How To Register Your Address In Taiwan?
Ah, the joys of moving to Taiwan: delicious street food, bustling night markets, and… paperwork. Yes, you heard right.
If you’re planning on being more than a tourist, you’ll need to register your address.
Let’s dive into the details.
Under Whose Jurisdiction The Process Of Household Registration Falls In Taiwan?
The jurisdiction of registering an address lies under the authority of the Household Registration Office under the Ministry of Finance of Taiwan. Almost in every district, city, and town of Taiwan, one can find a local household registration office.
The Household Registration Office is situated nearby so that it can take in the registration forms of the public coming to register their households. This process is a necessary initial step before one can get their Identification Number in Taiwan.
The digitization of the household registration process has also allowed much assistance to Taiwanese citizens and foreign residents.
The forms in English are also present on digital platforms to seek help with household registrations.
In the initial 1990s, registration records were digitized. It has made the whole process of registration of one’s address a lot easier.
The digitized system is retained by two different departments: National Conscription Agency and Household Registration Department.
Process Of Registration Of Address
The process of registration used to take days before the 1990s. Now the digitization of the whole process aids one by saving ample time during the registration process. One can be almost done with half of the work by sitting at home.
One can easily download the form online, complete the forms and attach the required documents that are also mentioned on the site. If one wants to acquire help, that could also be availed through different online platforms.
Suppose a foreign resident is applying for household registration. In that case, it is always better to take help from someone familiar with Mandarin and can help one fill out the official applications.
However, forms in English are also available to make the whole process efficient and easier to go through.
The following steps have been mentioned below, which will guide one in going through the whole course of household registration:
Eligibility
Before considering going through the whole hassle of registering a household address, one needs to make sure that one is, in fact, eligible to do so.
People initiate this whole process of household registration because, in accordance with Taiwan’s law, the Taiwan Identification Number will be issued to only those individuals who have been issued a household registration certificate in Taiwan.
People eligible to register their households in Taiwan Citizens and Foreign nationals with valid residency status.
Residency Status
For one to register in Taiwan for a household, one’s residency status is critical. One needs to have a valid visa; one cannot register an address on an expired visa. One’s approved visa can be a work visa, student visa, or other permit.
- Taiwan Citizens: Those who have been born in Taiwan or to Taiwan nationals.
- Foreign Nationals: Residency status for foreign nationals entails that they must have had a place in Taiwan registered under their names and have also been granted an approved residence permit.
Look For Nearest Household Registration Office
After confirming one’s residency status and eligibility to register one’s address, one needs to look at the nearest household registration office.
It is an essential step as the earlier spotting of this office would make the steps of registering the address easier.
Get The Application Form
After verifying one’s eligibility and residency status and looking at the nearest household registration office, the next step is downloading the application form.
One can take the form directly from the nearest household registration Office or download it online.
Prepare Required And Other Supporting Documents
The documents one requires with the filled application form will differ for people with different residency statuses. However, there are a few standard documents which have been listed below:
Identity Document For Nationals
They will need either a Taiwan National Identification card number or a passport. National ID cards are issued to every national at the age of 14. It is often used as proof of citizenship.
A Taiwan ID Number
It is also required for registering for national and local elections and for registering for one’s Taxes. It is also used to verify one’s family registration.
Identity Document For Foreign Resident
One would either need an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) or APRC (Alien Permanent Resident Certificate)
Proof Of One’s Residence
It can be a household certificate issued to Taiwanese nationals at the age of 14; it stands as evidence for verifying one’s relation to one’s family or Taiwan’s nationals.
Utility Bills
One can use a utility bill under one’s name if one does not have a household certificate. It can also be a housing agreement; for people who are renting, they will require a rental agreement.
Household Registration Transcript
The household registration transcript is the same as the official copy of household registration records.
It actually stands as same as the household certificate. This document is a one-time proof for verifying one’s domicile and address.
The application might require other official documents as well. They might include the following:
- Marriage certificate
- Divorce certificate,
- Records of marriage,
- Records of address changes,
- Records of name changes
Visit The Household Registration Office
When one has downloaded the form and has filled it out, one has also attached the required documents. Then now is the time to visit the office personally and submit all the required documents to the presiding agent or officer.
Provide Data
Suppose one takes on the choice of not filling out the form beforehand and only visiting the office with the required documents.
Then one can get the form from the household registration office and take help from the present officers in filling the form.
On the other hand, one might question: Can one not submit the form online? Why does one need to visit the household registration office personally? Usually, one would also need to provide biometric data on the particular devices that are present in the offices.
One might need to visit the office personally if one cannot provide biometric verification, fingerprints, and pictures online.
Acceptance Of Form
The documents will be reviewed by the officer present, who will inform one if something is lacking or is unneeded. After one has successfully submitted, the documents and the application has been accepted. One would get a registration certificate.
The House Registration Certificate will be the legal document verifying one’s registered address in Taiwan.
Updating All Authorities
After one has gone over the whole process of registering one’s address in Taiwan and has received the Household Registration Certificate. One needs to update all authorities associated with one’s personal.
The authorities might include:
- National Health Insurance
- Labour Pension Program
- Labour Insurance Program
- Banks
- Schools
- Offices
What Status Changes In Taiwan Need To Be Reported For Household Registration?
The current Household Registration Act in Taiwan requires a few changes to be reported whenever they take place in one’s life.
Reporting these changes may require one to go through the household registration process again, or the authority might update the present document.
As the primary identification system in Taiwan works primarily on the household register, many subsidies and insurance programs that one might get access to are also allotted to one according to one’s household status.
So, it’s essential to keep the authorities updated on any changes taking place in one’s life. Some of these status changes are given below on three levels.
Household Status Change
Also, according to Article 3 of the Taiwanese Household Registration Law in General Provision states that people living under the same roof or in a family or engaging in common business can be categorized under the same household head.
But those who live independently will constitute a separate household.
Household Status can change for various reasons, including one’s job, marriage or even death, or some other personal problems. One can also be living as a joint family or living as a nuclear family.
All of these different situations can change the name of the householder and thus the providence of various facilities.
One’s household status change can further take place in the following categories:
- Initial
- Separation
- Combination of household(s)
Personal Status Change
Life is never constant. One may celebrate their birthdays or of their loved ones or even have to grieve over the death of a close family.
All of these lead to changes in personal status. Thus, one needs to update the authorities about the change in one’s personal status frequently as well:
- Birth,
- Parentage,
- Adoption and Adoption Termination,
- Marriage and Divorce,
- Legal Guardianship,
- Assistance,
- Exercising responsibilityfor the rights and obligations of minor children,
- Death and Presumption of Death,
- Indigenous status and tribe group,
- Birthplace Registration
Domicile Status Change
If a person moves from one place to another, then the address of a person changes. One might go to different cities or states.
Thus, the authorities of household registration certificate will need to be updated about the change in the status of domicile, which happens in the following cases:
- Moving out
- Moving-in
- Address Alteration
However, in accordance, with Article 48-1 of the Household Registration Act of Taiwan, in some instances, the authorities can file directly for changes in the household registration applications even when not notified by the individual:
- Presumption of Death.
- Household annulment.
- Registration of loss of ROC nationality.
- Household revocation registrationof revoking the household
Why Is The Household Registration Important?
Registering one’s address under the Household Registration Office is essential in Taiwan. That is because people in Taiwan can get the right to abode only when their household registration has been made to the associated authorities.
The right to abode allows the individual to exercise their civil and political rights in Taiwan and get access to all the subsidies of a Taiwan citizen, such as different insurance programs and the right to vote.
The household registration certificate is also a gateway to citizenship in Taiwan and identifying oneself with the Taiwanese nations. The household registration certificate is a legal document used to verify an individual’s identity.
However, under the current Taiwanese nationality law, a person might apply for Taiwanese nationality without a household registration. However, the issued passport will differ from the one with household registration.
Also, this passport will have different access than other citizens. These individuals would face more restrictions than those with household registration.
Thus, it’s essential to get one’s address registered in Taiwan.
When Should The Address Registered In Taiwan?
By Article 48 of the Household Registration Act of Taiwan, the application for household registrations should be made within 30 days after moving. In addition, birth registration should be done under 60 days.
The household registration offices can accept overdue applications. Certain fines might be imposed. So, it is always better to be cautious of the assigned legal time frame to register one’s address to avoid any heft penalty.
Are There Any Fines One Needs To Be Careful While Registering Address In Taiwan?
Under several different articles of the Household Registration Act of Taiwan, fines can be levied against individuals as well as against different authorities.
So, one needs to make sure that all of the following laws are fixed when one registers one’s address.
Otherwise, hefty fines might become the consequence of breaking Taiwanese laws. Information about the particular rules and their fines associated with registering one’s address has been written below for one’s guidance:
Faking National ID Cards
Individuals in Taiwan need a National ID card number to register their address. It has to be valid and not expired or gained through illegal means.
Suppose one tries to break this rule and present a fake or illegally acquired National ID card. In that case, that person will be Violating Article 75 of Taiwan’s Household Registration Act and will have to swallow a hefty punishment as given below:
- The penalty of 5 years
- Detention or fines of 500,000 NT dollars.
If a person tries to provide others with their own National ID card and causes damage to innocents, and national of Taiwan will be punished similarly:
- A penalty of 3 years in prison
- Detention or fines of 300,000 NT dollars.
Intentionally Falsifying Application
In accordance with Article 76 of the Household Registration Act of Taiwan, if an individual makes a false application intentionally.
Also, presenting it to the household registration Office or any other relevant authorities like schools, banks, offices, and other places of authority can face a penalty of:
- A fine of over 3,000 but less than 9,000 NT dollars will be levied.
Refusing A Census
Under Article 77, if any person refuses the census in Taiwan or refuses to submit the required data of updated household registration to the relevant authorities might face fines:
- More than 3,000 NT dollars and less than 9,000 NT dollars.
Not Applying Under A Legal Time Frame
According to Article 79 of the Household Registration Act of Taiwan, if any individual fails to apply for household registration under the legal timeframe of 30 days, then that person will face heft consequences:
- Find over 300 but at most 900 NT dollars.
If the person still fails to apply for the registration of a household certificate after the fine has been levied on them for violating the legal time frame. That person will be notified with written notification by the authorities.
If the person still fails to adhere to the law, the person shall be fined further:
- 900 NT dollars.
According to the Article 81 of the household registration Act, the fines levied due to violation of the rules will be under the authority of the household registration office.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you’ve just adulted your way through one of Taiwan’s most essential paperwork rites of passage: address registration.
Now that you’re officially on the map, you can focus on what really matters—like where to find the best bubble tea. Cheers to tackling the red tape and coming out victorious!
Taiwan Conquered!
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