This issue has been talked about at length (links below), but I want to “sanity check” some things.
I just got my Shenfenzheng and HHR under the new 2024 rules. That matters because I have never lived in taiwan for more than 6 months continuously. I have never had NHI.
Here are my questions.
True or False? If I deregister/remove/cancel my HHR because I am moving abroad for a long time (more than 2 years), I can keep my physical shenfenzheng card and number.
True or False? If I don’t have HHR, I can still visit Taiwan (tourism or family visit) for a short period (approx 30 days), and this does not require me to register for HHR.
True or False? With my shenfenzheng but without HHR, I can still use my shenfenzheng as identification and everyday life things. When an HHR is required (like for government stuff), they will ask for an HHR transcript or report, which I will not have.
True or false? Someday in the far future (more than 2 years, approx 5-10 years), if I come to Taiwan and want to live here (“domicile” here), I would register my HHR and my shenfenzheng would somehow activate. (Assume current laws still apply, because laws can always change). I would not have to go through the Immigration Administration (NIA) like I did to go from NWOHR to NWHR.
Hopefully I was detailed enough so these have clear true/false answers.
Links
This person suggests that if you never reside and have HHR for 6 continuous months, then you don’t get auto-enrolled in NHI (national health insurance)
Other related links
etc.
Keywords: household registration, dual national dual citizenship
Extremely niche concerns (not that there is anything wrong with that) . . . I wonder if anyone on this board has experienced, or wished to experience, what you are proposing to do.
It could potentially be more helpful if you did what you’re proposing to do and reported back to us about what happened!
All 4 questions are true. Also there is no such thing as a HHR transcript you need to show most government agencies. That is called your Hukou. Today I went to get a new NHI card, all I needed was my ID card, a photo and NT$200. Don’t need to bring my Hukou or any other documents. It’s very rare any government agency will ask to see your HHR document. Passport and ID card will be enough.
I think the combo of all 4 is niche, but #1 isn’t. I would estimate thousands of people had HHR but then left Taiwan physically for more than 2 years. To which, I believe, current practice is that you automatically lose your HHR.
People who go to school abroad.
Work and live abroad
Work and live in mainland China (where they don’t have access to Taiwan’s NHI)
And, I still agree: niche. Probably less than 1% of Taiwan passport holder. And probably less than 5% of dual nationals. Most probably don’t cancel their HHR and just let it lapse.
There are also tax consequences if someone holds a HHR because Taiwan can tax worldwide income. Not having an HHR is a way to avoid this tax issue. (Granted, current enforcement of tax for people who resides outside taiwan 300+ days a year is low, but that may change.)
I am still a little unsure about #2 and not needing to register HHR for short visits. I have seen posts suggesting you always need to register according to the written law but that enforcement and detection is nil because it is such an edge case on an already edge case.
Tactics for #2 might be:
A. Enter on the other passport (USA, Australia). (Though there are posts suggesting that if you have a Taiwan passport, you are supposed to enter on that passport, but that this is not enforced). This works because NIA has no record of your entry so nobody is alerted.
B. Enter on Taiwan passport but just don’t register for HHR. NIA has a record and might ask why you don’t register.
C. Ask a lawyer in Taiwan. (Costs money, and they may only be able to advise on written law and not implemented practice)
Or (venting frustration) do what some of my family members do and say, “my cousin/neighbor does it this way so I know that is right”
As others said, True for 1-4. Your HHR will only go between “active” or “inactive” unless you lose your nationality or HHR through some rare way like establishing a mainland hukou so you no longer deal with the NIA. For 1, the proper word you are looking for is 遷出 (“move-out”).
Link 1 is outdated since the late 2024 changes. You will be auto-enrolled after 6 months or when you start working in Taiwan. I’ve seen people ask if moving out their HHR will stop the NHI enrollment process but haven’t seen anybody say they tried it out and it’s probably too early for anyone to report back if this works. You’ll probably be one of the first to try.
It’s not. You are a citizen with HHR. Same rules apply to all citizens regardless of how they got their HHR. You never lose your HHR, it just becomes inactive if you move abroad for a long time.
To be taxed on worldwide income not only must you reside in Taiwan with your immediate family ( spouse / children ) but you must also have active NHI.
So before you go on about worldwide taxes read the tax laws. If you cannot read Chinese visit the tax office.
Article 17
Those who have moved in from other jurisdictional domiciliary areas (township, city, district) for 3 months or more shall be subject to Moving-in Registration.
A person having household registration initially, who moved out to a foreign country, enters ROC territory with an ROC passport or entrance documents, and stays for over three months shall apply for the Moving-in Registration. When the person having household registration is originally approved to have nationality restored, the above item shall be applied likewise.
Which passport you want to enter on is entirely up to you. If you enter on your foreign passport though you need to abide by the same restrictions as visa-free/ARC terms given to you on that passport. https://www.roc-taiwan.org/ie/post/7214.html
This is false. People with dual citizenship can enter on foreign passport and be issued an ARC or JFRV but not APRC or Gold Card. Or they can come in as a tourist.
Also, below is a link to another post with @AvaiVayayana that discusses this question, hence what I mean by “it is sometimes mentioned”, i.e. i do not know the law, application, and actual practice, but at least a few places don’t believe it is 100% false.
that’s a very specific situation, i.e. a male national over 15 but under 36 who hasn’t done his military service yet or doesn’t have overseas compatriot status. That is very, very specific.
Thank you. That is helpful that the ROC website link at the end of your post implies that dual citizens can enter on a tourist visa or visa exemption on the non Taiwan passport.
For the sake of convenience, here is the screenshot with the google translation from chinese to english.
I went to Tamsui who said I could do the "HHR " move-out using this paper form. Which i have to submit to the HHR office. I will also submit a copy of my plane ticket, but I think it is not required.
They also said I could not estimate a date of exit. I need to submit the exact form.
Seems like it, the written part says to wait for you to exit Taiwan on your TW passport first, then for the head of the household (戶長) to apply for the move-out procedure (遷出登記).
(Google Translate with edits)
Application for Move-out Registration
Subject: Please help me handle the household registration for leaving the country.
Note: I am ———— and —————— [names] in the household
a total of ————people booked on ————year ——month ——day of the Republic of China
will be leaving the country with a Republic of China passport, please apply to have the household registration office check your exit documents and handle the household registration transfer after leaving the country.
Applicant: ———— (signature or seal)
ID card number:
Contact Number:
Domestic contact person name:
Contact Address:
Contact Number:
To be super specific: counter person told me that if I submit the form (second image) then I do not have to do anything from the long instructions (first image).
It is “either/or” (also called xor, exclusive or).
You don’t have to do both image 1 and 2.
1 alone okay.
2 alone okay.
Caveat: just what the counter person said. Not yet done anything
My plan is to do image2 (form) before I leave. Then my family will double check in a few months that the HHR/hukou no longer includes me.
