Dual Citizenship In Taiwan: A Complete Guide

Thinking of tying the knot with Taiwan, but don’t want to break up with your home country? Ah, the allure of dual citizenship!

Dive into this handy guide to navigate the complexities and joys of holding passports from two nations while living in Taiwan.

Does Taiwan Allow Dual Citizenship?

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The Nationality Act of Taiwan that one has to follow to get any information about acquiring citizenship has been amended recently.

Previously, only Taiwan-born citizens were allowed to have dual citizenship. This means that people who were born in the ethnic Taiwanese regions or in mainland China were allowed to have dual citizenship.

Thus, one can retain the citizenship of two countries at the same time, Taiwanese and any other country, without renouncing either of them. 

The same case could be followed if one has not just been born in Taiwan but birthed to either of a Taiwanese-born parents. The parent must have Taiwanese citizenship.

Who Is Eligible To Apply For Dual Citizenship In Taiwan?

Accordingly, one can apply for dual citizenship in Taiwan if one gains citizenship in Taiwan through the given means below:

Citizenship By Birth 

All people born in the territory of Taiwan have the right to citizenship. 

So, suppose the citizens of Taiwan, by birth, apply for citizenship of another country, and their rules comply with that of Taiwan. In that case, they will be able to achieve the status of dual citizenship holders in Taiwan. 

Citizenship By Descent 

People born in Taiwan or outside of Taiwan to Taiwanese citizens also have the right to attain Taiwanese citizenship. 

Therefore, all the nationals who have attained citizenship by descent can also apply for dual citizenship if the other country’s citizenship laws comply with Taiwan’s.

Citizenship By Marriage

People attain citizenship in Taiwan utilizing marriage to a Taiwanese citizen as well. 

However, all those who have acquired citizenship through marriage to a Taiwanese citizen cannot apply for dual citizenship. 

To become a Taiwanese citizens, they must renounce their home citizenship. Unless they fall under the bracket of ‘highly skilled workers.’

Citizenship By Naturalization

In accordance with the amendment to the current citizenship rules in Taiwan, people who fall under the category of ‘highly skilled workers’ or have contributed greatly to Taiwanese society. 

So, through the process of naturalization, one may also apply for dual citizenship in Taiwan now. 

What Conditions Determine The Eligibility To Apply For Dual Citizenship In Taiwan?

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Suppose one is a foreigner without a Taiwanese parent or birthright. In that case, it is only possible for one to apply for dual citizenship by renouncing one’s home citizenship. 

After the amendment in the law of citizenship of Taiwan in 2017, there is a possibility to attain dual citizenship in Taiwan after living in Taiwan and attaining citizenship even through the naturalization process. It can happen only if:

  1. One cannot renounce the citizenship of their home country and can attain dual citizenship in Taiwan if the laws of their home country do not allow it.
  1. Those who have contributed extraordinarily to Taiwan. The following specific fields have been mentioned in the amended law of citizenship in Taiwan: 
  • Science and Technology,
  • Education
  • Economy
  • Culture and other related fields. 
  1. Those who are ‘highly skilled professionals as recognized by the Taiwanese authorities.

When Can One Apply To Attain Dual Citizenship In Taiwan? 

Before applying for dual citizenship, one needs to follow specific steps. First, one will have to apply for residency upon arrival in Taiwan. 

The second step would be to apply for permanent residency after staying in Taiwan for more than 183 days. After this step, one can apply for dual citizenship in Taiwan if eligible.

The best invitation for foreign nationals to come to Taiwan is the lure of easy access to citizenship in Taiwan after the resident has lived there legally for five consecutive years. 

What Are The Prerequisites One Needs To Follow Before Applying For Dual Citizenship In Taiwan?

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Even with the seemingly straightforward process of attaining citizenship in Taiwan, there are specific prerequisites one needs to adhere to.

There are some conditions for obtaining permanent residency certification before applying for citizenship. 

One needs to go through a complete procedure of submitting applications and attaching required documents to access APRC and dual citizenship. The requirements are as follows:

  1. Having a permanent residence in Taiwan. It includes the household registration certificate. 
  2. Had been paying taxes for five consecutive years.
  3. Have fulfilled the criteria of Mandarin language proficiency.
  4. Have a stable income and job.
  5. Has no criminal record.
  6. Provide the documents and submit the form for filing for dual citizenship in Taiwan.

What Is The Procedure For Applying For Dual Citizenship In Taiwan?

After one has received the Taiwanese ID card and APRC, one will need to apply for citizenship under the jurisdiction of the National Immigration Agency and Household Registry Office. 

The following criteria dictate the success of acceptance of dual citizenship applications in Taiwan:

Eligibility

It has been ordained that only Taiwanese-born people can attain dual nationality in Taiwan, and people of other nationalities would need to renounce their primary nationality to attain the nationality of Taiwan. 

However, due to a recent amendment in the law of citizenship in Taiwan, people of other nationalities may not need to renounce their citizenship if they are found to be eligible for dual citizenship following the law.

One’s eligibility for dual citizenship in Taiwan also depends upon the need to complete the compulsory duration of stay mentioned in Taiwanese citizenship law after one has received the following documents:

  • TARC 
  • NHI Certificate
  • Work permit 

Mandatory Duration Of Stay For Dual Citizenship

Those interested in applying for dual citizenship in Taiwan must fulfill the mandatory duration of continuous stay in Taiwan as residents. 

However, the duration differs for different people. If either of one’s parents were a Taiwanese national, then one would need to stay in Taiwan for:

  • 365 consecutive days OR
  • 270 days per year for two consecutive years OR 
  • 180 days per year for five consecutive years 

The people who try to attain citizenship in Taiwan through naturalization must stay for over 5 years. At the same time, those who have attained a Ph.D. or master’s degree from a Taiwanese University can apply after 3 years. 

Application Process

After one has received the permanent resident certificate in Taiwan and has fulfilled the required residency in Taiwan as well, one can start applying for dual citizenship.

There are certain documents that one would need to have to attach with the forms. The list of required documents to be submitted after the completion of the stay is given below:

  1. Completed forms of dual citizenship. The forms can be downloaded from online websites or picked up from the office of the National Investigation Agency of Taiwan.
  2. Submit a Form to the NIA officer to clarify one’s marital status. If one is not married, check the separate instructions given on the website of NIA.
  3. ROCRC
  4. Health Check Certificate
  5. Two passport photos.
  6. Passport of the home country.
  7. The household registration Certificate. This document also has an expiration date, so one needs to verify before submission that the document has yet to expire. 
  8. NT$ 600- This amount at a minimum is needed for the processing of the application.

It is always advisable to make a copy of every document. After the whole process is complete, one can quickly gain access to the Taiwanese passport in a matter of days, apply for National Health ID, and get it within a week too. 

What Can Be The Reasons For The Denial Of Citizenship In Taiwan?

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Even if one fulfills all the requirements, one’s application can be rejected. That is because the jurisdiction of authorizing citizenship depends on the authorities of the NIA. 

Some of the reasons for the probability of rejection have been given below:

  1. Not completing the mandatory duration of consecutive stay in Taiwan
  2. Having a criminal record that violates the policies of Taiwan.
  3. Unstable careers and insufficient income resources fall below Taiwan’s average hourly.
  4. Lack of language proficiency in Mandarin.
  5. Fake or falsified documentation submitted in the official documents. This can lead to punishment and legal repercussions too.
  6. Security concerns can also lead one’s application to be rejected.
  7. A clash of laws with the laws of one’s home country can also lead to the rejection of one’s application for dual citizenship in Taiwan.

What Are The Advantages Of Getting Dual Citizenship In Taiwan?

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Gaining dual citizenship in any country can be advantageous according to the location and policies of the country. Acquiring dual citizenship in Taiwan can be beneficial as well.

One can get access to the best healthcare system, a visa waiver program, allowed visa-free visitation to many countries, low living costs, high living standards, and exemplary educational and work opportunities. Some of these advantages are detailed below:

One Of The Best Passports In The World

The holder of a Taiwanese passport can visit more than 130 countries visa-free.

The Visas Waiver Program

The visa waiver program initiated by Taiwan allows its citizens to travel to different countries for more than 90 days without a visa. The list of the countries that waived the visas for Taiwan includes the United States.

One Of The Best Healthcare Systems

The national health insurance programs allow its citizens to have access to one of the best healthcare systems in the world. 

Ease For The Citizens Of Hong Kong And Macau

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Hong Kong and Macau residents can quickly gain citizenship in Taiwan in just 18 months. 

Affordable Living

Taiwan has a low inflation rate and provides affordable access to all the facilities and services. 

High Living Standards

Taiwan provides various subsidies and access to national Health insurance Programs, labor pension programs, and many other similar programs. 

All of these facilities lead to a healthy and fulfilling living stand of a person. It also ranks among the world’s top countries in quality of life index.

Eminent Standards Of Education

Taiwan has exceptionally high educational standards and provides research-oriented courses. The country has top-notch universities that focus on giving access to higher education. 

Work Prospects

Taiwan has a busy and exuberant job market. It is incredibly welcoming towards many skilled professionals. It offers a great variety of job opportunities to ex-pats and also provides flexible work visas. 

Business Opportunities

Taiwan also has an environment that encourages one to operate independent businesses and startups. 

Easy Public Transport

Taiwan is known for its tourists, and public transport makes the lives of tourists easier and the daily lives of its residents easier.

The Best Feature Is Its People

Taiwan is known for its hospitality and friendly nature. Their culture and ideology accept foreign residents with open arms, allowing them to easily mix with their society.

Conclusion

See? Dual citizenship in Taiwan doesn’t have to be a tangled web of bureaucracy and confusion. We’ve laid out the ins and outs, so you’re now equipped to make an informed decision.

If you still have questions, just remember—when in doubt, consult the experts.

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