Latest update is the new law comes into effect on January 1, 2024. No revisions that I know of, so I think it’s safe to say that you can just go by what’s in the new law.
You mentioned you don’t read Chinese. In that case your best bet is to call the TECO in your jurisdiction and ask them about the process and what documents you need for each step. But wait until after January 1 to call them.
This is what I believe you need to do:
- Apply for a Taiwan NWOHR passport with TECO
- Apply for an entry permit with TECO (waived after 1/1/2024 under new law)
- Apply for a criminal background check in the country of your residence
- Move to Taiwan (enter on your new passport)
- Get a health check at any hospital. Tell them it’s for a TARC/National ID (not sure if this is waived under the new law)
- Apply for your TARC (waived after 1/1/2024 under new law)
- Apply for a work permit with the MOL if you need to work, and then live in Taiwan for one year starting on the date you receive your TARC (waived after 1/1/2024 under new law)
- Pick up your new NHI card at your local NHI administration office after six months of living in Taiwan
- Apply for a residence permit with the NIA
- Take your new residence permit to your local household registration office and exchange it for a National ID card. Congratulations! You are now fully Taiwanese! You will also be issued a new NHI card which reflects your new ID number. You will get it in the mail.
- If you want to travel, apply for a new Taiwan passport (not NWOHR) which will also reflect your new ID number.
That’s it! For each step above, call the relevant department and ask them what documents you need to provide. It will be different for everybody, depending on your situation.
Note that pretty much all documents that are not issued by the Taiwan government need to first be authenticated by the TECO in the jurisdiction where that document was issued, and returned to you, before you may send it to the TECO of your own jurisdiction to proceed with the application.
For example, a birth certificate issued by the State of Texas needs to be sent to the TECO in Houston, and an FBI criminal background check issued by the US Federal Government needs to be sent to the TECRO in Washington DC to be authenticated.
Also note that any document sent to TECO that is NOT written in English or Chinese, and any document sent to an agency in Taiwan that is NOT written in Chinese, first needs to be translated (by you or anyone else) and notarized (either in Taiwan or abroad).