MOI’s draft amendments to the Nationality Act approved by EY

2023-09-22

Draft amendments to the Nationality Act revised by the Ministry of Interior are approved by the Executive Yuan Sept. 21 in Taipei City. (MOFA)

Draft amendments made to the Nationality Act by the Ministry of the Interior were approved by the Executive Yuan Sept. 21, underscoring Taiwan’s commitment to safeguarding minors and retaining skilled foreign professionals, according to the MOI.

The revisions, which will be sent to the Legislative Yuan for review, aim to protect the right of stateless children to acquire nationality and encourage international specialists in key sectors to remain in Taiwan.

Under the amendments, social welfare authorities will be empowered to represent stateless children during their application for naturalization in order to uphold the best interests of the minors. Current law only allows an adoptive father or mother from Taiwan to initiate the process on behalf of such children.

Additionally, since the legal threshold of adulthood in Taiwan has been lowered from 20 to 18 in the Civil Code, those specified as “unmarried minors” in the existing Nationality Act will be altered to persons “unmarried and under the age of 18,” the MOI said.

Residency requirements are also expected to be relaxed for foreign professionals applying for naturalization. At present, they are required to legally stay in Taiwan for three continuous years, which is defined as being present for at least 183 days each year, before qualifying to apply.

To encourage such talent to remain in the country, the required period of residence is proposed to be shortened to two continuous years or a legal stay of five or more consecutive years for those who do not meet the 183 days per year requirement, the ministry added.

To express gratitude to the international professionals who have contributed to Taiwan in the fields of medicine, social welfare and education on a long-term basis, as well as those who have dedicated themselves to the development of remote areas, the NT$1,200 fee for the nationality certificate will be waived. (POC-E)