Fixing Land Act Art. 18 - Why APRC holders are still treated as "Non-Reciprocal"

Legal Visa & Residency
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Hi everyone,

As many of you may know, Article 18 of the Land Act enforces the “Principle of Reciprocity.” This means that even if you have an APRC, pay taxes, and have been here for 10+ years, you can be legally barred from owning property simply because of your country of birth (or even your specific US state).

Reached out to the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) for clarification. The MOI’s response was a standard departmental “no”: they confirmed that the law makes no distinction between a tourist and a permanent resident (APRC holder). If your country doesn’t have reciprocity, you are out of luck—unless the law itself is amended.

To address this, me and my friend started a formal petition on the JOIN platform to exempt APRC holders from these reciprocity requirements for primary residences.

The Goal: 5,000 signatures in the next 57 days to force a public response and a potential legislative review.

Petition Link: [https://join.gov.tw/idea/detail/38f6272a-2290-4e99-9664-e54114de5633]

I know this has been a “dead horse” topic for years, but with the government currently desperate to show they are “retaining talent” in 2026, there might actually be enough political pressure to move the needle this time.

Does anyone have experience fighting the MOI on this, or ideas on how to get more local Taiwanese support for the petition?

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Generally, treating foreign nationals at “equals” is not an accepted concept in society, so “fairness” arguments fall flat. Better to come up with a large number of practical and specific case studies that cannot be fixed by methods other than changing laws/regs.

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[!quote] AI translation

Proposal: Exempting Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) Holders from the Reciprocity Requirements of Article 18 of the Land Act

Proposal Content or Suggested Matters

Problem Description
According to Article 18 of the Land Act, foreigners acquiring land rights in Taiwan must adhere to the “Principle of Equality and Reciprocity,” meaning their home country must grant the same rights to Taiwanese citizens. However, Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) holders have already centered their lives, families, and tax contributions in Taiwan. Restricting their right to purchase property based solely on the policies of their country of birth—which are beyond their control—creates barriers to social integration for professional talent deeply rooted in Taiwan. This policy forces long-term residents into indefinite renting and increases the difficulty of providing a stable home for their families.

Interests and Impact
It is proposed to amend the Land Act or have the Ministry of the Interior issue supplementary regulations to exempt APRC holders from the restrictions of the reciprocity principle.

Target Audience:
Limited strictly to individuals who have passed government vetting and obtained permanent residency.

Objective:
To treat APRC holders as “local residents” when purchasing real estate for self-use, exempting them from reciprocity clauses based on their country of origin.

Expected Benefits

  1. Talent Retention: Encourage high-level foreign professionals to develop long-term careers in Taiwan by allowing them to purchase homes for self-occupation.
  2. Economic Integration: APRC holders contribute directly to the local economy; home ownership increases their sense of identity and financial connection to Taiwan’s future.
  3. Human Rights and Fairness: Align Taiwan’s policies with international standards regarding the treatment of permanent residents, ensuring those who call Taiwan “home” are not treated as short-term speculators.
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Buyin land near military bases???

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