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Instructions on Document Submission in Applications for Residence or Extension of Residence or Change of Reason for Residence in the Taiwan Area by R.O.C. (Taiwan) Nationals Without Household Registration in the Taiwan Area

  • Date:
  • Source:Residency Section 2
  • Hit:13872
Article 1. Legal Basis:
A. Articles 9 and 16 of the Immigration Act.
B. Articles 12 to 18 of the Regulations Governing Nationals Without Registered Permanent Residence in the Taiwan Area Applying for the Entry, Residence, and Registered Permanent Residence (hereinafter referred to as “the Regulations”).

Article 2. To Whom Applicable:
A. A national residing abroad without registered permanent residence in the Taiwan Area (hereinafter referred to as a “national without registered permanent residence”) may apply for residence in the Taiwan Area if he/she falls within any of the following circumstances:
1. Has a lineal blood relative, spouse, sibling, or spouse's parent with registered permanent residence in the Taiwan Area. If the relationship is a result of adoption, the adoptee must be no older than twelve (12) years old and must reside with the adopter in the Taiwan Area. No more than two adoptees may be recognized for this purpose.
2. Is currently serving as a legislator representing overseas citizens.
3. Is the overseas-born adult child of a national with registered permanent residence in the Taiwan Area.
4. Having entered the State with an R.O.C. (Taiwan) passport, has legally and continuously resided in the Taiwan Area for at least seven years, staying for at least 183 days each year.
5. Has invested at least ten million NT dollars (NT$10,000,000) in the Taiwan Area, as approved or filed for reference by the central competent authority of the industry concerned.
6. Is an overseas Chinese student who has been approved to study in the State by the central competent authority of the industry concerned and has returned to his/her country of residence to work for two years after graduation.
7. Has made a special contribution to the nation or society, or is a senior professional needed in the Taiwan Area.
8. Has special skills or expertise, and has been invited back to the State by the central competent authority of the industry concerned.
9. Other than as referred to in the preceding item, has been appointed or employed by a government agency or a public or private universities and colleges.
10.Has been approved by the central competent authority for labor or by the central competent authority of the industry concerned to engage in work in the Taiwan Area as specified in Article 46 Paragraph 1 Subparagraphs 1 to 7 or 11 of the Employment Service Act.
11.Is an overseas Chinese student who has been approved by the central competent authority of the industry concerned to study in the State.
12.Is a trainee who has been approved by the central competent authority of the industry concerned to receive vocational technical training in the State.
13.Is a master’s or doctoral student who has been approved by the central competent authority of the industry concerned to take up a research internship in the State.
14.Has been approved by the central competent authority for labor to engage in work in the Taiwan Area as specified in Article 46 Paragraph 1 Subparagraphs 8 to 10 of the Employment Service Act.
B. The spouse and minor children of a person as specified in Items 1 to 10 of the preceding subparagraph may apply together with said person; if they have not applied together therewith, they may apply after said person has been approved for entry and residence and before said person has been approved for registered permanent residence in the State.
C. A national without registered permanent residence who entered the State before the Immigration Act came into effect and can
not be compelled to leave the State.
D. A person who has renounced foreign nationality and become a national of the State through naturalization (status code 372).
E. A stateless person who comes within one of the following situations, cannot be compelled to leave the State, and obtained nationality in the State after being approved for residence by the NIA:
1. A stateless person from Thailand, Myanmar, or Indonesia who entered the State before the Immigration Act came into effect (status code 371).
2. A person who entered the State from Thailand or Myanmar between May 21, 1999 and December 31, 2008, having been approved by the Ministry of Education or the Overseas Community Affairs Council to attend school or to receive technical training in the State (status code 392).
3. A stateless person from India or Nepal who, having obtained recognition of status from the Mongolian & Tibetan Cultural Center, entered the State before June 29, 2016 (status code 393).

Article 3. Application Procedures and Where to file:
A. Overseas: An application must be submitted to an R.O.C. (Taiwan) embassy or consulate, representative office, overseas office, or other institution authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter referred to as “overseas mission”), which will transfer it to the NIA for processing.
B. In the Mainland Area: An application must be submitted to an institution as specified in Article 4 Paragraph 1 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area or a branch of a designated private organization established in the Mainland Area as specified in Paragraph 2 of the same Act, which will transfer it to the NIA for processing. If there is no such branch, the application must be submitted to the NIA by the applicant’s relative or spouse in the Taiwan Area or by an immigration institution or travel agent of Class A or above commissioned thereby, acting on behalf of the applicant.
C. In Hong Kong or Macau: An application must be submitted to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong or Macau, which will transfer it to the NIA for processing.
D. In the Taiwan Area: An application must be submitted to an NIA Service Center by the applicant or by a person or immigration institution authorized to act on the applicant’s behalf.

Article 4. Required Documents (If a required document is in a foreign language, it must be authenticated by an overseas mission, and the NIA may require the attachment of a Chinese translation authenticated by an overseas mission or notarized by a domestic notary public. If a document is produced in Hong Kong, Macau, or the Mainland Area, it must be authenticated by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong or Macau or by the Straits Exchange Foundation):
A. Applications for residence under the provisions of Article 2 Subparagraphs A to C:
1. An application form, affixed with one full-face and hatless color photograph (the same specifications as for a national ID photograph).
2. Identity document of overseas place of residence or domicile (It refers to a passport issued by the Country of Overseas Residence. Where the applicant is not holding the citizenship of the said country, it may be replaced by certificate of permanent residency or long-term residency).
3. R.O.C. (Taiwan) passport or documentation sufficient to prove possession of R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationality, such as a nationality certificate or Overseas Compatriot Identity Certificate (not including the one issued by the Overseas Community Affairs Council by submitting proof of Chinese ethnicity) or a proof of former military personnel issued by the Ministry of National Defense.
4. A police criminal record certificate issued by the national police authority of the applicant’s overseas place of residence or domicile, valid within six months of the date of issue (for example, an applicant whose overseas place of residence is the USA must provide the national certificate issued by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation); applicants under the age of majority are exempted. But if a quota limit applies to the application category concerned, this certificate to be presented when allocation is approved.
5. A satisfactory health examination certificate issued within the last three months (the examination must be conducted by a public or private hospital designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and must include the items required to be examined for residency or settlement; for an application submitted overseas, if the Ministry of Health and Welfare has not designated a hospital in the applicant’s country of residence, the examination may be conducted by a qualified local hospital). A child aged between six and twelve from an exempt country or region need only submit proof of measles and rubella vaccine. A child from a non-exempt country or region is still also required to have a stool ova and parasites (O&P) test and an examination for Hansen’s disease. For a child under the age of six, the original and a photocopy of a foreign-language certificate of vaccination may be submitted instead, or alternately the original and a photocopy of a vaccination certificate issued by a medical institution in Taiwan
or a Children’s Health Handbook (originals to be returned after inspection). But if a quota limit applies to the application category concerned, this certificate to be presented when allocation is approved.
6. A person born in the Mainland Area must also submit documentary proof of not having household registration in the Mainland Area and not having obtained a passport of the Mainland Area.
7. If the applicant is under the age of majority, a letter of consent from both parents must be submitted. If the parents are divorced, a letter of consent from the parent exercising or assuming the rights of parental responsibility must be submitted.
8. An applicant who has entered the State for a legally permitted duration of visit (must have entered with an R.O.C. (Taiwan) passport) is also required to submit their entry permit.
9. An agent authorized to apply on the applicant’s behalf must submit a letter of authorization, and must sign or affix seal where the agent’s signature/seal is required.
B.Applications for residence under the provisions of Article 2 Subparagraphs D and E:
1. An application form, affixed with one full-face and hatless color photograph (the same specifications as for a national ID photograph).
2. Original and one photocopy of Certificate of Naturalization (the original will be returned upon verification).
3. Original and one photocopy of ARC (the original will be returned upon verification).
4. Original and one photocopy of evidentiary document bearing residential address, such as R.O.C. (Taiwan) national spouse’s household certificate or national ID card with recordation of marriage (the original will be returned upon verification).
5. An agent authorized to apply on the applicant’s behalf must submit a letter of authorization, and must sign or affix seal where the agent’s signature/seal is required.
C.Applications for extension of residence:
1. An application form for extension of residence in Taiwan, affixed with one full-face and hatless color photograph (the same specifications as for a national ID photograph).
2. Original of ARC.
3. Original and photocopy of R.O.C. (Taiwan) passport (the original will be returned upon verification, and those without an R.O.C. (Taiwan) passport are exempted).
4. A document proving continued existence of original purpose for residence application, such as: for joining family, the original and a photocopy of the household certificate or national ID card of the relative joined (the original will be returned upon verification); for attending school, the certificate of enrollment; for employment, documentary proof of obtaining work permit.
5. An applicant for extension of residency under the provisions of Article 18 of the Regulations must submit a statement of the reason(s) for the extension.
6. An agent authorized to apply on the applicant’s behalf must submit a letter of authorization, and must sign or affix seal where the agent’s signature/seal is required.
D. For applications to change the reason for residence, those who leave the State for less than three months at a time are exempted from submitting the documents specified in Subparagraph 1 Items 2 to 5.
E. Other relevant supporting documents (see the attached table).

Article 5. Certificate Fees:
A. For application abroad: NT$1,300.
B. For application within legal residence period after entering the State (including change of purpose for residence): NT$1,000.
C. For overseas Chinese students: NT$500.
D. For extension of residence: NT$300.

Article 6. Note:
A. If the information in the documents submitted to apply for residence in the Taiwan Area is unsatisfactory or insufficient, it must be corrected within fifteen days from the day following receipt of written notice thereof from the NIA (if information needs to be applied for overseas or the application is conducted overseas, the correction period shall be three months). If the applicant fails to make the required correction before the specified deadline, the NIA will reject the application.
B. For a residency application submitted overseas, a one-time entry permit and carbon copy of a R.O.C. (Taiwan) Resident Certificate will be issued. The applicant must use the carbon copy to enter the State before its expiration date (it will be valid for six months from the day following the date of issuance), and within three months from the next day of entry into the state, must submit the carbon copy, ARC (exempted if not applicable) and proof of identity to an NIA Service Center to exchange for a R.O.C. (Taiwan) Resident Certificate. But when the applicant is under the age of majority, the exchange must be undertaken by his/her legal guardian.
C. If the R.O.C. (Taiwan) Resident Certificate issued by the NIA contains a file number starting with “Lin Ren”, an applicant for a residence permit under the provisions of Article 2 Subparagraphs 4 and 5 who has need to leave the State during the residence period must apply to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, MOFA, for an R.O.C. (Taiwan) passport, to be used for leaving and re-entering the State.
D. An applicant for a residence permit under the provisions of Article 2 Subparagraphs 4 and 5, when notified to collect the permit, must present their ARC and relevant documents to the NIA Service Center at their place of registration to collect their R.O.C. (Taiwan) Resident Certificate.
E. Residency is extendable for three-year time period upon adjudication. But if the reason for extension as specified in Article 2 Subparagraph 1 Items 8, 9, and 11 to 14, the resident certificate shall be extended for a period in accordance with the relevant period of employment, school attendance, training, or internship, and not for longer than three years.

Article 7. Processing Times:
A. Residence: Seven days (excluding the day of document receipt, public holidays, and time taken for submission of evidence requested and mailing).
B. Extension of residence or change of purpose for residence: Three days.
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