National identification card (Taiwan)

The Republic of China national identification card (Chinese: 中華民國國民身分證; pinyin: Zhōnghuámínguó Guómín Shēnfènzhèng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tiong-hôa-bîn-kok Kok-bîn Sin-hun-chèng), commonly known as the national identification card of Taiwan, is a compulsory identity document issued to people who hold both nationality and household registration in Taiwan. The National Identification Card served as the evidence for the household registration in Taiwan which grants the holder the right of abode and full civil and political rights in Taiwan. The card is used for virtually all other activities that require identity verification within Taiwan such as opening bank accounts and voting.

Republic of China national identification card
Front
Back
TypeIdentity document
Issued by Republic of China (Taiwan)
First issued1946
PurposeIdentification
Valid inFree area of the Republic of China
EligibilityHousehold registration in Taiwan
ExpirationIndefinite
CostNT$50
National identification card
Traditional Chinese中華民國
國民身分證
Simplified Chinese中华民国
国民身分证
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhōnghuámínguó Guómín Shēnfènzhèng
Bopomofoㄓㄨㄥ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄈㄣˋ ㄓㄥˋ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhJonghwamin'gwo Gwomin Shenfennjenq
Wade–GilesChung¹-hua²-min²-kuo² Kuo²-min² Shen¹-fen⁴-cheng⁴
Tongyong PinyinJhonghuámínguó Guómín Shēnfènjhèng
MPS2Jūnghuámínguó Guómín Shēnfènjèng
Hakka
Pha̍k-fa-sṳChûng-fà-mìn-koet Koet-mìn Sṳ̂n-fun-chṳn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingzung¹-waa⁴-man⁴-gwok³ gwok³-man⁴ san¹-fan²-zing³
Southern Min
Hokkien POJTiong-hôa-bîn-kok Kok-bîn Sin-hun-chèng
Tâi-lôTiong-hûa-bîn-kok Kok-bîn Sin-hun-tsìng

Despite the name mentioning "national", not all nationals regulated by Taiwanese nationality law are eligible to apply for an ID card. Nationals without household registration are not qualified for an ID card. These people, mainly overseas Taiwanese or overseas Chinese, are only eligible to apply for a Taiwan passport. They will need to apply for an Exit & Entry Permit or Resident Certificate if they want to perform short-term visit or long-term residency in Taiwan respectively.

Eligibility

edit

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

edit

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 (戶政事務所).

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 (僑居身分).

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.

Identity card number

edit

Every citizen (and every foreign resident on their Resident Certificate) has a unique ID number. A valid National Identification number consists of one letter and nine digits. The initial letter depends on the place of one's first household registration for citizens and the city where one first registered residence for foreign residents. The first digit depends on sex; 1 for male citizens, 2 for female citizens, 8 for male foreign residents, and 9 for female foreign residents. The last digit is a checksum.

The letter usage is as follows:

Active letters Letters no longer issued
Letter City/County
A Taipei City
B Taichung City
C Keelung City
D Tainan City
E Kaohsiung City
F New Taipei City
G Yilan County
H Taoyuan City
I Chiayi City
J Hsinchu County
K Miaoli County
Letter City/County
M Nantou County
N Changhua County
O Hsinchu City
P Yunlin County
Q Chiayi County
T Pingtung County
U Hualien County
V Taitung County
W Kinmen County
X Penghu County
Z Lienchiang County
Letter Original division Date of final issue Current division
L Taichung County 2010-12-25 Taichung City
R Tainan County 2010-12-25 Tainan City
S Kaohsiung County 2010-12-25 Kaohsiung City
Y Yangmingshan Administrative Bureau 1975 Taipei City

See also

edit

References

edit