Taiwan Naturalisation Requirements

Five consecutive years with at least 183 days each

An ordinary applicant currently domiciled in the territory needs five consecutive years of lawful residence, with at least 183 days in each year. The operative Chinese text includes the 183rd day; it is not a requirement for more than 183 days or a single aggregate across five years.

Legal capacity, conduct and stable support also apply

The ordinary route requires capacity under both the applicant's national law and Taiwan's law, good conduct without the disqualifying criminal record, and sufficient property, professional skills or other stable means of support. Residence alone does not establish eligibility.

Alternative evidence, not a universal CEFR threshold

MOI accepts specified alternatives for basic language and civic knowledge: at least one year at a domestic school, qualifying government courses or the naturalisation test. The ordinary route generally uses at least 200 course hours or a test score of at least 70 out of 100; age and special-route reductions are separate. The test may be oral or written.

Loss of original nationality is usually proved after permission

Article 9 generally requires proof of loss of the original nationality within one year of naturalisation permission, or from reaching the age at which the original country's law permits that loss. Verified legal or administrative barriers may justify an extension. Specified high-level professionals, special contributors and qualifying inability not attributable to the applicant have exceptions; retention is not automatic for ordinary applicants.

Family and specially approved routes have different rules

The Act separately provides reduced or modified requirements for listed family connections and certain specially qualified applicants. Article 5's high-level-professional route requires the prescribed recommendation and review; its shorter residence option is not the ordinary rule for everyone with a job, investment or residence permit.

Naturalisation is not immediate household registration

Nationality applications are decided by the Ministry of the Interior. Newly naturalised people must separately satisfy the applicable immigration residence and settlement requirements; NIA then directs completion of household registration following the settlement certificate. Article 9's restriction while renunciation evidence is outstanding concerns settlement, not a blanket prohibition on holding a residence permission.