Clarification on Marriage ARC, APRC, and Citizenship in Taiwan

Legal Visa & Residency
1

Hi everyone,

I have a question about residency and citizenship in Taiwan.

Is it true that if someone has a marriage ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) and has been with their Taiwanese partner for five years, they can apply for an independent APRC (Alien Permanent Resident Certificate) before getting divorced, allowing them to stay in Taiwan indefinitely?

Additionally, I heard that a person with a marriage ARC can apply for Taiwanese citizenship after three years. This seems a bit confusing to me because I thought eligibility for permanent residency would typically come before applying for citizenship.

Could anyone clarify this for me? Thank you!

2

Yes. After getting APRC the residence permit is not attached to the marriage to a Taiwanese anymore.

Naturalization have similar requirements to APRC, but additionally one need to renounce the original nationality. But only citizenship gives the right to abode in Taiwan (can’t be deported). A(P)RC only gives permission to abode in Taiwan.

3

so the time requirements i posted about are correct?

4

There are some differences for different kinds of ARC’s. In general those time frames you posted most people can apply after.

APRC National Immigration Agency, R.O.C. (Taiwan) - 0903 Guidelines for Foreign Nationals Applying for Permanent Residency

Foreign nationals who have legally resided in the Republic of China (ROC) for five (5) consecutive years + additional requirements

Naturalization Regular Application

In general, you must be resident in Taiwan for more than 183 days a year for at least five continuous years, or three if you are married to a Taiwanese citizen.

5

For me I just find it bizarre how you only need to do 3 years for citizenship but 5 years for permanent residency (if you’re on a marriage ARC). To me, it should be the other way around.

6

It is bizarre, but correct.

In Taiwan and APRC is just another kind of ARC really and in Taiwan the process is ARC → Naturalisation

Many western countries are Residence → Permanent Residence → Naturalisation. Taiwan is different

7

Well, we are talking about Taiwan here, sooooo… xD bizarre can often be the standard…

8

is this true for foreigner married to taiwan person 3 years and become citizen???

9

Need one clarification here: besides the 3 yrs residency, for spouses of citizens they also need to have been married to said citizen for at least 3 yrs. It is a rule stated by the MOI in an interpretation back in the 90s-00s.

I asked them directly

10

yes. Been that way for many years

11

Was seven years in the 1990’s when I naturalized.

12

Or maybe Taiwan is progressive in that it allows people with family ties to naturalize earlier. Nothing wrong with this.

13

Need a fact check on this, but I think the Japanese system is similar, you can naturalise or apply for PR as well.

14

There are many threads where your questions have already been answered. First thread was started in 2004

15

Should see the discount Spain gives to certain people just for holding certain passports (eg some Latin America countries and Philppines)

16

Italy also gives discounts for those who have recognised Italian ancestry for those whose ancestors renounced Italian citizenship before they were born.