Guidelines for the Application for Continuous or Periodic Residence for Nationals without Registered Permanent Residence in the Taiwan Area
- Date：
- Source：Residency Section 2
- Hit：12119
(I) Articles 10 and 16 of the Immigration Act (hereinafter referred to as "the Act").
(II) Articles 24 and 27 of the Regulations Governing the Stay, Residence, and Registered Permanent Residence Permits for Nationals without Registered Permanent Residence in the Taiwan Area.
II. Applicable Subjects:
(I) Nationals without registered permanent residence in the Taiwan Area (hereinafter referred to as "nationals without registered permanent residence") and their accompanying spouses and minor children who have obtained residency permits for the following reasons and have resided in the Taiwan Area for a certain period of time, still meet the original residency conditions if:
1. Nationals without registered permanent residence who have lineal relatives by blood, spouses, siblings, or parents of spouses currently registered as residents in the Taiwan Area. In cases where the familial relationship is established through adoption, the adoptee should be a minor and reside together with the adopter in the Taiwan Area, limited to two (2) persons. The marital relationship persists for at least three (3) years. However, this requirement does not apply to those who have already had children during the duration of their marriage.
2. Born abroad to a parent who was a national with registered permanent residence in the Taiwan Area at the time of birth, or born after the death of a parent who was a national with registered permanent residence in the Taiwan Area at the time of death.
3. Entering the ROC with a ROC passport, legally residing continuously in the Taiwan Area for more than five (5) years, with a minimum of 183 days of residency each year.
4. Having investments of over NTD 10 million in the Taiwan Area, approved or filed for review by the competent authority for the intended business.
5. Individuals who have previously resided in the Taiwan Area as overseas compatriot students permitted to study in the ROC by the competent education authorities at all levels, universities, or their constituent overseas joint enrollment committees, and who subsequently obtain approval from the central labor authority or the competent authorities for the intended business to engage in employment in the Taiwan Area according to Subparagraphs 1 to 7, or 11 of Paragraph 1 of Article 46, or Subparagraphs 1 and 3 of Paragraph 1 of Article 48 of the Employment Service Act, or who engage in lawful employment in the Taiwan Area exempt from applying for a work permit under the Employment Service Act, or have completed two (2) years of service in their overseas residence.
6. Individuals with special skills or expertise, who have been rehired by the competent central authorities for the intended business to return to the ROC.
7. In addition to the preceding item, individuals who have been appointed or employed by government agencies or public or private universities or colleges.
8. Having obtained permission from the central labor authority or the competent authority for the intended business to engage in work stipulated in Subparagraphs 1 to 7, or 11 of Paragraph 1 of Articles 46 of the Employment Service Act, or to engage in work exempted from permission under Subparagraphs 1 and 3 of Paragraph 1 of Article 48 of the Employment Service Act, or to engage in work equivalent to that stipulated in Subparagraphs 1 to 7, or 11 of Paragraph 1 of Articles 46, or Subparagraphs 1 and 3 of Paragraph 1 of Article 48 of the Employment Service Act without the need for a work permit under the same Act.
(II) Individuals who have obtained residency permits in the Taiwan Area based on the grounds of "naturalization to acquire ROC nationality" and who have resided in the Taiwan Area for a certain period of time, yet still meet the original residency requirements.
(III) Individuals who entered the ROC before the implementation of the Immigration Act on May 21, 1999, and who, due to circumstances beyond their control, could not be compelled to leave the ROC, have been granted residency in the Taiwan Area by the National Immigration Agency (hereinafter referred to as "NIA") and have resided continuously or for a certain period in the Taiwan Area.
(IV) Individuals who were stateless persons from Thailand, Myanmar, or Indonesia and entered the ROC before the implementation of the Immigration Act on May 21, 1999, and who, due to circumstances beyond their control, could not be compelled to leave the ROC, have been granted residency in the Taiwan Area by the NIA and have subsequently acquired ROC citizenship while residing continuously or for a certain period in the Taiwan Area.
(V) Individuals who were stateless persons and entered the ROC from May 21, 1999, to December 31, 2008, and who were approved by the Ministry of Education or the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Council to return to their home country in Thailand or Myanmar for schooling or technical training, and who could not be compelled to leave the ROC, have been granted residency in the Taiwan Area by the NIA and have subsequently acquired ROC citizenship while residing continuously or for a certain period in the Taiwan Area.
(VI) Individuals who were stateless persons from India or Nepal and entered the ROC before June 29, 2016, and who could not be compelled to leave the ROC, and whose identity was recognized by the Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Center of the Ministry of Culture, have been granted residency in the Taiwan Area by the NIA and have subsequently acquired ROC citizenship while residing continuously or for a certain period in the Taiwan Area.
III. Application Procedure:
Applicants shall apply to the service centers of the municipalities or counties (cities) under the jurisdiction of the administrative corps of the NIA stationed in each district. Upon approval, the Taiwan Area Resident Certificate (hereinafter referred to as the Resident Certificate) shall be issued.
IV. Required Documents:
(I) Residence Application form with a color, uncovered head photo (following the same specifications as a national ID photo).
(II) R.O.C. (Taiwan) Resident Certificate.
(III) Proof of Continued Eligibility: For example, applicants who obtained their residency permit based on family reunification shall submit the original and a copy of the National ID Card (or Household Certificate) of their relatives in the Taiwan Area (original to be returned upon verification); applicants who obtained their residency permit based on employment shall submit proof of the continued existence of the employment basis.
(IV) Health examination certificate issued within the last three (3) months (to be conducted by public or private hospitals designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and in compliance with the health examination checklist for residence or registered permanent residence as determined by them). For applications submitted abroad, if the Ministry of Health and Welfare has not designated hospitals in the country of residence, examinations may be conducted by qualified local hospitals. For children aged six (6) to twelve (12) coming from visa-exempt countries or regions, only proof of vaccination against measles and German measles is required. Children from non-visa-exempt countries or regions must also provide stool tests for intestinal parasites and tests for Hansen's disease. Children under six (6) years old may substitute original or photocopies of vaccination certificates in foreign languages, or provide original or photocopies of vaccination certificates (or children's health handbooks) issued by medical institutions in the ROC. However, applications under Subparagraphs 2 and 8 of Paragraph 1 of Article 9 of the Immigration Act, and Subparagraphs 1 and 3 of Point 2 of the Guidelines are exempt from submitting documents if they leave the ROC for a period of less than three (3) months during their residency.
(V) A nationwide police criminal record certificate from the country of residence or domicile issued within one (1) year from the date of issuance. However, the following circumstances are exempt from submission:
1. Minors.
2. Applicants applying under Subparagraphs 2 and 8 of Paragraph 1 of Article 9 of the Immigration Act, and Subparagraphs of Point 2 of the Guidelines, if they leave the ROC for a period of less than three (3) months during their residency.
3. Individuals who previously resided in the ROC as nationals without household registration in the Taiwan Area, whose residence period expired without applying for an extension before leaving the ROC, and subsequently reapply for residency and receive approval, with each departure within three (3) months before reapplying for residency.
(VI) For applicants who are minors, they are required to provide consent from both parents or legal guardians for their registered permanent residence in the ROC. In cases where parents are divorced, a consent letter from the parent exercising or bearing the rights and obligations of the minor child should be submitted.
(VII) Letter of Authorization: If submitting the application through a representative, a letter of authorization should be provided. The authorized representative must personally sign or affix a seal at the designated signature area on the application form (exempt for parents acting on behalf of minor children).
(VIII) Registered return envelope, with recipient's name, address, postal code, and telephone number filled out (exempt for self-collection).
(IX) For individuals born in mainland China, in addition to providing supporting documents according to Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 7 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, one of the following documents should be submitted (documents already submitted at the time of residency application are exempted):
1. The original certificate verified by the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) proving that the individual is not registered in mainland China.
2. The original certificate of cancellation of mainland China household registration verified by the SEF.
3. The document certifying the loss of mainland China citizenship, verified by the overseas mission.
4. Other documents sufficient to prove the loss of mainland China citizenship.
(X) Proof of registered address: Refers to one of the following documents with the correct registered address: Household Certificate, National ID Card, property ownership certificate, recent property tax bill, or original and photocopy of lease agreement (choose one, Originals will be returned upon verification). However, if the registered address is the same as that of the dependent relative and their national ID card (or Household Certificate) has already been submitted, it is exempted.
(XI) Other supporting documents.
(XII) Applicants who obtain residency permits based on being "currently serving as a legislator elected by overseas compatriots" or "having made special contributions to the country or society, or being senior professionals needed in the Taiwan Area", along with their accompanying spouse (marriage should have lasted for at least three (3) years, except in cases where children have been born during the marriage, in which case this requirement does not apply), and minor children, applying for registered permanent residence in the Taiwan Area, shall comply with the required documents stipulated in Subparagraphs 1 to 11.
Documents submitted, if produced overseas, must be authenticated by the overseas missions. The NIA may request the submission of a translated version verified by overseas missions or certified by a domestic notary public. If produced in Hong Kong, Macau, or Mainland China, they must be authenticated by the Service Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong or Macau, or the SEF.
V. Fees: NTD 600.
VI. Notes:
(I) Applications for registered permanent residence in the Taiwan Area should be submitted within two (2) years after continuous residency or residency for a certain period. In cases where the information provided is incomplete or inaccurate, applicants shall have fifteen (15) days from the day following the receipt of written notification from the NIA to rectify the issue. For applications submitted overseas, Hong Kong, Macau, or Mainland China regions, the rectification period is three (3) months. Failure to rectify within the specified period will result in the rejection of the application.
(II) In the event of the death of the sponsored family member during the residency period or divorce from the sponsored family member, the applicant may still apply for registered permanent residence in the Taiwan Area if they have underage children registered in the Taiwan Area who can exercise or bear the rights and obligations of such children and have resided continuously or for a certain period in the Taiwan Area.
(III) Applicants should, within thirty (30) days from the day after the issuance of the Permanent Resident Certificate, proceed to the household registration office in their intended jurisdiction of residence to apply for initial household registration or moving-in registration. After completing the registration, individuals must use their ROC passport with the national ID number assigned to complete the first departure from the ROC.
VII. The calculation method for continuous or periodic residence in the Taiwan Area is defined as meeting one of the following circumstances:
(I) For applicants falling under the scope of Items 1 to 8 of Subparagraph 1 of Point 2 and Subparagraph 2: Residence for one (1) year with a minimum of 335 days of actual residence, or residence for two (2) consecutive years with a minimum of 270 days of actual residence per year, or residence for five (5) consecutive years with a minimum of 183 days of actual residence per year.
(II) For applicants falling under Subparagraphs 3 to 6:
Continuous residence for three (3) years, or residence for five (5) consecutive years with a minimum of 270 days of actual residence per year, or residence for seven (7) consecutive years with a minimum of 183 days of actual residence per year.
(III) Departures from the residence period specified in the preceding two subparagraphs due to government-authorized assignments or approvals, supported by relevant documentation, shall not be considered as interruptions in the period of residence, nor shall they be included in the period of residence in the Taiwan Area.
VIII. Processing Time: Seven (7) days (excluding receipt date, holidays, supplementary document submission, and mailing time).