FAQ

I. Foreigner’s frequent problems about household registration:
1. May the foreign spouse maintain the rights to reside in Taiwan after his/her wife/husband as a Taiwan’s citizen dies or divorces?
  • Pursuant to the Immigration Act, Regulation Governing Visiting, Residence and Permanent Resident of Alien, the foreign spouse may apply to branches of the National Immigration Agency.
    • (1). After death of the spouse as Taiwan’s citizens, the other party as a foreigner may apply for permanent residence regardless of having children or not. However, in the event it may cause damage to public interests, the permanent resident certificate may become abandoned if necessary.
    • (2). Foreign brides may not maintain the rights of residence in Taiwan after the residence reasons do not exist, expect that they have children to take care or other unavoidable reasons to enable them to reside.
    • (3). After divorce, no legal issues shall not be seen as the residence reasons, except that any special conditions take place to enable them to reside.
2. How to apply for birth registration for children whose parents are a Taiwan’s citizens and an alien?
  • (1). Pursuant to the Household Registration Act and Immigration Act, the application process is as follows:
    • A. For domestic birth:parents, grandparents of the child, household family head, cohabitant or raiser shall be the applicant to apply for birth registration to local household registration office.
    • B. For overseas birth: the family head or legal representative may apply for initial household registration to local household registration office with the permanent resident certificate, which is applied to the National Immigration Agency according to the Immigration Act).
    • C. In case the applicant is able to make the application personally, he/she may entrust other person to make with a letter of authorization.(Under the condition when the said letter of authorization is executed abroad, it shall be certified by R.O.C. embassy in the country where it is executed).

  • (2). Documents as required:
    • A. For domestic birth:
      • (a). Household certificate; applicant’s ID card and seal;
      • (b). Birth certificate(including engagement of family name).
    • B. For overseas birth:
      • (a). Household certificate of the applicant for initial household registration, family head or legal representative’s ID card and seal;
      • (b). Permanent resident certificate.
    • C. In case the applicant is able to make the application personally, he/she may entrust other person to make with a letter of authorization.(Under the condition when the said letter of authorization is executed abroad, it shall be certified by R.O.C. embassy in the country where it is executed).

  • (3). Remarks:
    • A. Since Amendment of Nationality Act was enacted as of Feb. 09, 2000, as the marriage between the wife as R.O.C. citizen and the husband as an alien is still in effect, the birth registration may be applied to local household office where the mother resides for their child(ren) born domestically. However, birth registration for the children as juveniles, who were born before Feb. 10, 1980, when the Amendment of Nationality Act was not enacted yet, may be alternated by initial household registration with permanent resident certificate applied to the National Immigration Agency.
    • B. When applying for birth registration or initial household registration, naming must comply with local customs in R.O.C..
3. Arrangement of Chinese surname:
  • Pursuant to the Name Act §1.3, in the case that a citizen of the ROC is married to a alien or a stateless person, the Chinese surname of his/her spouse and a child of such couple should be met the conventions practiced in the ROC. And the same shall also apply to the surname of an alien or a stateless person who applies for nationalization. Hence, under the condition that your spouse is an alien, he/she must adopt a Chinese surname and full in Declaration To Adopt A Chinese Name. Moreover, pursuant to Civil Law §1059, parents must decide in written as to whether the surname of the child adopts that of father or mother before birth registration is made. In case of the family name of the party of the birth registration is not sure according to relating laws, if the child is legitimate, the applicant can decide the child to be registered with the father or mother's family name upon taking a draw pursuant to the Household Registration Act §49.
4. ID No.: may apply to branches of the National Immigration Agency
  • (1). Applicable to :
    • A. Those who are never enabled to have ID No., but in need of establishing a bank account, filing taxation, applying for health insurance or R.O.C. driver’s license.
    • B. Those who used to have resident certificate of R.O.C., alien resident certificate, or alien permanent resident certificate, but presently lack any of the above-mentioned certificate to prove status, or number of such certificate does not have 10 digits.

  • (2). Effect of ID No.:
    • The ID No. functions as the alien’s identification number. Each set of number is for only one individual and maintains in effect in lifetime.

  • (3). Name of certificate:
    • After approval, the document called “Record of ID No. in the Republic of China” will be issued.

  • (4). Application profile:
    • A. Presently health insurance ID card and driver’s license for car and motorbike are alternated by ID No.
    • B. Start from 2004, aliens must show such documents bearing ID No. as alien resident certificate, alien permanent resident certificate or Record of ID No. in the Republic of China when establishing a bank account.
    • C. Since 2004, aliens must indicate ID No. when filing withholding income tax or year individual income tax for income in R.O.C.. However, for a convenient procedure of withholding income tax, an exception may apply to aliens who work in R.O.C. for a short period of time. The exception regulates as follows:
      • In case individuals do not have ID No. and residence in R.O.C., but have income in R.O.C., tax registration number may be applicable.
      • Each tax registration number has 10 digits, in which the first 8 digits refer to birth date(yy/mm/dd) and the last 2 digits are the first two alphabets of incomer’s English name according to the incomer’s passport. For instance:
        • Robert W. Davidson’s birth date falls on July 12, 1942. The tax registration number is assigned 1942712RO.
      • ※Individuals who do not have residence in R.O.C. refer to those who do not stay in R.O.C. for at least 183 days.

  • (5). Domestic/offshore application:
    • A. For aliens who have entered R.O.C.:
      • (a). one application form;
      • (b). one original copy and one duplicate copy of applicant’s passport, the original shall be returned after checking;
      • (c). doc. required for authorization (not required if applying in person):
        • (i). a letter of authorization (or alternatively indicate “statement of authorization” on application form”);
        • (ii). authorized individual’s doc. to prove personal status, such as ID card, resident certificate or passport.

    • B. Aliens who have not entered R.O.C.:
      • (a). one original and duplicate copy of a letter of authority certified by the corresponding embassy of R.O.C., passport or doc. to prove personal status, the original copy will be returned after checking;
      • (b). an original copy of letter of authorization(or alternatively indicate “statement of authorization” on application form”);
      • (c). authorized individual’s doc. to prove personal status, such as ID card, alien resident certificate or passport.
II. Procedures to apply for ID card of alien spouse:
1. Marriage registration
  • (1) domestic marriage:
    • A. Both or one of the couple presently do(es) or used to have household registration and get married in R.O.C., the applicant may apply for marriage registration to the local household registration office in the district where one of the couple have household registration currently or moving-out registration lastly;
    • B. In case both of the couple never have household registration or does not get married in R.O.C., application for marriage registration may be applied to any local household registration office.

  • (2) Offshore marriage:
    • A. In case both or one of the couple presently do(es) or used to have household registration and get married outside R.O.C. may prepare relevant documents to apply for a check to embassies, economic and cultural offices, offices, other authorized organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(hereinafter abbreviated as “embassy”) or designated organizations or private organization in Hong Kong and Macau with authorization of the Executive Yuan, and transfer or authorize other individual to apply for marriage registration to the local household registration office in the district where one of the couple have household registration currently or moving-out registration lastly.

    • B. In case both of the couple never have household registration in R.O.C. and get married outside the territory, the applicant may prepare relevant documents to apply for a check to embassies, or designated organizations or private organization in Hong Kong and Macau with authorization of the Executive Yuan, and transfer or authorize other individual to apply for marriage registration to the household registration office the central competent authorities designate.

    • C. Documents required for marriage registration in household registration office are as follows:
      • (a). Doc. to prove personal status:
        • (i). ID card, seal(or signature), household registration booklet, and one color photograph taken in the recent 1 year, refer to the specifications required for the photographs applicable for the renewal of national ID cards implemented of the applicant shall be inspected. For overseas marriage which is in effect, authorization of application may be allowed only when the letter of authorization, ID card, signature or seal of the authorized individual are certified by embassies, or designated organizations or private organization in Hong Kong and Macau with authorization of the Executive Yuan.
        • (ii). In case the applicant used to or never have household registration in R.O.C., the passport or resident certificate issued by the National Immigration Agency shall be inspected.

      • (b). Marriage certificate:
        • (i). For domestic marriage, the marriage certificate(see annex 1 for the specification required) shall be inspected. On which, names, birth dates, ID No.(passport number or resident certificate number), address of household(residing address abroad) and other information concerning two parties of the marriage shall be borne. Meanwhile, signatures(or seals), ID No.(passport number or resident certificate number), address of household(residing address abroad), and other necessary information concerning at least two witnesses are required to be attached.
        • (ii). For overseas marriage which is in effect, the marriage certificate certified by the embassies, or designated organizations or private organization in Hong Kong and Macau with authorization of the Executive Yuan, or any document proving marriage registration at local government and its Chinese translation, and a seal indicated “Comply with the laws of conduct” thereon, may alternate documents to prove marriage status.
        • (iii). In case one party is an alien, a valid Declaration To Adopt A Chinese Name, the document to prove marriage status and its translation certified by the embassy of R.O.C., must be inspected.
        • (iv). In case the translation transcript of document to prove marriage status is made abroad, it shall be certified by the Embassy of R.O.C. or qualified notary public in R.O.C..
        • (v). For the marriages between nationals of R.O.C. and Mainland China, the documents to prove marriage status, and Entry/Exit Permit with seal indicated “Interview passed, may apply for marriage registration accordingly” thereon, shall be inspected. Documents made in Mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau shall be certified by designated organization or private organization with authorization of the Executive Yuan.
2.Resident certificate
  • (1). Resident certificate:
    • in case the applicant is outside R.O.C., he/she may apply for a resident certificate to the Embassy of R.O.C. pursuant to Statute Governing Issuance of ROC Visas in Foreign Passports and Enforcement Rules for the Issuance of ROC Visas to Foreign-Passport. However, if the applicant has entered R.O.C. with a visitor visa, he/she may apply for a resident visa to offices of Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hualien.
      • (A). the applicant’s passport must at least have a valid period up to 6 months. Meanwhile, such remark as “No entry into R.O.C.” shall not be seen on the passport.
      • (B). the applicant must fill in application form for passport. The form can be retrieved for free from embassies, economic and cultural offices, offices, Bureau of Consular Affairs and its branches, or from website of Bureau of Consular Affairs (https://www.boca.gov.tw). Signature of the applicant is required on the form to ensure the application details are all true. Besides, two photos of 2 inches taken in the recent 6 months must be attached on the form.
      • (C). one household certificate transcript issued in the recent 3 months, on which marriage registration, nationality and name of foreign language of the spouse are borne.
      • (D). one original copy and duplicate copy of the marriage registration certificate issued by the applicant's government, and certified by embassy of R.O.C.. In case the applicant's country does not adopt marriage registration, a marriage certificate is required alternatively.
      • (E). certificate to prove no criminal record or police criminal record certificate(certified by embassy of R.O.C.)
      • (F). health certificate which is in effect for at least the next 3 months.(the hospitals must be those designated by Dept. of Health for alien's health diagnosis) or health certificate issued by qualified hospitals abroad certified by embassy of R.O.C.
      • (G). official fees of resident certificate.

  • (2). Alien resident certificate
    • Pursuant to the Immigration Act and the Enforcement Regulation of the Immigration Act, Regulations Governing Alien visits, Residence and Permanent Residence, the applicant may apply to offices of the National Immigration Agency, along with documents required to prove reasons of residence, i.e. translation of extract of household registration bearing marriage registration thereon.
3.Nationality
  • (1). How do aliens apply for naturalization to acquire R.O.C. nationality and ID cards?
    • A. Basic requirements for alien nationalization (pursuant to the Nationality Act §3~9)
      • - Valid alien resident certificate or alien permanent resident certificate.(The applicant must apply for resident certificate to embassy of R.O.C. according to Statute Governing Issuance of ROC Visas in Foreign Passports. Within 15 days of entry into the territory of R.O.C., the applicant must apply for alien resident certificate to local office of National Immigration Agency. The alien permanent resident certificate must be applied in accordance with relevant laws).
      • - Alien resident certificate (he/she annually has resided in the territory of the R.O.C. for more than 183 days in total for more than 5 continuous years. Permitted foreign labors according to Employment Services Act §46.1.8~§46.1.10, students during the period of studies, or the fore-mentioned individuals depending on relatives who are nationals of R.O.C. shall be exceptions.)
      • - He/She is 20 years old or older and has the capacity to act in accordance with both the laws of R.O.C. and the laws of his/her own country.
      • - He/She behaves decently and has no records of crime.
      • - He/She has enough property or professional skills for his/her self-support or ensuring his/her living.
      • - He/She possesses basic language ability in the language of our country and understands the basic common knowledge of national’s rights and obligations.
      • - Loss of original nationality.

    • B. After acquiring nationality of R.O.C., procedures required to apply for ID card are as follows:
      • - Apply for residence or permanent residency for naturalization in territory of R.O.C. according to the Immigration Act and the Enforcement Regulations of the Immigration Act.
      • - Apply for initial household registration and ID card to local household registration office upon approval and issuance of certificate of permanent residency for naturalization of R.O.C.

  • (2). What is the flowchart of application for certificate of ROC naturalization candidacy?
    • A.Documents required for application for certificate of ROC naturalization candidacy (pursuant to Enforcement Rules of the Nationality Act §10):
      • - Valid alien resident certificate or alien permanent resident certificate.
      • - Alien resident certificate and certificate of entry and exit records.
      • - Police criminal record certificate of applicant’s country or other relevant document, and the police criminal record certificate of R.O.C.
      • - Enough property or professional skills for self-support or ensuring living
      • - Documents to prove the applicant possesses basic language ability in the language of our country and understands the basic common knowledge of national’s rights and obligations.
      • - Statement of agreement of the legal representative of under-age applicant is required; single adult males at the age of 18 years old or above, and single females at the age of 16 years old or above must submit certificate of marriage status.
      • - Other relevant documents.

    • B. Application procedures:
      • Aliens may fill in application form and submit to local household registration office, along with above-mentioned documents. Subsequently, municipal government or local government in city/county will issue a certificate of ROC naturalization candidacy as a declaration to abandon original nationality.

    • C. Effect of certificate of ROC naturalization candidacy:
      • The certificate maintains valid for two years, for the only purpose of applying for loss of original nationality to his/her country. The certificate does not function as the document required for naturalization or guarantees approval of naturalization of R.O.C..

  • (3). Why must aliens(or foreign spouses) possess basic language ability in the language of our country and understands the basic common knowledge of national’s rights and obligations when applying for nationalization of R.O.C.? How do they acquire such certificate?
    • A. Reasons aliens must possess basic language ability in the language of our country and understands the basic common knowledge of national’s rights and obligations when applying for nationalization of R.O.C.:
      • - To stimulate aliens’ motivation to learn our language, to solve potential social problems resulting from miscommunication, differential understanding on rights and obligations, and to adjust them to the environment sooner.
      • - To stimulate foreign spouses to participate in basic educational trainings or advanced studies for adults, established by the government, to improve abilities of educating children.
      • - To assist aliens and foreign spouses to identify basic rights and obligations as R.O.C. nationals to ensure self-benefits.
      • - Basic language ability in the language of our country and understands the basic common knowledge of national’s rights and obligations when applying for nationalization are also required in such countries as United States, Canada, German, New Zealand, S. Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand. The main purpose is to accommodate aliens to the environment and create a society with diverse culture.
      • - Applicants of naturalization express acceptance of R.O.C, and have been residing in the territory of R.O.C. for at least 3 years, and presumably should possess basic language ability in the language of our country and understands the basic common knowledge of national’s rights and obligations.

    • B. Any of the following documents may be accepted as the certificate to prove basic language ability in the language of our country and understanding of the basic common knowledge of national’s rights and obligations:
      • (a). Study in public or private schools at all levels for at least 1 year;
      • (b). Certificate to prove participating hours in courses established by governmental departments of R.O.C. (including all collection of courses the governmental departments establish on their own, authorize or assist other private/public organizations, groups, schools to establish);
    • C. General applicant: minimum participating hours, 200 hrs.
    • D. Special applicant(either the foreign spouse of R.O.C. national, or by persons who, subsequent to divorce from an ROC national, have exercising responsibility of the right and obligation for the minor children, or above 65 years old): minimum participating hours, 72 hrs.
    • E. Other special applicant(adopted child of R.O.C. national): minimum participating hours, 100 hrs.
      • Qualified certificate of test of basic language ability in the language of our country and understanding of the basic common knowledge of national’s rights and obligations(hereinafter so called “naturalization test”) include oral and written test, 20 questions respectively for both tests, 5 points for each question, total score: 100 points):
        • (a). General applicant: minimum total score, 70 points
        • (b). Special applicant(either the foreign spouse, or by persons who, subsequent to divorce from an ROC national, have exercising responsibility of the right and obligation for the minor children, or adopted child of R.O.C. national): minimum total score, 60 points
        • (c). Other special applicant(elderly above 65 years old): minimum total score, 50 points

  • (4). What must foreign spouses possess for self-support or ensuring living when applying for nationalization of R.O.C.?
    • A. When applying for nationalization of R.O.C., foreign spouses must satisfy conditions as follows:
      • Pursuant to the Nationality Act, "enough property or professional skills for self-support or ensuring living" shall satisfy conditions as follows:
        • (a). Applicant as the spouse of R.O.C. nationality shall have :
          • Monthly income which is double of basic wage as the Ministry of Labor Affairs regulates in the recent 1 year in the territory of R.O.C., e.g. at least NT$ 38,546;
          • Deposits in bank account and value of personal property in the territory of R.O.C. are 24 times than the basic wage as the Ministry of Labor Affairs regulates in the recent 1 year, e.g. at least NT$462,552;
          • Value of real estate in the territory of R.O.C. is 24 times than the basic wage as the Ministry of Labor Affairs regulates in the recent 1 year;
          • Qualification certificate for professional occupation, technical skills or skill tests;
          • Others approved by the Ministry of the Interior.

        • (b). Applicant not as the spouse of R.O.C. national shall have:
          • Monthly income which is double of basic wage as the Ministry of Labor Affairs regulates in the recent 1 year in the territory of R.O.C., e.g. at least NT$38,546;
          • Total value of personal property and real estate in the territory of R.O.C. is no less than NT$5,000,000;
          • Qualification certificate for professional occupation, technical skills or skill tests;
          • Professional skills vital to our high-tech industry and obtain approval of permanent residence in the territory of R.O.C.;
          • Others approved by the Ministry of the Interior.

    • The fore-mentioned value shall also include value of income or property of the spouse as R.O.C. national, parents of the spouse, and his/her own parents; Qualification certificates for professional occupation, technical skills or skill tests may also refer to those of the spouse as R.O.C. national, parents of the spouse, and his/her own parents, if attached with guarantee certificate to prove "enough property or professional skills for self-support or ensuring living" of the individual acquiring the said qualification certificate;

    • B. Proving "enough property or professional skills for self-support or ensuring living" of the applicant does not merely reply on the certificate in written. Instead, in case the applicant and his/her family have difficulties submitting the certificate, he/she may file a request for an exemption.
4.Resident certificate in R.O.C.
  • The applicant may apply for the resident certificate to offices of the National Immigration Agency upon issuance of nationality certificate from the Ministry of the Interior.
5. Permanent residence
  • The applicant must reside for a period of time. Since the date of naturalization, the applicant may apply for the certificate of permanent residence to the National Immigration Agency if he/she does not have exit record for 1 successive year, or reside for 2 successive years, within which he/she inhabits for at least 270 days per year, or he/she resides for 5 successive years, within which he/she inhabits for at least 183 days per year, in the territory of R.O.C..
  • In case the applicant has direct blood relatives, spouse, sibs or spouse's parents who have household registration in R.O.C., or in accordance with "Regulations Governing Permission for Residents of Hong Kong and Macau for Entry into the Taiwan Area and their Residency and Permanent Residence" § 16.1.1~16.1.7, last half paragraph of § 16.1.18, §16.1.10~16.1.13, the applicant, as well as his/her spouse and under-age child(ren) may maintain rights of residence after a period of time of residence in the territory of R.O.C.. However, pursuant to § 16.1.1 of the said regulation, in case the direct blood relatives, spouse, sibs or spouse's parents of the applicant dies, the applicant may apply for permanent residence. Standard to identify accumulation of days of residence and conditions required shall be based upon each single case. For more information, please feel free to contact offices of National Immigration Agency at https://www.immigration.gov.tw or 02-23889393.
6. Initial household registration and ID card
  • Pursuant to Household Registration Act §4.2, the applicant who never has a household registered in the territory of R.O.C. must apply for initial household registration upon issuance of certificate of permanent residence or approval of household registration in R.O.C. from the Ministry of the Interior.
  • Besides, pursuant to the Enforcement Regulations of the Household Registration Act §20.1, the ID card shall be printed out according to household registration documents as registered in the Household Registration Office, and issued upon inspection and approval. One color photograph taken in the recent1 year, refer to the specifications required, as well as seal (or signature), permit fee of NT$50, shall be prepared when apply for household registration and initial ID card to the local household registration office in person( to learn more about latest specification required, please visit https://www.ris.gov.tw).