TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The National Immigration Agency on Tuesday said that Chinese spouses who have not submitted proof of renunciation of their Chinese household registration have been notified to do so within three months or forfeit their Taiwanese household registration.
Some Chinese spouses in Taiwan received notices from the NIA requiring them to submit a notarized proof of renunciation of their original household registration, certified by the Straits Exchange Foundation, per CNA. Mainland Affairs Council Chair Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) explained at the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday that Chinese spouses must renounce their Chinese household registration and ID and submit proof to the NIA to complete the legal procedures for obtaining a Taiwan ID card.
In a press release at noon, the NIA also said that approximately 140,000 Chinese spouses have been approved for permanent residency in Taiwan. A review found that the majority have already submitted proof of renunciation, but some individuals residing in Taiwan have not yet done so, possibly due to being unable to return to China because of the pandemic or other factors.
Failure to provide this proof by the deadline may result in the revocation of permanent residency and notification to the household registration office to remove the person from Taiwan’s household registry. However, if the individual's original grounds for residency still exist, they may reapply for long-term residency under Article 31, Paragraph 3 of the Cross-Strait Act.
The NIA said that because cross-strait relations are based on the principle of single household registration to ensure orderly exchanges, Article 9-1 of the Cross-Strait Act, amended and effective since March 1, 2004, prohibits Taiwanese citizens from holding household registration in China or a Chinese passport. The NIA said this provision prevents overlapping or conflicting rights and obligations caused by dual identities and maintains order in cross-strait interactions.
The NIA emphasized that some individuals who received the notices have already submitted the required documents. Those who face insurmountable difficulties obtaining proof of renunciation may report their situation to the NIA, which will “seek reasonable and appropriate solutions.”
