# ARC/APRC number format to be changed starting in 2020 **URL:** \ **Category:** Living in Taiwan\ **Tags:** arc\ **Created:** [November 5, 2019, 12:22pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190 "2019-11-05T12:22:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ma3xiu1](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/ma3xiu1/32/81129_2.png) [@ma3xiu1](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/ma3xiu1)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 12:22pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/1 "2019-11-05T12:22:02Z")
Couldn’t find the original thread for this. ARC number format will match the local numbers by October 2020 > **[ARC number format to be changed next year](http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201911050018.aspx)** > > Taipei, Nov. 5 (CNA) A government plan to change the format of the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) number to match that of the Taiwan national ID card will be implemented in October 2020, the National Development Council (NDC) said Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![dan2006](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@dan2006](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/dan2006)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 12:35pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/2 "2019-11-05T12:35:33Z")
So it’s been bumped a full year now… it was supposed to have been implemented this summer if I remember correctly. I hope they allow matching with the number math format of Taiwanese IDs otherwise just changing the number still makes it useless. ---
**Author:** ![DrewC](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/drewc/32/224499_2.png) [@DrewC](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/DrewC)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 1:31pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/3 "2019-11-05T13:31:22Z")
I don’t know how to react to this news. Indifference? 🤷‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![tando](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@tando](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/tando)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 1:40pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/4 "2019-11-05T13:40:06Z")
> [@ma3xiu1](#): > > Couldn’t find the original thread for this. here. > [@MoI changed the ID Number format](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/moi-is-planning-to-change-the-id-number-format/173901): > > [https://www.immigration.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1354897&ctNode=29710&mp=1](https://www.immigration.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1354897&ctNode=29710&mp=1) Early news, but this is as definitive a statement as I’ve seen that TW gov is changing the ID number format used on ARCs to match the format used by citizens. the government has decided to change the coding format of the [ARC Number] to be in accordance with the coding format of the National Identity Card ---
**Author:** ![SuperS54](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/supers54/32/137985_2.png) [@SuperS54](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/SuperS54)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/5 "2019-11-05T16:44:59Z")
# [ARC number format to be changed next year](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-number-format-to-be-changed-next-year/185190) That’s what they said last year. > [@ma3xiu1](#): > > A government plan to change the format of the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) number to match that of the Taiwan national ID card will be implemented in October 2020 Their never was a plan to change the format to match that of the Taiwan national ID card, it’ll be an approximation but still different. ---
**Author:** ![11173](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/11173/32/191308_2.png) [@11173](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/11173)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/6 "2019-11-05T18:27:43Z")
Well, this article is reporting that it will match (if it ever gets implemented). That’s news, and will be much more convenient for transacting with systems that take a national ID number. Online shopping, etc. ---
**Author:** ![squall1](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/squall1/32/66053_2.png) [@squall1](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/squall1)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/7 "2019-11-05T20:22:28Z")
Has there been any word on how this will be handled practically? How do I get the new card, is there a grace period, do I need to reapply for things like E-Gate? Can one simply wait until renewal if on ARC? Does one even have to change if on APRC? ---
**Author:** ![fifieldt](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/fifieldt/32/176346_2.png) [@fifieldt](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/fifieldt)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/8 "2019-11-06T01:52:18Z")
> [@squall1](#): > > Has there been any word on how this will be handled practically? What I heard is that these practical concerns are one of the main drivers behind the delay in implementing this. It’s a million people affected, and every unusual case has to be planned for. ---
**Author:** ![slawa](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/slawa/32/112823_2.png) [@slawa](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/slawa)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/9 "2019-11-06T02:10:00Z")
The article mentions that it will be changed to **one letter and nine numbers** from **two letters and 8 numbers**. It will most likely still be different from Taiwanese ID’s! And some ID verification will still fail as they validate only on 1 and 2 as second character. > [@](#): > > The second character is used to encode gender and nationality status. > > ```auto > Taiwanese national with household registration > 1 - male > 2 - female > ``` > > ```auto > National without household registration (NWOHR) > A (change to 3?) - male > B (change to 4?) - female > ``` > > ```auto > Alien Resident (ARC/APRC) > C (change to 5?) - male > D (change to 6?) - female > ``` This change will make you have to run around and update your ARC number everywhere. bank accounts, phone contract, online accounts, … The only solution is to offer software that will calculate the new number from the old number and force companies/institutions to update it automatically. ![1jfoaw](https://forumosauploads-12829.kxcdn.com/original/3X/d/9/d901afae1b74322bdbbb4e9af2dd79cfd46ff2d6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![KHHville](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/khhville/32/20061_2.png) [@KHHville](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/KHHville)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 2:13am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/10 "2019-11-06T02:13:46Z")
well, the opposite is that foreigners will continue to complain about problems filling out forms online with ARC, like train tix, etc. Thought most foreigners wanted this opportunity to be taken like a local when doing something online. ---
**Author:** ![fifieldt](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/fifieldt/32/176346_2.png) [@fifieldt](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/fifieldt)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/11 "2019-11-06T02:14:51Z")
> [@slawa](#): > > It will most likely still be different from Taiwanese ID’s! And some ID verification will still fail as they validate only on 1 and 2 as second character. I agree with and remain worried about this ---
**Author:** ![KHHville](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/khhville/32/20061_2.png) [@KHHville](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/KHHville)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 2:16am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/12 "2019-11-06T02:16:19Z")
👆 okay. you answered the problem. Good catch. ---
**Author:** ![bbmt](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bbmt](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/bbmt)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/13 "2019-11-06T03:02:21Z")
Good start, but still not enough ! I still don’t get it, why APRC holders can’t buy a gogoro with government support. Why don’t we get free entry into the NP museum ? No elderly discounts for train-tickets Why do some mobile phone companies need a tw guaranteed to sign up for a contract or leave a deposit ? And so much more … ---
**Author:** ![KHHville](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/khhville/32/20061_2.png) [@KHHville](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/KHHville)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 3:05am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/14 "2019-11-06T03:05:09Z")
👇 ![tipoftheice_tipofthei_101b](https://forumosauploads-12829.kxcdn.com/original/3X/6/c/6c48a15b9b4be22e765e4f273ec563d417d5cc9a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![squall1](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/squall1/32/66053_2.png) [@squall1](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/squall1)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 3:28am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/15 "2019-11-06T03:28:14Z")
Don’t worry everyone, I’m sure they will get it figured out. 😬 ---
**Author:** ![silly.putty](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/silly.putty/32/39_2.png) [@silly.putty](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/silly.putty)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 3:38am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/16 "2019-11-06T03:38:40Z")
> [@slawa](#): > > The only solution is to offer software that will calculate the new number from the old number and force companies/institutions to update it automatically. Software? It’s a one-liner. ---
**Author:** ![slawa](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/slawa/32/112823_2.png) [@slawa](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/slawa)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 3:41am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/17 "2019-11-06T03:41:51Z")
Don’t forget that besides changing the second character a new ‘check digit’ needs to be calculated. So the second and the last character will change. You could put any amount of code in one line if you wish. “Software” was just a generalization. ---
**Author:** ![dan2006](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@dan2006](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/dan2006)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/18 "2019-11-06T14:46:51Z")
And you just KNOW that it won’t be as simple as just calling the banks and phone companies to change your number. They will all want you to come in person and wait an hour while they fuss around figuring out how to update the info. ---
**Author:** ![dan2006](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@dan2006](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/dan2006)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/19 "2019-11-06T14:49:35Z")
It’s disgusting. Did you know that a disabled APRC or ARC holder for example isn’t allowed a discounted ticket on the high speed train? And many attractions that give discounts to people in the local area won’t give it to foreigners with ARC … looking at you maokong gondola ---
**Author:** ![alexk](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@alexk](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/alexk)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190/20 "2020-10-02T02:11:35Z")
October 2020 is here. Any word on this yet? TIA [Next page](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/arc-aprc-number-format-to-be-changed-starting-in-2020/185190.md?page=2)