Strengthening requirements for Chinese nationals aiming for permanent residence in Taiwan
Taiwan Introduces New Requirement for Chinese Nationals Seeking Permanent Residency
Starting August 2025, Chinese nationals applying for permanent residency through family-based channels in Taiwan will be required to submit notarized proof that they have either renounced their Chinese passport or never applied for one. This new requirement, announced by Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior (MOI) on July 23, aims to strengthen identity verification before applicants can proceed to household registration and apply for Taiwanese citizenship.
The draft amendment, reported by Focus Taiwan on August 9, follows a May interpretation by the Mainland Affairs Council clarifying that "original household registration" covers any identity documents proving Mainland status. The new regulation requires applicants to submit a notarized document confirming they have either never applied for or have formally renounced their Chinese passports.
Currently, under Articles 30 and 31 of the "Regulations Governing the Residency, Long-Term Residency or Residency for Naturalization of the People of the Mainland China Area Living With a Relative in the Taiwan Area" and Article 17 of the Cross-Strait Act, applicants must show evidence of terminating Chinese household registration. The new amendment adds a passport-related condition as an additional layer of proof.
This step makes clear Taiwan’s emphasis on distinguishing permanent residents who fully sever Chinese official ties from those who maintain dual status. Applicants must proactively obtain notarized proof regarding their Chinese passport status, potentially adding bureaucratic steps in the residency application process.
Holding permanent residency is a stepping stone for Chinese nationals to gain full citizenship rights in Taiwan, making this reform significant for cross-strait migration policies and Taiwan’s control over identity verification procedures. The amendment awaits final approval and will be enforced by Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency upon taking effect.
If it is later discovered that an applicant has used a Mainland passport, it could jeopardize their residency status. The change aligns with Article 9-1 of the Cross-Strait Act, which prohibits Taiwanese nationals from holding Mainland household registration or passports. However, it is unlikely Chinese applicants will be able to secure proof of renunciation from Beijing, as the People's Republic of China does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state.
The draft amendment updates the requirement to include both loss of household registration in the Mainland Area and proof of not possessing a Mainland passport. This move is part of a broader set of 17 national security strategies unveiled in March by President Lai Ching-te to counter Chinese united front activities.
It is worth noting that there have been no known cases of the PRC issuing renunciation documents for this purpose. The draft regulation's public notice period has ended, and the Ministry of the Interior will finalize an implementation date after reviewing feedback. Chinese nationals seeking permanent residency in Taiwan through family-based channels will now have to prove they have renounced their Chinese passports, under this new draft amendment.
- This new draft amendment requires Chinese nationals seeking permanent residency in Taiwan through family-based channels to submit notarized proof that they have either renounced their Chinese passport or never applied for one.
- The new requirement is aimed at enhancing identity verification for applicants, making it clear that Taiwan intends to distinguish permanent residents who fully sever Chinese official ties from those who maintain dual status.
- The amendment awaits final approval and will be enforced by Taiwan's National Immigration Agency upon taking effect, potentially adding bureaucratic steps in the residency application process for Chinese nationals.
