Application for a First Passport

※ For first-time passport applicants born abroad:

- Born on or before February 9, 1980: You may apply for an ROC (Taiwan) passport if your father held Taiwan nationality at the time of your birth.

- Born on or after February 10, 1980: You may apply for a Taiwan passport if either parent held Taiwan nationality at the time of your birth.

※ Processing time for e-Passports is approximately 8 weeks: e-Passports must be sent back to the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) in Taipei for production, which requires a longer processing time. Please ensure you allow sufficient time for your application.

※ In case of emergency requiring immediate passport use: Please provide supporting documentation of the emergency to apply for a non-biometric passport (the application process is the same as for an e-Passport). Please be aware that this passport is not eligible for Visa Waiver Program (visa-free) travel.

※Important Notice regarding Entry Rules (Effective January 1, 2024):

Nationals Without Household Registration (NWHR) holding a valid Taiwan e-Passport are no longer required to apply for an entry permit and may stay in Taiwan for up to 3 months. Those who do not need an entry permit are also exempt from filling out the "ROC Entry/Exit Application Form."

NWHRs holding a non-biometric Taiwan passport must apply for a Temporary Entry Permit at the National Immigration Agency office located before the immigration counters upon arrival in Taiwan.

(Note: All Nationals Without Household Registration returning to Taiwan, whether holding an e-Passport or a non-biometric passport, must possess a confirmed return air ticket.)

※Applicants must apply in person. For minors, if the parents' marriage is still valid, the applicant may be accompanied by one parent (either father or mother) acting as the legal guardian. (Note: The accompanying parent must bring an original Household Registration Transcript issued in Taiwan within the last 3 months containing marriage registration notes, plus one photocopy, to prove the validity of the marriage. If a Household Registration Transcript showing marriage registration cannot be provided, both parents must sign in Field 11 of the passport application form.)

Essential Documents and Guidelines
1.ROC (Taiwan) Passport Application Form	Submit one completed Application Form for ROC (Taiwan) Passport, filling out Sections 1 to 10, including the phone number and email in Section 9. Sign in Section 11 on the back. In Section 12, on the line after “I hereby acknowledge receipt of _______,” please fill in the passport holder’s (applicant’s) Chinese name clearly. (English Sample) If the applicant is a minor under 18, the father, mother, or legal guardian must check the appropriate box and sign in the lower part of Section 11 under the statement: “I hereby declare that the applicant is a minor, and the application for this passport is duly consented to by □ father □ mother □ legal guardian.” If the applicant is under 7 years old, the signature field for the applicant in Section 11 must be signed by a parent, writing the child’s name followed by (signed by father) or (signed by mother).
2. Two photos (taken within the past 6 months)	Submit two passport photos: Please refer to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidelines for e-passport photo specifications. Photos must be recent (taken within the past 6 months), with a white background, and should not be identical to photos used in any other identification documents. (Guidelines for e-passport photographs) If the submitted photos do not meet the required specifications, our office will notify the applicant after receiving the return notice from the Bureau of Consular Affairs, and the applicant will need to retake and resubmit the photos. Processing time will be extended accordingly.
3. Identification Document	Applicant’s U.S. passport/citizenship certificate/residence permit/driver’s license (any one of these). If the applicant is a minor and does not have any of the above documents, a birth certificate may be used instead.
4.1 Proof of ROC (Taiwan) nationality for parents and related documents	Both parents’ Taiwan passports: submit one original and one copy each. The originals will be returned after verification. If either parent is not a Taiwan national, submit one original and one copy of their foreign passport. The original will be returned after verification. If either parent is a Mainland China resident, they must submit a declaration stating that the applicant has not obtained a PRC passport and is not registered in Mainland China.
4.2 Birth Certificate	Submit the applicant’s birth certificate. If the birth certificate was not issued by a state government within this office’s jurisdiction, it must first be verified by the appropriate Taiwan overseas mission that has authority over the issuing location. Ensure that the birth certificate matches the passports of the applicant and both parents in the following details: Full English names, Dates of birth, Places of birth If any discrepancies exist, submit supporting documents such as name change records, naturalization certificates, marriage certificates, old passports, driver’s licenses, or Social Security cards to establish that all parties are the same individuals.
5. Parents’ Marriage Certificate	If the parents are married in Taiwan, please provide the marriage certificate issued by the household registration office or a household registration transcript issued within the past three months showing the marriage registration, with one original and one copy each. Originals will be returned after verification. If the parents were married abroad and have not registered their marriage in Taiwan, if the marriage certificate was not issued by a state government within this office’s jurisdiction, it must first be verified by the appropriate Taiwan overseas mission. Please ensure that the marriage certificate matches the passports of the couple in the following details: Full English names, Dates of birth, and Places of birth. If there are discrepancies, submit supporting documents such as name change records, naturalization certificates, old passports, driver’s licenses, or Social Security cards to verify that the individuals are the same. Legitimacy: If the applicant was born more than 181 days after the parents’ marriage, the applicant is considered a legitimate child. If the applicant is born out of wedlock: 1. Father is a foreign national, mother is a Taiwan national: The applicant can acquire Taiwan nationality through the mother (only for those born after February 10, 1980, according to the Nationality Act). Please provide a single status certificate issued by the U.S. government for the mother during the conception period, verified as required (documents not issued in this jurisdiction must be verified by the appropriate Taiwan mission). If the mother has a household registration in Taiwan, provide a household registration transcript issued within the last three months (including all remarks), with one original and one copy. The original will be returned after verification. 2. Father is a Taiwan national, mother is a foreign national: The father must first complete the acknowledgment of paternity registration. § If the father has household registration in Taiwan, submit the child’s birth certificate, the mother’s single status certificate, and other required documents to the household registration office in Taiwan. § Only after completing the acknowledgment of paternity can the child acquire ROC nationality and apply for a passport.
6. Minor applicant (under 18 years old)	If the parents’ marriage is still valid, please provide a household registration transcript issued within the last three months to prove the marriage is ongoing. Only one parent needs to sign Section 11 of the passport application form. If proof of continued marriage cannot be provided, both parents must sign Section 11. Parents must sign the “Agreement on Child’s Surname.” If one parent is a foreign national and the child is to take the foreign parent’s surname, that foreign parent must also sign a “Declaration of Chinese Name” to confirm their Chinese name. If the minor applicant’s parents are divorced, the accompanying parent must provide proof of custody, such as a divorce decree, other court documents, or a household registration transcript issued within the last three months showing the custody information in the remarks section.
7. Fees:	$45 (valid for 10 years)/ $31 (5-year)/ $10 (1-year).Payment Methods: Cash, Money Order, or Cashier’s Check payable to “TECO in Houston.” Note: Personal checks are not accepted.
8. Processing Time	1. E-passport: approximately 6 to 8 weeks 2. Non-biometric passport: approximately 5 to 7 business days
Additional Required Documents and Instructions	Taiwan Passport Holders Without Household Registration Returning to Taiwan Must have a return or departure ticket. If the intended stay in Taiwan exceeds 3 months, please also complete the ROC Taiwan Area Entry and Exit Application Form and attach one passport photo. If holding a non-biometric passport, apply for a Temporary Entry Permit at the Immigration Office counter before entry. Intending to Apply for Residence and Household Registration in Taiwan, please refer to the “Guidelines for Nationals Without Registered Permanent Residence in the Taiwan Area Applying for Registered Permanent Residence in the Taiwan Area” issued by the National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior.

Notes:

Entry, exit, and nationality-related regulations: First-time overseas passport applicants are considered “non-registered nationals in Taiwan.”
- If the applicant is a minor under 18 whose parents had household registration at the time of birth, the applicant may enter Taiwan with either a ROC passport or a foreign passport to apply for settlement and household registration.
- Adults 18 years or older must enter with a ROC passport to apply for settlement and household registration.
- It is recommended to review the relevant regulations on the National Immigration Agency website (www.immigration.gov.tw) before entry and prepare the necessary documents in advance.
- Please also refer to the guide: “Process for U.S.-born Children to Obtain ROC (Taiwan) Passport and Household Registration.”
Documents required for household registration in Taiwan: Domestic authorities may request:
- Child’s birth certificate
- Parents’ marriage certificate
- Vaccination records for children under 6 years old
- Health check documents for children 7 years and older

All English and Chinese translations of these documents must be verified by the ROC overseas mission.

For applicants 18 years or older, an FBI-issued criminal record certificate (English and Chinese verified version) is required, valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. Verification can only be done by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the U.S. See: TECRO Verification Instructions.

For e-passport holders:
- No entry permit is required; stay of up to 3 months is allowed.
- To extend stay, submit the “ROC Taiwan Area Entry and Exit Application Form” when applying for a passport to request an entry permit.
- After entry, you can extend the stay once for 3 months at an immigration service station (fee: NT$300).
- In the application form, under Permit Types, check “Lin-Jen Entry Permit”, and the issued permit will be stuck inside the passport and will be valid for the same period as the passport.
For non-electronic passport holders without an entry permit:
- Apply for a Temporary Entry Permit at the airport upon arrival, valid for 3 months. Generally, it cannot be extended.
- If the intended stay exceeds 3 months, an entry permit must be applied for. Submit the “ROC Taiwan Area Entry and Exit Application Form” when applying for the passport to request an entry permit, which can then be extended once for 3 months at an immigration service station (fee: NT$300).