# Taiwan just (slightly) relaxed Dual Citizenship Rules

**URL:** <https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031>\
**Category:** Taiwan Politics\
**Tags:** naturalization, dual-nationality\
**Created:** [March 24, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031 "2017-03-24T02:42:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 148

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**Author:** ![qwert\_zuiop](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/qwert_zuiop/32/87708_2.png) [@qwert\_zuiop](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/qwert_zuiop)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 4:18am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3065 "2026-09-24T04:18:19Z")

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> [@Mataiou](#):
>
> just can’t get an APRC

Out of curiosity: Anyone knows the reasoning behind that? Why do they allow an ARC, but at APRC they draw the line…? 🤔

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**Author:** ![afterspivak](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@afterspivak](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/afterspivak)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 4:22am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3066 "2026-09-24T04:22:05Z")

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None of the details above make sense. Stop trying to be logical about them!

Guy

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**Author:** ![Brianjones](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@Brianjones](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Brianjones)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 9:11am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3067 "2026-09-24T09:11:33Z")

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Isn’t it interesting that their policy to you becoming a citizen was largely determined by your country of origin, not Taiwan .

It’s so random and passive.

Although I suspect not 100 per cent random when you see the countries that are getting dispensations for this rule e.g.Japanese, Germans.

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**Author:** ![qwert\_zuiop](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/qwert_zuiop/32/87708_2.png) [@qwert\_zuiop](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/qwert_zuiop)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 10:23am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3068 "2026-09-24T10:23:31Z")

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> [@Brianjones](#):
>
> Isn’t it interesting that their policy to you becoming a citizen was largely determined by your country of origin, not Taiwan .

It becomes even less understandable when one considers the reasoning of the other country not to allow renunciation. For some countries, the reason is actually that they don’t (fully) recognize Taiwan and/or don’t recognize documents issued by Taiwanese authorities.

And Taiwan “rewards” those countries by allowing their citizens to naturalize without renunciation. That’s the exact opposite of treating naturalization rules as a sovereign decision!

\* That seemed to be the case with Japan and apparently other countries such as Cambodia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, … - in the case of Japan they seem to have “solved” this issue, though. Seems like Japanese people are no longer exempt…!

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**Author:** ![RandomName](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@RandomName](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/RandomName)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 11:01am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3069 "2026-09-24T11:01:59Z")

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That part isn’t that controversial, and you’ll find similar elsewhere.

For example to sit as an MP or Senator in the Australian parliament you either have to prove you have renounced all other citizenships, or demonstrate that you have taken reasonable steps to do so, but the foreign government won’t allow or accommodate such.

It wouldn’t be right to exclude someone from naturalisation, because a foreign government won’t allow renunciation.

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**Author:** ![qwert\_zuiop](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/qwert_zuiop/32/87708_2.png) [@qwert\_zuiop](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/qwert_zuiop)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 12:21pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3070 "2026-09-24T12:21:41Z")

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> [@RandomName](#):
>
> It wouldn’t be right to exclude someone from naturalisation, because a foreign government won’t allow renunciation.

Personally, I don’t feel the opposite is “fair” either: Why exclude others from dual-citizen because their government allows renunciation, then…?

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**Author:** ![RandomName](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@RandomName](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/RandomName)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3071 "2026-09-24T12:22:57Z")

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But it isn’t because their government’s allow renunciation… it is because taiwan’s law is unfair.

People should lobby their government not to allow it for the purpose of naturalising in Taiwan… unlikely Taiwan will change.

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**Author:** ![qwert\_zuiop](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/qwert_zuiop/32/87708_2.png) [@qwert\_zuiop](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/qwert_zuiop)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 12:26pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3072 "2026-09-24T12:26:34Z")

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> [@RandomName](#):
>
> People should lobby their government not to allow it for the purpose of naturalising in Taiwan

Yeah, that’s exactly the consequence of the law.

Which is totally stupid. Hence my criticism.

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**Author:** ![RandomName](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@RandomName](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/RandomName)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 12:28pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3073 "2026-09-24T12:28:09Z")

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Many nations laws already prohibit renunciation where there is a risk of statelessness, the risk re Taiwan just needs to be pointed out to them. So they update their procedures/policies.

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**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:** [September 24, 2026, 12:55pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3074 "2026-09-24T12:55:20Z")

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> [@Brianjones](#):
>
> Isn’t it interesting that their policy to you becoming a citizen was largely determined by your country of origin, not Taiwan .
> 
> It’s so random and passive.

The renunciation exception has existed in Taiwanese law for a very long time (e.g. Japanese and other countries use it as you mentioned). Only now it does also apply to Germans.  
Taiwanese government did decide to accept dual nationality to prevent naturalization blockade and is not a passive entity here.

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**Author:** ![Brianjones](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@Brianjones](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Brianjones)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3075 "2026-09-24T13:10:14Z")

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Yes that’s my point , they accepted it for Japanese and Germans and some others , why don’t they just accept it for everybody then ?

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**Author:** ![RandomName](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@RandomName](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/RandomName)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3076 "2026-09-24T13:23:39Z")

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They don’t really want people to naturalise… just have appearance of the option.

If they really wanted people to naturalise and be a migrant nation they would allow dual citizenship, for those naturalising.

Especially given the cross straits issue… who is going to want to renounce another citizenship with that risk.

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**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:** [September 24, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3077 "2026-09-24T13:32:23Z")

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> [@Brianjones](#):
>
> why don’t they just accept it for everybody then ?

That’s the thing with exceptions. It applies to anyone who can not renounce, not for others.  
The renunciation requirement was a deliberate choice and it does not look like they want to change it.

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**Author:** ![Brianjones](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@Brianjones](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Brianjones)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 1:34pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3078 "2026-09-24T13:34:07Z")

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Yet they will change it due to other country’s policies , they don’t know what they want to do is the simple answer. There is no thought out immigration policy.

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**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:** [September 24, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3079 "2026-09-24T13:39:15Z")

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> [@Brianjones](#):
>
> Yet they will change it due to other country’s policies

Nothing has changed on Taiwanese side. Renunciation exception does apply to anyone who meets the conditions.  
The only additional policy is that Germans do not have to provide renunciation rejections (like I was initially asked to). Mostly because Taiwan’s representative office in Germany has no access to federal government seals and signature examples, due to lack of official recognition. Hence they can not legalize the renunciation rejections. To avoid this diplomatic deadlock they waive the requirement proactively since they know renunciations are not possible anyway.  
Renunciation has an official document in Germany. Rejection of the application to renounce is just ‘a formless letter’ from government with a seal and signature saying the conditions are not met.

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**Author:** ![Marco](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/marco/32/179744_2.png) [@Marco](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Marco)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 6:22am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3080 "2026-10-01T06:22:07Z")

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53 posts were split to a new topic: [The Right to a Name in Taiwan](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/the-right-to-a-name-in-taiwan/259861)

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**Author:** ![Brianjones](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@Brianjones](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Brianjones)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3085 "2026-09-24T13:58:40Z")

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> [@slawa](#):
>
> Mostly because Taiwan’s representative office in Germany has no access to federal government seals and signature examples, due to lack of official recognition.

The whole thing is completely ridiculous but I’m glad it worked out for you and German citizens. It seems that the Germans representative office the German MOFA and **most importantly Taiwan rep office in Germany were willing to play ball on this.**

My country of citizenship doesn’t even have a rep office in Taiwan ! There is a Taiwan rep office there though.

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**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:** [September 24, 2026, 2:02pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3086 "2026-09-24T14:02:58Z")

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> [@Brianjones](#):
>
> It seems that the Germans representative office the German MOFA and the Taipei rep office in Germany were willing to play ball on this.

They were extremely helpful. Huge props to ‘Frau Steinhauer - Head of Legal and Consular Department’

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**Author:** ![Brianjones](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@Brianjones](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Brianjones)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3088 "2026-09-24T14:04:43Z")

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> [@slawa](#):
>
> They were extremely helpful. Huge props to ‘Frau Steinhauer - Head of Legal and Consular Department’

For this to work you’ve got to have senior people who support it otherwise it goes nowhere.

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**Author:** ![CaptainRedHair](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@CaptainRedHair](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/CaptainRedHair)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 4:59am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/taiwan-just-slightly-relaxed-dual-citizenship-rules/159031/3106 "2026-09-25T04:59:56Z")

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Regarding the Netherlands: They have exceptions for acquiring dual citizenship. The most relevant to most people would be that if you have a Dutch spouse, you don’t need to renounce. Also, Taiwanese nationals are specifically excluded from having to renounce.

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