The Cabinet approved a draft amendment to the Nationality Act on Thursday that will ease the requirements for naturalization for foreign professionals and children who are not registered under the Household Registration Act.
Key updates in the most recent amendment include allowing social welfare authorities to represent stateless children in Taiwan applying for naturalization. Regarding foreign professionals, the number of years of residence required for naturalization will be relaxed from three years to two, while applicants must have resided legally in Taiwan for more than 183 days per year for two consecutive years.
Interior Minister Undersecretary Wu Tang-an (吳堂安) said during a press conference on Thursday that the government has been actively working on improving Taiwan’s Nationality Act since 2016, hoping to attract more foreign professional talents. Regarding foreign athletes applying for naturalization, Wu said the Education Ministry has expressed hope to retain several international basketball players in Taiwan, many of whom would meet the updated requirements for naturalization by the end of 2024.