
　　　　　 the Republic of China (ROC) shall be implemented
　　 　　　in accordance with this law.

Article 2　The competent authorities in charge of the administration
　　　　　 of household registration are the Ministry of the Interior
　　　　　 in the Central Government, the municipal governments in
　　　　　 special municipalities, and the county(city) governments
　　　　　 in counties(cities).
Article 3　The household registration shall be made on household basis.
　　　　　 All members living together in a family or a place under the
　　　　　 same managing person, or engaging in common businesses shall
　　　　　 belong to one household, with the head of family or the
　　　　　 managing person as the head of the household. Who lives
　　　　　 independently may constitute a household with himself/herself
　　　　　 as the head of the household.
Article 4　Household registration used herein shall mean the following
　　　　　 registrations:
　　　　　　1.Registrations of personal status:
　　　　　　　Birth Registration
　　　　　　　Identified Adoption Registration
　　　　　　　Acknowledgement registration
　　　　　　　Marriage and Divorce Registrations
　　　　　　　Guardianship Registration
　　　　　　　Death and Death Announcement Registrations
　　　　　　2.Registrations of movement:
　　　　　　　Moving-in Registration
　　　　　　　Moving- out Registration
　　　　　　　Address Alteration Registration
　　　　　　Who does not have domicile in this country but is approved to
　　　　　　reside or register the domicile shall make the Initial household
　　　　　　Registration.
Article 5　The special municipal and the county (city) governments shall
　　　　　 establish census offices to deal with the household registrations
　　　　　 in the area under individual office’s jurisdiction; the offices
　　　　　 shall be established based on a hsiang (town, city, district).
　　　　　 However, in the jurisdictional area, which is broad with a
　　　　　 population of 300,000 and over, additional census office(s) may be
　　　　　 established, of which the jurisdictional area shall be the household
　　　　　 registration area.
Article 6　Any information of household registration shall not be carried out
　　　　　 of the places where they are kept, except for avoiding natural
　　　　　 disasters and accidents, census, or approved by the chief of the office.
　　　　　 the Ministry of the Interior shall stipulate the form and the
　　　　　 retention period of the information mentioned in the previous
　　　　　 paragraph.
Article 7　In the areas where the household registrations have been processed,
　　　　　 the citizen’s identification card and extract of household registration
　　　　　 shall be issued. In case the citizen’s identification card and extract
　　　　　 of household registration have not been issued, the household registration
　　　　　 certificate duplicate may be issued as the substitute.
　　　　　 The Ministry of the Interior shall stipulate the forms of citizen’s
　　　　　 identification card and extract of household registration.
Article 8　The nationals who have reached the age of fourteen (14) shall apply for
　　　　　 citizen’s identification Cards; and who are under the age of fourteen
　　　　　 (14) may apply for citizen’s identification cards.
　　　　　 Any national who applies for citizen’s identification card pursuant to the
　　　　　 previous paragraph shall affix his/her fingerprint, which shall be recorded
　　　　 　and retained. However, any national of less than the age of fourteen (14)
　　　　　 may not affix his/her fingerprint; however, affixing of fingerprint shall be
　　　　　 required, and recorded and retained when he/she reaches the age of fourteen (14).
　　　　　 No citizen’s identification cards shall be issued if the application for it
　　　　　 is not made by affixing the fingerprints pursuant to the previous paragraph.
Article 9　A person himself/herself or the interested persons may apply for reading the
　　　　　 information of the household registration or ask for the household registration
　　　　　 certificate duplicate. In case the applicant is unable to make the application
　　　　　 personally, he/she may entrust other person to make with a letter of authorization.
Article 10　Any domicile information required for every authority shall be based on that
　　　　　　registered in the household registration.
　　　　　　The information mentioned in the previous paragraph shall be provided by census
　　　　　　offices, for which a proper fee may be charged.
Article 11　In the need of the census authority to verify the items of the household
　　　　　　registration, relevant authorities, schools, organizations or persons shall
　　　　　　provide required information accordingly.
Article 12　Nationals who apply to the census authorities for reading the information of
　　　　　　the household registration and for household registration certificate
　　　　　　duplicates, citizen’s identification cards and extract of household
　　　　　　registration pursuant to the present Law shall pay fees, of which the
　　　　　　criteria shall be stipulated by the Ministry of the Interior..
Article 13　The place of birth of the ROC national who applies for Initial Household
　　　　　　Registration shall be subject to the following requirements:
　　　　　　1. For the application of household registration, the place of birth shall
　　　　　　　 be the province (city) or the county (city) where the national was born.
　　　　　　2. For an abandoned and helpless child whose birthplace is unknown, the place
　　　　　　　 of birth shall be the place where he/she was found.
　　　　　　3. For a child who was born on a ship or an airplane thus it is unable to
　　　　　　　 define the birthplace, the place of birth shall be the place where such
　　　　　　　 ship or airplane parks (stations) after the birth of the child.
　　　　　　4. For a child whose birthplace is unknown but is accommodated and reared in
　　　　　　　 a children welfare organization, the place of birth shall be the place where
　　　　　　　 such organization is located.
　　　　　　5. For a child who was born in a foreign country or area, the place of birth
　　　　　　　 shall be the country or area to which the birthplace where he/she was born
　　　　　　　 belongs.
　　　　　　6. As stipulated in Item 5, if the birthplace is unknown, the place of birth
　　　　　　　 shall be the place where he/she resides.

Chapter 2 Categories of Registrations

Article 14　Any birth shall be subject to the birth registration, and the same shall
　　　　　　also apply to any abandoned or helpless child without household registration.
Article 15　Any acknowledgement shall be subject to the acknowledgement registration.
Article 16　Any adoption shall be subject to the adoption registration. Any termination
　　　　　　of adoption shall be subject to the Adoption termination registration.
Article 17　Any marriage shall be subject to the marriage registration. Any divorce shall
　　　　　　be subject to the divorce registration.
Article 18　Any guardianship shall be subject to the guardianship registration.
Article 19　Any death or announcement of death shall be subject to the death registration
　　　　　　or death announcement registration.
Article 20　Moving out of the jurisdictional area for three months and up shall be subject
　　　　　　to the Moving-out Registration, except the movement is made owing to military
　　　　　　service, schooling within the country, putting into jail and working on a ROC
　　　　　　oceangoing fishing ship.
　　　　　　Duration of departure from ROC for two years and up shall be subject to the
　　　　　　Moving-out Registration.
Article 21　Moving in from other jurisdictional domiciliary areas for three months and up
　　　　　　shall be subject to the Moving-in Registration.
　　　　　　When a person having domicile originally, who moved out to a foreign country,
　　　　　　enters ROC territory with a foreign passport, may not apply for the Moving-in
　　　　　　Registration.
Article 22　Any address alteration made within the same domiciliary area of jurisdiction
　　　　　　shall be subject to the Address Alteration Registration.

Chapter 3 Alteration, Correction, Revocation and Deletion of Registrations

Article 23　Any alteration of items of the household registration shall be subject to
　　　　　　the Alteration Registration.
Article 24　Any error or omission of items of the household registration shall be subject
　　　　　　to the Correction Registration.
Article 25　Any item of the household registration that does not exist from the beginning
　　　　　　or is invalid from the beginning shall be subject to the Revocation Registration.
Article 26　Any item of the household registration that does not exist afterward shall be
　　　　　　subject to the Deletion Registration, which shall also apply to the person who
　　　　　　loses ROC nationality.
Article 27　In case a litigation occurs after registration, the application for Alteration,
　　　　　　Correction, Revocation or Deletion Registration shall be made only after a
　　　　　　decision is ascertained, or a reconciliation or mediation is arrived.

Chapter 4 Applications for Registration

Article 28 The application of household register shall be filed with the registry office
　　　　　　where the applicant’s permanent residence is located, except for the following:
　　　　　　1.For relocation register, the applicant must apply with the registry office
　　　　　　　where he or she is to immigrate.
　　　　　　2.For register of an item announced and assigned by the Interior Ministry, the
　　　　　　　applicant shall apply with the registry office outside of the registry office
　　　　　　　where his or her permanent residence is located.

Article 29 For a register application, the applicant shall apply with the registry office in
　　　　　　written or oral form or through the Internet.
　　　　　　For items of register applied for through the Internet in accordance with the
　　　　　　previous regulation, the announcement and assignment are made by the Interior
　　　　　　Ministry.

Article 30　The application form for registration shall be signed or affixed with chop by
　　　　　　the applicant. If the application is made verbally, the census office shall
　　　　　　fill out the application form for the applicant, and shall read to the
　　　　　　applicant, then ask him/her to sign or affix chop.
Article 31　The applicant of Birth Registration shall be the parents, grandparents, head
　　　　　　of family, cohabitant or rearer.
　　　　　　For the abandoned or helpless child, the applicant of Birth Registration
　　　　　　mentioned in the previous paragraph may be the children welfare organization.
Article 32　The applicant of acknowledgement registration shall be the recognizer. In case
　　　　　　the recognizer does not make the application, the recognized one may be the
　　　　　　applicant.
Article 33　Te applicant of Adoption Registration may be the adopter or the adoptee.
Article 34　The applicant of Adoption Termination Registration shall be the adopter. In
　　　　　　case the adopter does not or can not make the application, the adoptee may
　　　　　　be the applicant.
Article 35　The applicant of Marriage Registration shall be one of the parties concerned.
Article 36　The applicant of divorce registration shall be both parties concerned. However,
　　　　　　for the divorce that is sentenced by court, the applicant may be one of the
　　　　　　parties concerned.
Article 37　The applicant of guardianship registration shall be the guardian.
Article 38　The applicant of death registration shall be the spouse, relative, head of
　　　　　　family, cohabitant, the person handling burying, or the managing person of
　　　　　　house or land of the dead when he/she died.
Article 39　In the case of execution or death in jail, detention house or other shelters,
　　　　　　and no one claims the dead, the jail, detention house or shelter shall notify
　　　　　　the census office in the place where the domicile of the dead was to make the
　　　　　　Death Registration.
Article 40　In case of death due to disasters or the dead being unidentifiable, or
　　　　　　investigated and verified by police department but no one claims the dead,
　　　　　　the police department shall notify the census office in the place where the
　　　　　　domicile of the dead was to make the Death Registration.
Article 41　The applicant of death announcement registration shall be the person applying
　　　　　　for the announcement or the interested person.
Article 42　The applicant of registration of movement shall be the person himself/herself
　　　　　　or the head of family. However, for the person departing from the country, who
　　　　　　shall be subject to the Moving-out Registration pursuant to the second paragraph
　　　　　　of Article 20, the census office in the place where the person’s domicile is
　　　　　　may proceed with the Moving-out Registration at its discretion.
Article 43　The applicant of Initial Household Registration shall be the person
　　　　　　himself/herself or the head of family.
Article 44　After the cases for household registrations occur or are ascertained, but no
　　　　　　applicants are available for those cases stated in Article 31 to 35, the proviso
　　　　　　of Article 36, Article 38, Article 42 and Article 43, the interested persons may
　　　　　　act as the applicants.
Article 45　The applicant of Alteration, Correction, Revocation or Deletion Registration
　　　　　　shall be the person himself/herself, the original applicant or interested person.
Article 46　In case the applicant can not make application personally, he/she may entrust some
　　　　　　other person in writing to make such application.
　　　　　　Except that there are due reasons which are approved by the census office, the
　　　　　　provision set forth in the previous paragraph does not apply to the registrations
　　　　　　of acknowledgement, termination of adoption, marriage or the divorce agreed by both
　　　　　　parties concerned.
Article 47　The applications of household registrations should be made within thirty (30) days
　　　　　　after the cases concerned occur or are ascertained; however, the census office
　　　　　　should still accept the overdue applications.
　　　　　　When the census office finds overdue applications that are not made within the
　　　　　　statutory time limit, it shall notify in writing the persons who shall make the
　　　　　　applications.
　　　　　　In case no applications are made for the registrations of movement, birth, death,
　　　　　　correction,
　　　　　　revocation and deletion after notification, the census office may process the
　　　　　　registrations at its discretion.
　　　　　　In case the whole household removes out of its domicile place without making
　　　　　　Moving-out
　　　　　　Registration within the statutory time limit so that the notification is unable
　　　　　　to be made, the
　　　　　　census office may process the Moving-out Registration straightly pursuant to the
　　　　　　application made by the house owner or local government.
　　　　　　In case the house owner or local government mentioned in the prior paragraph does
　　　　　　not make the application, the census office may process the registration directly.

Chapter 5 Census and Population Statistics

Article 48　Census may be made before making household registrations.
Article 49　The census office may send personnel to check and correct the items of household
　　　　　　registration.
Article 50　The census office shall check and record the educational backgrounds of the
　　　　　　population of fifteen (15) years and over of age.
Article 51　Every middle school and above shall prepare the register of graduates at the year,
　　　　　　and furnish it to the census authority.
Article 52　Municipal and city (county) governments and their household registration offices
　　　　　　should prepare all kinds of statistical lists separately and deliver them to their
　　　　　　superior agency in the order of date. If necessary, other household surveys and
　　　　　　statistics should be conducted.
　　　　　　The previous household statistics are allowed to be made available to the outside,
　　　　　　for which a fee should be charged.

Chapter 6 Fines

Article 53　Any application that is not made without due reasons within the statutory time
　　　　　　limit shall be penalized by a fine not exceeding three hundred (300) N.T. dollars.
　　　　　　The application that is not made after notification shall be penalized by a fine
　　　　　　not exceeding six hundred (600) N.T. dollars.
Article 54　Any applicant who makes a false application intentionally, or any relevant
　　　　　　authority, school, organization or national that provides census authorities with
　　　　　　false information shall be penalized by a fine of less than nine thousand (9,000)
　　　　　　N.T. dollars.
Article 55　Any person who refuses the census, or any relevant authority, school, organization
　　　　　　or national that refuses to provide census authorities with the information of
　　　　　　household registration shall be penalized by a fine of three thousand six hundred
　　　　　　(3,600) N.T. dollars and upward to less than thirty thousand (30,000) N.T. dollars.
Article 56　The fines penalized pursuant to the present Law shall be executed by the census
　　　　　　office.
Article 57　The fines penalized pursuant to the present Law shall be paid within the
　　　　　　stipulated time limit. Any payment for fine that is not paid will be sent to the
　　　　　　court for forced execution of the payment.

Chapter 7 Supplementary Provisions

Article 58　The transient population shall make the registrations in police department, of
　　　　　　which the provisions shall be otherwise prescribed by the Ministry of the Interior .
Article 59　The provisions for checking the household matters of foreigners who reside in the
　　　　　　ROC territory shall be otherwise prescribed by the Ministry of the Interior together
　　　　　　with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Article 60　Rugulations for the enforcement of this law shall be prescribed by the Ministry of
　　　　　　the Interior .
Article 61　The present law shall come into force on the date of promulgation.