Nationality Law of The Republic of China - Dual Nationality and Naturalization

Dual Nationality and Naturalization

See also: United States nationality law#Dual citizenship, German nationality law#Dual citizenship, Koreans in Japan, and Foreign-born Japanese

Article 9 of the ROC Nationality Act requires prospective naturalized citizens to first renounce their previous nationality, possibly causing those persons to become stateless if they then fail to obtain ROC nationality. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has noted that this has caused thousands of Vietnamese women to become stateless. Article 9 does not apply to overseas Chinese holding foreign nationality who seek to exercise ROC nationality. Such persons do not need to naturalize because they are already legally ROC nationals.

The Act does not restrict ROC citizens from becoming dual nationals of other countries. Dual nationals are however restricted by Article 20 from holding most public offices in Taiwan. Indeed many immigrants to Taiwan give up their original nationality, obtain ROC citizenship, then apply again for their original nationality—which some countries will restore, some after a waiting period. (Notably, the United States government has no such procedure.) This entire process is fully legal under ROC law, though statistics are not available regarding how many people do this. The Act also permits former nationals of the ROC to apply for restoration of their nationality.

However by law, Taiwan(ROC) citzens cannot be allowed to become dual nationals of China(PRC). If they obtain the passport of China or household registeration of China, they will be deprived of all of their citzenship of Taiwan.

The left is Passport of Taiwan (Republic of China), and the right is Passport of China (People's Republic of China). They are different and mutual exclusive in law; most people living in Taiwan only will and only can choose one of these two to identify themselves by current laws.