UI No. Application ＆ Replacement (Competent authority: National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior)
- Date：
- Source：General Planning Section
- Hit：775
Question:
What is the difference between the new and original UI No.’s?
Answer:
1. New UI No.: To be issued from (and including) January 2, 2021, the new UI No. consists of one English letter followed by nine digits.
2. Original UI No.: Issued prior to (and including) January 1, 2021, the old UI No. consists of two English letters followed by eight digits.
2.
Question:
What is the specific format of the new UI No.?
Answer:
1. The English letter is the area code, indicating the place of application, and corresponding to the format of citizen ID cards.
2. The second digit indicates gender, 8 for male and 9 for female.
3. The last digit is the check code.
3.
Question:
As someone who obtained a UI No. on or before January 1, 2021, how do I apply to change to the new UI No.?
Answer:
1. When there is a change in your case situation, such as when you apply for extension or replacement of your ARC, or apply to change your reason to stay, the NIA will automatically change the original UI No. to the new UI No., and you will not need to proactively apply for the change.
2. For the relevant rules, please refer to the Instructions on Submission of Documents by Foreign Nationals to Apply for and Change UI No.
4.
Question:
I am applying for a UI No. for the first time on or after January 2, 2021. Will my UI No. be in the new or old format?
Answer:
UI No.’s issued for all applications made on or after January 2, 2021, will be in the new format.
5.
Question:
Can I apply for the new UI No. online?
Answer:
1. Online applications can be made in the cases listed below; in other cases, applications must be handled at service counters:
(1) Visitors:
a. People of the Mainland Area who come to Taiwan for scientific & technical research, industrial technology research, transnational corporation internal transfer, investment operation & management, or professional/ transnational accompanying, can apply for the new UI No. online (people of the Mainland Area who come to Taiwan for professional visits apply online at https://mt.immigration.gov.tw/PB/login/auth?applyType=2B); (people of the Mainland Area who come to Taiwan to conduct business apply online at https://mt.immigration.gov.tw/PB/login/auth?applyType=2A).
b. Also, people of the Mainland Area who come to Taiwan to attend school, and who hold a single or multiple entry permit, can apply for the new UI No. online (website: https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/student/entry).
(2) Residents:
a. Those residing in Taiwan to attend school can apply for the new UI No. either online or at a service counter (website: https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/student/entry).
b. Migrant workers who apply online to extend their ARC or change the information on their ARC will at the same time be given the new UI No. (website: https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/foreign-labor).
2. For the relevant rules, please refer to the Instructions on Submission of Documents by Foreign Nationals to Apply for and Change UI No.
6.
Question:
Though I am not yet due to apply for an extension of my resident certificate, can I still apply just to change to the new UI No.?
Answer:
1. Principle: Simultaneous update – when a resident certificate needs to be changed, such as for extension of validity, re-application or replacement, or change of reason for stay, the new UI No. will be given simultaneously, and the current document requirements will apply as usual.
2. Exception: Those who wish to apply just for the new UI No. before the expiry of their resident certificate can proactively apply to the NIA for this alone. (Also, to streamline the replacement process, and to reduce the inconvenience of applicants having to wait in line, these measures will prioritize applications of foreign nationals other than migrant workers.)
3. For the relevant rules, please refer to the Instructions on Submission of Documents by Foreign Nationals to Apply for and Change UI No.
7.
Question:
If I proactively apply for the new UI No. before the expiry of my resident certificate, will the expiry date of my original resident certificate be simultaneously extended?
Answer:
If you proactively apply for the new UI No. before the expiry of your resident certificate, the original expiry date will not be extended.
8.
Question:
If I have had an original UI No. and apply to
change it to the new UI No., will I have to pay
any fee?
Answer:
1. No extra fees for changing to the new UI No.: Those who change to the new UI No. by applying for extension or reissuance (replacement) of their residency certificate or change of reason for residency will have to pay the regular fees as currently applicable to those applications, but will not have to pay any extra fees for the change of UI No.
2. To encourage early adoption: From January 2, 2021 to January 2, 2022, those who apply only to change to the new UI No., without applying for extension, reissuance, replacement or any other amendment of their resident certificate, will not have to pay any fee; after this period, they will have to pay the regular fee as currently applicable to change of information.
3. For the relevant rules, please refer to the Instructions on Submission of Documents by Foreign Nationals to Apply for and Change UI No.
9.
Question:
Will the original UI No. cease to be usable?
Answer:
The changeover to the new UI No. will last from January 2, 2021 to December 31, 2030. The original UI No. will cease to be usable as of January 1, 2031.
10.
Question:
How to know whether someone has the original or new UI No.?
Answer:
If you wish to ascertain whether a person has been assigned the original or new UI No., you can find a function for checking this on the NIA website.
11.
Question:
Who can I contact if I have any questions about applying for the new UI No.?
Answer:
You can call the MOI Service Hotline (1996) or the Life Counseling Service Hotline for Foreigners in Taiwan (0800-024-111), or email the NIA via the Director-General’s Mailbox.
12.
Question:
Where can I find information about the new UI No.?
Answer:
You can go to the NIA website’s special section on the New-Format UI No. for Foreign Nationals to find such information.
(Web address: https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5385/7445/238440/)