National identification card (Taiwan)

Republic of China national identification card
Front
Back
Type	Identity document
Issued by	Taiwan
First issued	1949
Purpose	Identification
Eligibility	Household registration in Taiwan
Expiration	Indefinite
Cost	NT$50

National identification card
Traditional Chinese	中華民國 國民身分證
Simplified Chinese	中华民国 国民身分证
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōnghuámínguó Guómín Shēnfènzhèng Bopomofo ㄓㄨㄥ ㄏㄨㄚˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄕㄣ ㄈㄣˋ ㄓㄥˋ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Jonghwamin'gwo Gwomin Shenfennjenq Wade–Giles Chung¹-hua²-min²-kuo² Kuo²-min² Shen¹-fen⁴-cheng⁴ Tongyong Pinyin Jhonghuámínguó Guómín Shēnfènjhèng MPS2 Jūnghuámínguó Guómín Shēnfènjèng Hakka Pha̍k-fa-sṳ Chûng-fà-mìn-koet Koet-mìn Sṳ̂n-fun-chṳn Yue: Cantonese Jyutping zung¹-waa⁴-man⁴-gwok³ gwok³-man⁴ san¹-fan²-zing³ Southern Min Hokkien POJ Tiong-hôa-bîn-kok Kok-bîn Sin-hun-chèng Tâi-lô Tiong-hûa-bîn-kok Kok-bîn Sin-hun-tsìng

The Republic of China national identification card (Chinese: 中華民國國民身分證; pinyin: Zhōnghuámínguó Guómín Shēnfènzhèng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tiong-hôa-bîn-kok Kok-bîn Sin-hun-chèng), commonly known as the national identification card of Taiwan, is a compulsory identity document issued to people who hold both nationality and household registration in Taiwan. The National Identification Card served as the evidence for the household registration in Taiwan which grants the holder the right of abode and full civil and political rights in Taiwan. The card is used for virtually all other activities that require identity verification within Taiwan such as opening bank accounts and voting.

Despite the name mentioning "national", not all nationals regulated by Taiwanese nationality law are eligible to apply for an ID card. The national without household registration is not qualified for an ID card. These people, mainly overseas Taiwanese or overseas Chinese, are only eligible to apply for a Taiwan passport. They will need to apply for an Exit & Entry Permit or Resident Certificate if they want to perform short-term visit or long-term residency in Taiwan respectively.

Eligibility

The National Identification Card is issued to nationals with household registration in Taiwan who are 14 years and older. Establishing household registration in Taiwan is required for a national over 14 years of age to possess a National Identification Card. In Taiwanese laws, household registration has close ties to exercise civil and political rights like a citizen (公民). The Taiwanese laws makes a distinction between "registered nationals" (有戶籍國民) and "unregistered nationals" (無戶籍國民), with the former having the right of abode, right to vote, and other benefits of citizenship, while the latter are subject to deportation from Taiwan and need an entry permit to visit Taiwan. While "registered nationals" are entitled to hold the National Identification Card, "unregistered nationals" may only hold the Taiwan Area Resident Certificate. Both groups are eligible to hold the Taiwan passport. The Taiwan Area Resident Certificate is nearly identical to the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) held by foreign residents in Taiwan.

Children under the age of majority in Taiwan (20 years of age) may establish household registration as long as they have direct lineal relatives with household registration. For adult "unregistered nationals" to become "registered nationals", and thus eligible for a National Identification Card, they must reside in Taiwan for a certain period of time, during which they will hold a TARC instead of an ID Card. Currently, for "unregistered nationals" who have direct lineal relatives who are "registered nationals" (e.g. overseas-born Taiwanese) and foreigners who have naturalized as ROC nationals, this period is (1) continuously for one year, (2) 270 days per year for two years, or (3) 183 days per year for five years.

Usage

The Identification Card contains the holder's photo, ID number, Chinese name, and (Minguo calendar) date of birth. The back of the card contains more detailed information, including the person's registered address where official correspondence is sent, as well as the names of his/her legal ascendant(s). If the person moves, he/she must re-register at a municipal office (戶政事務所).

Unlike the Republic of China passport which can be issued overseas at Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices and ROC embassies and consulates, the National Identification Card is only issued in Taiwan at district, municipal, and township offices. Male dual passport holders who register for household registration and the Identification Card also become eligible for military conscription within the Republic of China, unless the person has overseas resident status (僑居身分).

Possession of the Identification Card is required to obtain the People's Republic of China's Taiwan Compatriot Permit for entry into Mainland China. Most countries granting visa-free entry for ROC passport holders require that the passport holder also possess a National Identification Card. Those without National Identification Cards (e.g. "unregistered nationals") will have the National Identification Card field blank in their passports.

Identity card number

Every citizen (and every foreign resident on their Resident Certificate) has a unique ID number. A valid National Identification number consists of one letter and nine digits. The initial letter depends on the place of one's first household registration for citizens and the city where one first registered residence for foreign residents. The first digit depends on sex; 1 for male citizens, 2 for female citizens, 8 for male foreign residents, and 9 for female foreign residents. The last digit is a checksum.

The letter usage is as follows:

Active letters		Letters no longer issued
Letter City/County A Taipei City B Taichung City C Keelung City D Tainan City E Kaohsiung City F New Taipei City G Yilan County H Taoyuan City I Chiayi City J Hsinchu County K Miaoli County	Letter City/County M Nantou County N Changhua County O Hsinchu City P Yunlin County Q Chiayi County T Pingtung County U Hualien County V Taitung County W Kinmen County X Penghu County Z Lienchiang County	Letter Original division Date of final issue Current division L Taichung County 2010-12-25 Taichung City R Tainan County 2010-12-25 Tainan City S Kaohsiung County 2010-12-25 Kaohsiung City Y Yangmingshan Administrative Bureau 1975 Taipei City

See also

• Identity document
• List of national identity card policies by country
• Household registration in Taiwan
• Taiwan passport
• Resident Certificate