Citizenship in Taiwan
Naturalisation timelines, tests, and dual nationality
Naturalisation is legally straightforward and practically difficult, because Taiwan ordinarily requires an applicant to renounce the nationality they already hold and to produce proof of that loss. A narrow exemption exists for high-level professional talent recognised by the relevant ministry, and it is the exception rather than the route most applicants can use.
| Ordinary residence requirement | Commonly five years of continuous legal residence |
| Spouse of a national | Commonly a shorter qualifying period, around three years |
| Renunciation | Ordinarily required, with documentary proof of loss of the previous nationality |
| Exemption | Narrow, for high-level professional talent recognised by the competent ministry |
| Other requirements | Basic Mandarin ability and knowledge of rights and duties, plus financial self-sufficiency |
The renunciation requirement
This is the defining feature of Taiwanese naturalisation and the reason most long-term foreign residents stop at permanent residence. An applicant is normally required to give up their existing nationality and to supply an official certificate proving the loss, usually within a defined period after approval.
The sequencing is uncomfortable: the applicant surrenders a nationality in order to complete a process that has not yet concluded. Some nationalities cannot be renounced at all, or can only be renounced at substantial cost, and applicants in that position have in practice no route to a Taiwanese passport.
The exemption for high-level professional talent allows certain applicants recognised by the competent ministry in their field to naturalise while keeping their original nationality. The number of people who qualify is small, and recognition is discretionary.
The rest of the test
- Continuous legal residence, commonly five years, or a shorter qualifying period for the spouse of a national.
- Basic Mandarin ability and knowledge of the rights and duties of a citizen, demonstrated by test or by documented course attendance.
- Financial self-sufficiency at a published level.
- No disqualifying criminal record and good conduct throughout the qualifying period.
Household registration and the passport
Naturalisation is not the end of the sequence. A naturalised citizen must complete household registration before the full set of citizen rights, including the vote and a passport with a national identification number, becomes available. There is normally a further residence period before that registration is granted.
Male applicants should note that household registration engages Taiwan's conscription framework, with rules that depend on age and on when registration takes place.
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Official sources
- National Immigration Agency — nationality and household matters
- Bureau of Consular Affairs — passports and nationality
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.