Taiwan Citizenship: All You Need to Know

From night markets to breathtaking landscapes, Taiwan offers more than just a pretty postcard—it could be your next home.

Interested in trading your expat status for full-fledged Taiwanese citizenship?

Buckle up; it’s time to demystify the journey from temporary resident to permanent local.

What Are The Ways Through Which One Can Get Citizenship In Taiwan?

Most countries have similar jurisdiction when it comes to granting citizenship to foreign residents. Living in Taiwan as a foreign resident has many perks.

But attaining citizenship can outshine the incentives as a foreign resident to a whole new level.

The legal pathway shows two primary ways in Taiwan that dictate how a foreign resident can gain citizenship in Taiwan. One either needs to be related to a Taiwanese citizen.

Or one can gain citizenship in Taiwan through the process of naturalization by becoming one of the locals. These ways of attaining citizenship in Taiwan can be intricate. A few of these means have been mentioned below:

Citizenship by Birth
Citizenship by Descent
Citizenship by Marriage
Citizenship by Naturalization

Who Is Eligible For Citizenship In Taiwan?

Article 2 of the Nationality Act of Taiwan clearly states how a foreign resident of Taiwan can attain citizenship.

Parents Are Citizens Of Taiwan

When the people, at the time of one’s birth, have either of their parents as a registered national of Taiwan (Resident of China).

The primary mean for one to apply for citizenship in Taiwan is on the basis of the Taiwanese nationality of one’s parents.

Either Parent Has ROC

If the applicant was born after the death of the parent. Then one has to have proof that showcases that either of the parents was a registered ROC when one was born after their death.

Gaining citizenship because of one’s relation to the parent who’s a citizen of Taiwan is one of the easiest methods for gaining citizenship in Taiwan.

Born In Taiwan Territory

The applicant can also avail citizenship when one was born in the territory of Taiwan and has ROC even when the parents were stateless people.

People can become stateless in Taiwan when they renounce their citizenship of one’s home country and is unable to gain Taiwan citizenship. In this case, no country owes them citizenship.

Process Of Naturalization

The applicant has to go through a naturalization process.

It is a process when a foreigner who has no relation to Taiwan gets incorporated into the system as a resident. It is a slow and lengthy process.

The Foreign Residents Have To Follow Which Laws To Be Eligible To Apply For Citizenship In Taiwan?

After one has acquired the APRC, then, one can apply for citizenship. However, a restrictive time frame has been mentioned in the nationality act of Taiwan for foreigners to attain before applying for citizenship.

The list given below tells about the rules and laws mentioned in the articles of the Nationality Act of Taiwan that govern the parameters for acquiring citizenship in Taiwan:

Eligibility For Acquiring Citizenship

Article 2 of the Nationality Act is a fundamental article as it dictates who will receive the nationality of Taiwan. It especially adheres to foreigners who want to acquire citizenship in Taiwan.

Residents Under The Age Of 20

The Nationality Act also allows residents under the age of 20 to follow the same rules as mentioned above.

The rules provide underage children easy access to acquiring citizenship only when they are born in Taiwan or to Taiwanese nationals.

The Time Frame After Acquiring Residence

Article 3 of this Act statuses the time frame stipulated after acquiring residency in Taiwan.

When the permanent residency has been attained, only then can one apply for citizenship in Taiwan after having lived in Taiwan for 5 years continuously and more than 183 days yearly.

Relaxation In Time Restriction For Stay

Article 4 adds a bit of relaxation to the 5-year time restriction and allows one to apply for citizenship in 3 years if that resident had married a Taiwanese National.

However, there are some relaxations for foreign residents. They’ll be allowed to apply for citizenship after staying for three years if they are married to a Taiwanese citizen.

Also, having pursued Ph.D. from Taiwan will reduce the time frame to 3 years.

The rules have also been lax for citizens who have opened a company in Taiwan or are Gold Cards holders. Thus, all the professionals that help n the economic progress of Taiwan receive easy access to citizenship.

Can’t Hold Official/Public Offices

According to Article 10 of the nationality act of Taiwan states, residents will not be allowed to run for essential government offices even after acquiring citizenships.

Although acquiring citizenship will make it easier for the foreign resident to access many subsidies offered to the citizens, the offices of the president, legislator, premier, and minister will not be allowed for foreign residents to run.

What Is the Process For Applying For Citizenship In Taiwan?

The step-by-step procedure and the details for applying for citizenship in Taiwan have been mentioned below:

Residency Is A Pre-Requisite

Before one can think of becoming a citizen of Taiwan, the first step would be to apply for residency within 15 days of arrival in Taiwan. Two main types of residency cards can be issued to foreign residents:

ARC (Alien Resident Card)
APRC (Alien Permanent Resident Card)

One would first avail the ARC (Alien Resident Card) and then APRC (Alien Permanent Resident Card). ARC is issued within 15 days of arrival, and APRC is issued after a stay of a more specific period.

Apply For Permanent Residency

When can one only apply for citizenship after one has gained APRC? The Permanent Alien Resident Card is issued after one has stayed for a minimum of 183 days for five consecutive years.

Required Documents

After one has lived in Taiwan and fulfilled the time of stay after attaining APRC, then one becomes eligible for applying for citizenship. One needs to visit the National Migration Agency or download the application form from their website.

After downloading or gaining the form, the next step would be to gather the required documents. The list presents the required documents to be submitted to the official authority with the application form.

Certificate of ROC Naturalization Candidature
Passport of one’s home country.
Copies of passport
Colored Photo of oneself.
Unexpired and Valid ARC
Application form received from NIA.
Household Registration Certificate
Evidence of continued Residency
Record of Employment
Record of Investment history
Clear Criminal Record
Medical History
Marriage Certificate
Tax Record
Letter of authorization (Power of attorney, POA)
MOFA or Taiwan Rep Office overseas needs to certify any foreign documents.

Submission Of Application

After carefully filling out the form and attaching all the required documents, submit the application to the relevant authorities of the National Immigration Agency. But before submitting, review the application thoroughly.

Processing And Reviewing By The Authorities

The government authorities will review one’s application for citizenship when the application has been submitted. The review might take several weeks to months. They may also ask for additional documentation during the processing of one’s application.

Interview And Examination

The applicant might be called in for an interview or even an examination to prove they are eligible to live in Taiwan and know the country’s culture, history, and society.

Approval Of Naturalization

Approval of an application is confirmed when one receives the approval for naturalization. One might be required to either renounce the citizenship of the home country or may have become eligible for dual citizenship.

Citizenship Ceremony

The citizenship ceremony is conducted after the approval of one’s application. In this ceremony, one takes an oath of allegiance to Taiwan and receives the citizenship certificate.

Apply For An ID Card And Passport

After the citizenship ceremony, one can apply for a Taiwan ID card and passport and can also apply for a Certificate of Household. This last step concluded the process of applying for citizenship in Taiwan.

Re-Verifying All Documents

Falsifying any information can result in punishment by Taiwanese law. So, if needed, one needs to be sure that all evidence attached to support the claims made by one while submitting the applications for citizenship are valid.

What Are The Specific Requirements For Certain Documents To Be Attached With The Application Form, For Citizenship In Taiwan?

One needs to be cautious about attaching appropriate proof with the documents for one’s application to be accepted. The following important required categories have been mentioned below:

Documents For Naturalization

Suppose a foreign resident is not married or born to a Taiwanese national. In that case, naturalization is the most likely process for one to gain citizenship, like the local nationals.

Naturalization does not just require one to reside in Taiwan for a certain period but also needs to have the following:

Good attitude and behavior
Stable income and finances
No criminal record
Good medical history
Have clear intentions of residing permanently.

Once the application for naturalization has been approved, one may receive the Certificate of Naturalization. The certificate proves the citizenship status of the resident.

Then one has to apply for TARC (Area Resident Certificate) and has to live in Taiwan additionally for:

1 year of stay without departure
2 years of stay that has to be more than 270 days a year.
5 years of stay, and it has to include more than 183 days a year.

After the completion of the durations, as mentioned earlier, one may claim one’s ID card and passport.

Documents For Language Proficiency Attestation

Language barriers can become a factor in a less profound understanding of the other culture. It can also inhibit the optimum functioning of the individual. Before submitting the documents with the citizenship application, one has two options:

Take A Mandarin Proficiency Test

Information about the proficiency test has been given online on the website of the Household Reiteration Authority. One must attain a score of:

A score of 70% for a standard application
A score of 60% if one’s spouse is Taiwanese or has resided in Taiwan for more than 10 years or if one was born to Taiwanese parents.
A score of 50% if one is aged 65 years or older.

Study The Language In A Taiwan Institute

If one wants to avoid taking a proficiency test, one can also study Mandarin at any Taiwan Institute.

The following requirements are needed to be fulfilled by an applicant:

One needs to study 200 hours for a standard application.
One needs to study 100 hours if a Taiwanese citizen adopted one, was born in Taiwan, is the guardian of a Taiwanese national, or has spent more than 10 years in Taiwan.
One needs to study for 72 hours if one has a Taiwanese parent or is married to a Taiwanese national.

Foreign residents need to take a Mandarin proficiency test or study the language for the required hours to apply for citizenship in Taiwan.

This will ensure the local authorities that the foreign individual can adjust quickly to Taiwanese society and culture.

Present Proof Of Stable Income

Suppose one holds the Alien Permanent Residency Card. In that case, one can be exempted from showing proof of one’s finances as the authorities already have all the required details with them.

However, if one does not have APRC, then one needs to collect various documents as given below:

One must have a salary above twice the minimum wage in Taiwan. For example, It must be equal to or greater than NT$47,600 as of 2020.
One must also have property or funds worth more than NT$5 million.
A Taiwan-recognised professional or technical skill certificate
Proof of one’s employment in a high-tech industry.
Suppose one is married to a Taiwanese national or is a parent of Taiwanese children. In that case, the financial requirements are lower.

Criminal Record

Taiwan, like any other country, would prefer not to issue someone citizenship who may have a criminal record. Certain offenses and crimes also can lead to the cancellation of citizenship.

The following documents are required as proof of one’s clear criminal record:

One must apply for a criminal record check in one’s home country.
The issued record from one’s home country must be certified by the Taiwanese diplomatic mission responsible for that country.
It needs to be translated into Chinese.
The translated document must be certified by a Taiwanese notary public agency and the Bureau of Consular Affairs in Taiwan.
Once the criminal record is issued by one’s home country as well as from Taiwan, one cannot leave Taiwan. Otherwise, it will not be accepted.

Medical Records

For one to apply for citizenship in Taiwan, one needs to submit a medical record as well.

In most cases, one must pass a health check in Taiwan. A time of two weeks is allowed to submit the results.

One can easily check the list of registered hospitals where authorized personnel can conduct medical exams. A specific form for the health check is required to be filled out, and also has insurance plans that cover up to five examinations.

What Does It Mean To Have Citizenship In Taiwan?

No Visa Renewals And Legal Residency

Gaining citizenship allows one not to go through any hassle of renewing expiring visas. Now, after getting citizenship, there will be no expenditure of money and time on the tiring process of repeated renewals.

Right To Vote

Becoming a state citizen also allows one to have political rights. One of the most prominent political rights is the right to choose the candidate that governs the state.

Access To Subsidies And Social Services

Foreign residents of Taiwan enjoyed access to only some of the social services as legal citizens did. So, acquiring citizenship in Taiwan will allow one to access all Insurance plans and get subsidies in Tax returns.

No Travel Restrictions

There are no travel restrictions for citizens in Taiwan. Only foreign residents have to be cautious about travel restrictions not to suffer any legal ramifications.

Consular Aid

Like any other country, all the legal citizens of Taiwan have access to Consular Aid. This aid can be beneficial when one has unknowingly broken the law or is facing danger in another state and requires help.

Obligations And Duties

Citizenship gives one a National Identity that is followed by many advantages. However, at the same time, it comes with obligations and duties too.

As a Taiwanese citizen, obeying the law, paying taxes, and participating in civic duties is a must.

Dual Citizenship

In some cases, Taiwan also allows one to have Dual Citizenship only if the citizen was born in Taiwan and the nationality laws of the other country agree with Taiwan’s law.

What Are The Reasons For Denial Of Citizenship In Taiwan?

Unable To Attain Residency

Before applying for citizenship, one needs to follow a legal residency period. Suppose one needed to follow the residency regulations properly and had applied before fulfilling the mentioned period.

The citizenship application can be rejected in this manner.

Criminal Record

Taiwan is, in fact, a securer state with a minimum crime rate. Suppose the applicant does not have a clear criminal record and might have committed offenses that negate the principles of Taiwan.

In that case, their application can be denied by the authorities.

Financial Instability

Today, the world focuses more on investment in Human Resource Development. Thus, Taiwan has also designed its policies that welcome professionals and skilled workers, which led to the progression of Taiwan’s economy.

However, suppose the foreign residents have a stable source of income that is above the mentioned criteria in the laws. In that case, their citizenship application can be allowed.

Insufficient Language Proficiency

In Taiwan, Mandarin is used as their official language. Though, they also have many documents in English to assist the foreign residents. However, Mandarin is vital.

Thus, failing the proficiency test in Mandarin can lead to the denial of citizenship.

Falsified Information

Providing any falsified documentation or claims in the citizenship application can lead to the denial of citizenship and become a punishable offense.

Failure Of Culture Integration

Taiwan’s culture and food require a distinguished palette. Suppose one needs to integrate properly into the society’s culture. In that case, the attainment of citizenship through a process of naturalization can become very difficult.

No Intent Of Permanent Residence

When a person does not want to stay permanently in Taiwan, citizenship will not be allotted. So, one needs to prove their intent to reside permanently in Taiwan to be accepted.

Unrenouncing Citizenship Of Another State

The applicant’s home state might have laws that do not agree with dual citizenship or renouncing their own citizenship, which can create problems in attaining citizenship in Taiwan.

Failure To Meet Deadlines

Different applications have deadlines that need to be followed through. Suppose the person needs to follow deadlines in submitting the required documents.

In that case, that can also lead to the failure of acceptance of the applicant’s forms.

Lack Of Or late Payment Of Dues

Suppose a person fails to pay the dues required by the application on time or does not pay at all. In that case, the citizenship application will not be processed in Taiwan.

Conclusion

So, you’ve made it through the maze of Taiwanese citizenship requirements. Whether you’re now waving your Republic of China passport or still on the fence, the road to citizenship is a trek worth considering.

Until then, keep living your best expat life.

Happy Applying!

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