So I’m 32 and I live in the UK. I half English and half Taiwanese, I have an active British passport and a really old Taiwanese expired passport. I want to go back to Taiwan to visit my grandparents and pretty sure I need to apply for a Overseas passport, however I don’t know if I need a Overseas Compatriot Identity Endorsement of a R.O.C. (TAIWAN) Passport or just a normal passport. I don’t want to get into trouble entering Taiwan as well as be enlisted into the military. Any advice would be highly appreciated
We hope you can come back and help serve. Thanks in advance for doing your share!
According to google, intentional evasion of service can result in up to a five year prison sentence, which is a fair bit longer than the conscription period.
If he is 32, that means he would have been born before 2005, meaning a potential four month service period only (i.e. he’d be categorized as a legacy case), if I understand the rules correctly.
Holding a UK passport, or any other additional passport, does not lead to exemption.
As I wrote, I do hope that @Matt_geld will pitch in and help, at least if he cares about Taiwan and its future.
Seems clear enough that the OP doesn’t want to end up doing military service.
I’d suggest contacting the UK TRO. They’ll likely need more details (more than I’d want to share on here if I was you) and give you actual specific and up to date advice.
You should be able to get a certificate of entry with your expired passport at the TECO office nearest you. You can then book a flight to Taiwan using that as a “passport.” Once in Taiwan you could apply for a new one but you’d need a household registration or hmm I think you might not even need that.
That said, doing so either way will kick in your military service notification 100%.
You have a UK passport though, I imagine. Why not just use that? Doubtful they would even flag you.
My son had commitments elsewhere so couldn’t risk travelling to Taiwan without first having the endorsement. Also, he wouldn’t have had time to get it in Taiwan.
Just saying I’d rather play it safe and have the endorsement ready before departing, rather than risk getting held back at the airport and / or being forced into military service.