National identification card (Taiwan)

Eligibility

The national identification card is issued to nationals with household registration in Taiwan. Establishing household registration in Taiwan is required for a national over 14 years of age to possess a National Identification Card. In Taiwanese laws, household registration has close ties to exercise civil and political rights like a citizen (公民). The Taiwanese laws makes a distinction between "nationals with household registration" (NWHR, 有戶籍國民) and "nationals without household registration" (NWOHR, 無戶籍國民), with the former having the right of abode, right to vote, and other benefits of citizenship, while the latter are subject to deportation from Taiwan and need an entry permit to visit Taiwan. While NWHR are entitled to hold the National Identification Card, NWOHR may only hold the Taiwan Area Resident Certificate (TARC). Both groups are eligible to hold the Taiwan passport. The Taiwan Area Resident Certificate is nearly identical to the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) held by foreign residents in Taiwan.

Anyone under the age of majority in Taiwan (20 years of age), one of whose parents was an NWHR at the time of birth, could direct establish household registration. (Before 1980, this was only possible if said parent was the father, i.e. nationality was transmitted through the male line. In particular, the child of a Taiwanese mother and foreign father was not even an NWOHR, let alone eligible to establish household registration.)

Adult NWOHRs with direct lineal relatives who are NWHRs are eligible to apply for the aforementioned TARC and are eligible for household registration after residing in Taiwan for a certain period of time. Currently, this period is (1) continuously for one year, (2) 270 days per year for two years, or (3) 183 days per year for five years.

In 2024, new amendments to the Immigration Act passed in 2023 took effect, which dramatically loosened restrictions on children of NWHRs to establish household residency. In particular, adult NWOHRs, at least of whose parents was a NWHR at the time of birth, were eligible to directly establish household registration. While this eliminated the legal distinction with respect to eligibility for household registration between underage and adult NWOHR children of NWHRs, there remain several administrative differences to actually register, such as the requirement for the adult NWOHR to enter Taiwan on an NWOHR passport (in contrast, underage NWOHRs can enter Taiwan on a foreign passport before establishing household registration).

For foreigners who have naturalised as ROC nationals as well as all other holders of TARCs, the above periods of time (continuously for one year, 270 days per year for two years, or 183 days per year for five years) also apply after they receive their TARCs before they are eligible for household registration.

Usage

The Identification Card contains the holder's photo, ID number, Chinese name, and (Minguo calendar) date of birth. The back of the card contains more detailed information, including the person's registered address where official correspondence is sent, as well as the names of his/her legal ascendant(s). If the person moves, he/she must re-register at a municipal office ().

Unlike the Republic of China passport which can be issued overseas at Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices and ROC embassies and consulates, the National Identification Card is only issued in Taiwan at district, municipal, and township offices. Male dual passport holders who register for household registration and the Identification Card also become eligible for military conscription within the Republic of China, unless the person has overseas resident status ().

Possession of the Identification Card is required to obtain the People's Republic of China's Taiwan Compatriot Permit for entry into Mainland China. Most countries granting visa-free entry for ROC passport holders require that the passport holder also possess a National Identification Card. Those without National Identification Cards (e.g. "unregistered nationals") will have the National Identification Card field blank in their passports.

Format

Uniform identification number

The uniform identification number () is a unique number issued to every individual who are citizen or foreign residents of Taiwan (with National identification card or Resident certificate). The government started to issue ID numbers to citizens since Apr 1, 1965. The same format of ID number are also issued to foreign residents since Jan 2, 2021.

A valid uniform identification number consists of one (1) English letter and nine (9) numerical digits. The initial English letter is an administrative division identifier, the first numerical digit is sex and nationality identifier, and the last (ninth) numerical digit is a checksum.

The initial English letter refers to the place of a citizen's first household registration or a foreign resident's first residence registration.

The first digit refers to the individual's sex and nationality:

Photographs

In 2023, the Taiwan Ministry of the Interior banned the use of mirror photos on national identification cards.

eID

In May 2019, the Taiwan Government announced the “New eID – the Issue of Next Generation National ID Card Scheme” (“Scheme”) to change the format of national ID cards to a digital format (“eID cards”). In 2023, the court of Taiwan discussed litigation on the issue and the Taiwan government subsequently postponed moving to the new digital format.

References

References

1. (1997-04-14). "Taiwan: Knowledge Base profile".
2. (2023-09-19). "Ministry scraps ID cards' mirror photos after complaints - Taipei Times".
3. Chen, Peng Kwang. (2023-10-16). "Taiwan court questions legitimacy of Taiwan government's Digital ID card plan".
4. Jadhav, Abhishek. (2024-05-15). "Taiwan's digital ID card initiative suspension adds NT$202M in costs".