View source for Taiwan passport

{{Short description|Passport of Republic of China (Taiwan) issued to ROC citizens}}
{{Distinguish|Chinese passport{{!}}People's Republic of China passport}}
{{Infobox Identity document
|document_name       = Republic of China (Taiwan) passport<br>{{nobold|{{lang|zh-TW|中華民國護照}}}}
|image               = Republic of China (Taiwan) Passport 2020.svg
|image_caption       = A front cover for the current, 2021 version of Republic of China (Taiwan)'s [[biometric passport]] [[File:EPassport logo.svg|20px]]
| image2              = Republic of China Passport Data Page.jpg
| image_caption2      = Data page of a second generation biometric passport
|date_first_issued   = 1912 (first version; Beiyang Government)<br>1929 (booklet)<br>1945 (in Taiwan)<br>January 1995 (machine-readable passport)<br>29 December 2008 (first biometric passport) <br>December 2017 (second biometric passport)<br> 11 January 2021 (''current version'')
|using_jurisdiction  = {{flagdeco|Republic of China}} [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)]]
| valid_jurisdictions = All jurisdictions<br>except [[mainland China]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Jamaica]], [[Venezuela]], [[Moldova]], [[Ascension Island]], [[Cuba]], [[Somalia]]
|document_type       = [[Passport]]
|purpose             = Identification
|eligibility         = [[Taiwanese nationality law|Nationality law of Republic of China]]
|expiration          = 3–10 years
|cost=[[New Taiwan dollar|NT$]]900–1,300
}}

The '''Republic of China (Taiwan) passport'''{{efn|{{lang-zh |t=中華民國護照 |tp=Jhong-huá Mín-guó hù-jhào |p = Zhōnghuá Mínguó hùzhào |poj=Tiong-hûa Bîn-kok hō͘-chiàu }}}}<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/12/02/2003390781 |title = St. Lucia customs woes show utility of new passport |newspaper = [[Taipei Times]] |page = 3 |author = Cheng Hsu-kai |date = December 2, 2007 |access-date = September 8, 2008 |archive-date = December 29, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181229031421/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/12/02/2003390781 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://china.org.cn/english/China/67027.htm |title = Taiwanese Passport Move Denounced |work = China Internet Information Center |date = June 14, 2003 |access-date = 2008-09-08 |archive-date = 2011-05-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110520085931/http://china.org.cn/english/China/67027.htm |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1758230.stm |title = Taiwan passport change angers China |work = [[BBC News Online]] |date = 13 January 2002 |access-date = 2008-09-08 |archive-date = 2019-04-10 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190410205858/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1758230.stm |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.iseco.org.tw/e_Consular_Services.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041231040003/http://www.iseco.org.tw/e_Consular_Services.htm |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2004-12-31 |title = ISECO-Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei |publisher = Iseco.org.tw |access-date = 2008-09-08 }}</ref> is the [[passport]] issued to [[nationality|nationals]] of the [[Taiwan|Republic of China]] (ROC, commonly known as Taiwan). The ROC passport is also generally referred to as a '''Taiwanese passport'''.{{efn|{{lang-zh |t=臺灣護照 |tp=Tái-wan hù-jhào |p = Táiwān hùzhào |poj=Tâi-oân hō͘-chiàu }}}} In September 2020, approximately 60.87 percent of [[Taiwanese nationality law|Taiwanese citizens]] possessed a valid passport.<ref name=cna>{{cite web|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/202009065003.aspx |title=護照1948年至今改版封面一次看 82年前宋靄齡版本也曝光 |date=6 September 2020 |language=zh-tw |publisher=[[Central News Agency (Taiwan)]]|access-date=2022-02-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115164712/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/202009065003.aspx |archive-date=2022-01-15 }}</ref> All passports published in Taiwan since 2008 have been [[Biometric passport|biometric]].

The validity and international recognition of Taiwan passport are complicated due to the ongoing dispute over [[political status of Taiwan]] as well as the [[history of the Republic of China]] since the country had once controlled the territories of today's [[China|People's Republic of China]] (PRC) and [[Mongolia]]. In the past, all subjects and their offspring related to the historical or current territories of the ROC were eligible to be admitted for the passport. However, constitutional reforms in the 1990s and 2000s restricted citizenship rights only to those with [[household registration in Taiwan]].<ref>Roger Mark Selya, Development and Demographic Change in Taiwan (World Scientific, 2004), p. 329.</ref>  Taiwanese government currently recognizes that foreign nationals with Taiwanese or Chinese descent must meet [[#Eligibility for Taiwan passports|certain conditions]] to be eligible to obtain a passport, but do not have [[Household registration in Taiwan|household registration]] in Taiwan (i.e. they are "nationals without household registration", or "NWOHR"), and thus do not enjoy the [[right of abode]] in Taiwan.{{efn|Lack of right of abode means that the passport holder cannot be deported to the issuing country of the passport. Similar examples include [[British Overseas Citizen]]s who do not have the right of abode in the United Kingdom.}}<ref>Shelley Rigger, "Nationalism versus Citizenship on Taiwan," in ''Changing Meanings of Citizenship in Modern China'', Merle Goldman, Elizabeth Jean Perry ed. (Harvard University Press, 2002), 360-61.</ref> Countries granting visa-free privileges to Taiwan passport holders often require a Taiwanese [[National Identification Card (Republic of China)|National ID]] number imprinted on the passport's biodata page, which signifies the holder's right of abode in Taiwan.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) passport is one of five passports with the most improved rating globally since 2006 in terms of the number of countries that its holders may visit without a visa. As of  September 2020, holders of ordinary Republic of China passports (for ROC nationals with [[Household registration in Taiwan|Taiwan area household registration]] who therefore possess right of abode in Taiwan and also the right to obtain a National Identity Card) had [[Visa requirements for Taiwanese citizens|visa-free or visa on arrival access to 150 countries and territories]], with 20 additional countries granting [[eVisa|electronic visa]]s,<ref name=cna/> ranking the Republic of China (Taiwan) passport 32nd in the world in terms of freedom of travel (tied with the Mauritius and St. Vincent and the Grenadines passports), according to the [[Henley Passport Index]] 2020.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Global Ranking - Passport Index 2018|url=https://www.henleyglobal.com/files/download/HPI2018/PI%202018%20INFOGRAPHS%20GLOBAL%20180518.pdf|publisher=Henley & Partners|access-date=22 May 2018|archive-date=29 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829210611/https://www.henleyglobal.com/files/download/HPI2018/PI%202018%20INFOGRAPHS%20GLOBAL%20180518.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-henley--partners-visa-restrictions-index-celebrates-ten-years-530277751.html |title=The Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index Celebrates Ten Years |access-date=2015-09-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516135305/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-henley--partners-visa-restrictions-index-celebrates-ten-years-530277751.html |archive-date=2016-05-16 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.henleypassportindex.com/assets/2020/Q1/HENLEY%20PASSPORT%20INDEX%202020%20Q1%20INFOGRAPHIC%20GLOBAL%20RANKING_191219.pdf |title=Passport Index |access-date=2020-01-12 |archive-date=2020-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108092847/https://www.henleypassportindex.com/assets/2020/Q1/HENLEY%20PASSPORT%20INDEX%202020%20Q1%20INFOGRAPHIC%20GLOBAL%20RANKING_191219.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Passport appearance==

===First generation biometric passport===
The first generation of biometric passports were introduced on 29 December 2008. The ROC became the 60th country in the world to issue biometric passports when they were introduced.<ref name="ppt" /><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/NAT5/4616453.shtml|title=國內要聞 - 聯合新聞網|date=16 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716032925/http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/NAT5/4616453.shtml|archive-date=16 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Cover====
The cover of the ordinary Republic of China (Taiwan) passport is dark green, with the ROC national emblem – [[Blue Sky with a White Sun]] – in the middle. On the top is the official name of the country, "REPUBLIC OF CHINA", in [[Traditional Chinese characters]]. It is also written in English in fine print circling the national emblem. Below the national emblem, the word "TAIWAN" is printed in English only and "PASSPORT" is printed in both Traditional Chinese and English. At the bottom is the [[biometric passport]] symbol ([[File:EPassport logo.svg|20px]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Document: TWN-AO-03001|url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/TWN-AO-03001/index.html#elem-1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904051759/https://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/TWN-AO-03001/index.html#elem-1|archive-date=2019-09-04|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.consilium.europa.eu|language=en}}</ref>

The cover of the official passport is brown and has the words "OFFICIAL PASSPORT" on the cover, and the diplomatic passport is dark blue with "DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT" on the cover.

====Request page====
The first page of the passport is the passport note page and printed with the following request,  anti-counterfeiting printing shows the shape of the island of Taiwan at the top and word TAIWAN at the bottom.<br />
In [[Traditional Chinese characters|Traditional Chinese]]:
{{blockquote|{{lang|zh-tw|中華民國外交部部長茲請各國有關機關對持用本護照之中華民國國民允予自由通行，並請必要時儘量予以協助及保護。}}}}
In English:
{{blockquote|The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China requests all whom it may concern to permit the national of the Republic of China named herein to pass freely and in case of need to give all possible aid and protection.}}
[[File:Picture of Taiwan Passport.jpg|center|thumb|450x450px|Request page of a Taiwan passport.]]

====Data page====

{|
|
{|  style="margin:auto; border:1px solid black; line-height:1.1;" lang="zh-TW"
|+'''A sample ROC (Taiwan) passport data page'''
!width=100|{{color|red|護&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;照<br />Passport}}!!colspan=4|{{color|red|中&nbsp;華&nbsp;民&nbsp;國 REPUBLIC OF CHINA}}
|-
| rowspan="8"  style="text-align:center; border:1px solid gray;"|Photo||{{color|blue|形式/Type}}<br/>{{color|blue|<code>P</code>}}
|{{color|blue|代碼/Code}}<br/>{{color|blue|<code>TWN</code>}}
|{{color|blue|護照號碼/Passport No.}}<br/><code>300000000</code>||rowspan=3|
|-
|colspan=3|{{color|blue|姓名/Name (Surname, Given names)}}<br/>中文姓名
<code>XXXX, XXXX-XXXX</code>
|-
|colspan=3|{{color|blue|外文別名/Also Known As}}<br/><code>XXXXXXX XXXX</code>
|-
|colspan=2|{{color|blue|國籍/Nationality}}<br/>{{color|blue|<code>REPUBLIC OF CHINA</code>}}
|colspan=2|{{color|blue|身分證統一編號/Personal Id. No.}}<br/><code>A000000000</code>
|-
|colspan=2|{{color|blue|性別/Sex}}<br/><code>M</code>
|{{color|blue|出生日期/Date of birth}}<br/><code>01 SEP 2003</code>
| rowspan="4"  style="text-align:center; border:1px solid gray;"|Second<br/>Photo
|-
|colspan=2|{{color|blue|發照日期/Date of issue}}<br /><code>29 DEC 2008</code>||{{color|blue|出生地/Place of birth}}<br /><code>TAIWAN</code>
|-
|colspan=2|{{color|blue|效期截止日期/Date of expiry}}<br /><code>29 DEC 2018</code>||
|-
|colspan=3|{{color|blue|發照機關/Authority}}<br /><code>MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS</code>
|-
| colspan="5"  style="text-align:center; border:1px solid gray;"|'''<code>P<TWNXXXX<<XXXX<XXXX<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<</code>'''<br/>'''<code>3000000003TWN0309010M1812290A000000000<<<<00</code>'''
|}
|}

Personal biodata page information for the passport holder and the machine readable zone are listed below.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=100|Data!!width=650|Description
|-
|Type||<code>P</code> for ordinary passports, <code>PO</code> for official passports, <code>PD</code> for diplomatic passports
|-
|Code||<code>[[ISO 3166-2:TW|TWN]]</code>, the [[ISO]] country code for [[Republic of China]]
|-
|Passport No.||a nine digit number, biometric passports start with 3
|-
|Name||both [[Chinese characters]] and [[Chinese language romanization in Taiwan|romanization]]
|-
|Also Known As||only available for people with alias in other languages
|-
|Nationality||<code>REPUBLIC OF CHINA</code>
|-
|Personal Id. No.||[[National Identification Card (Taiwan)|Taiwanese National ID number]], not available for NWOHRs
|-
|Sex||<code>M</code> for male, <code>F</code> for female
|-
|Date of birth||<code>DD MMM YYYY</code>
|-
|Date of issue||<code>DD MMM YYYY</code>
|-
|Place of birth||the name of a province or [[Special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipality]] if born in Taiwan or China, or a foreign country if born abroad. For example: <code>[[Taiwan Province|TAIWAN]]</code>,<code>[[Fuchien Province, Republic of China|FUKIEN]]</code>, <code>[[Taipei|TAIPEI CITY]]</code>, <code>[[New Taipei City|NEW TAIPEI CITY]]</code>, <code>[[Taoyuan City|TAOYUAN CITY]]</code>, <code>[[Taichung|TAICHUNG CITY]]</code>, <code>[[Tainan|TAINAN CITY]]</code>, <code>[[Kaohsiung|KAOHSIUNG CITY]]</code>, <code>USA</code>
|-
|Date of expiry||<code>DD MMM YYYY</code>
|-
|Authority||<code>MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS</code> for passports issued by the MOFA, or the name of the issuing [[Diplomatic missions of the Republic of China|diplomatic mission]] for passports issued by a Taiwanese mission abroad. All biometric passports are issued by the MOFA in Taiwan regardless of the actual place of application.<ref name="ppt">{{Cite web |url=http://multilingual.mofa.gov.tw/web/web_UTF-8/almanac/almanac2010/3.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-05-16 |archive-date=2016-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531115329/http://multilingual.mofa.gov.tw/web/web_UTF-8/almanac/almanac2010/3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

The biodata page is protected by a plastic anti-counterfeiting layer with laser holograms of the country code TWN and broad-tailed [[swallowtail butterfly]], an endemic species of Taiwan.

Following the passage of an amendment to Article 14 of the Enforcement Rules of the Passport Act on 9 August 2019, romanization can take place from any of Taiwan's national languages, which include [[Taiwanese Hakka|Hakka]], [[Taiwanese Hokkien|Hoklo]], and [[Formosan languages]] spoken by [[Taiwanese indigenous peoples|indigenous peoples]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hou |first1=Elaine |last2=Ko |first2=Lin |title=Taiwan passport to allow Hoklo, Hakka, indigenous language names |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201908150013 |access-date=25 September 2020 |agency=Central News Agency |date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926201815/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201908150013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Inner pages ====
The inner pages of a Republic of China (Taiwan) passport are in light purple. Its contents are:
* Personal data page in page 2
* Signature in page 3
* Amendments and endorsements from page 4 to page 7
* Visa pages from page 8 to page 47
* Remark pages from page 48 to page 50
Selected nature hotspots and famous sights of Taiwan are printed in the inner pages, each page also contains a transparent watermark of [[Yushan (mountain)|Jade Mountain]], the highest peak of the country.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Page!!Theme!!Division!!rowspan=14| !!Page!!Theme!!Division
|-
|2||Airport and [[Taiwan High Speed Rail]] [[Transportation in Taiwan|transportations]]||rowspan=2|N/A
|26, 27||[[Alishan National Scenic Area]] and [[Alishan Forest Railway]]||rowspan=2|[[Chiayi County]]
|-
|3||[[Electronics industry]] in Taiwan
|28, 29||Rice agriculture in [[Chianan Plain]]
|-
|4, 5||[[Yehliu]] Scenic Area||rowspan=2|[[New Taipei City]]
|30, 31||[[Salt evaporation pond]]s in [[Cigu District]]||rowspan=2|[[Tainan City]]
|-
|6, 7||[[Guandu Bridge]] and [[Bali District]]
|32, 33||[[Eternal Golden Castle]] and [[Fort Provintia]]
|-
|8, 9||[[National Palace Museum]]||rowspan=2|[[Taipei City]]
|34, 35||[[Port of Kaohsiung]]||rowspan=2|[[Kaohsiung City]]
|-
|10, 11||[[Taipei 101]] and [[Taipei-Keelung metropolitan area|Taipei metro area]]
|36, 37||[[Oil-paper umbrella]] of [[Meinong District]]
|-
|12, 13||[[Suspension bridge]] of [[Bitan]]||[[New Taipei City]]
|38, 39||[[Kenting National Park]] and [[Eluanbi Lighthouse]]||[[Pingtung County]]
|-
|14, 15||Tea harvest in northern Taiwan||[[Hsinchu County]]
|40, 41||[[Orchid Island]] and [[Tao People]]||[[Taitung County]]
|-
|16, 17||[[Dabajian Mountain]] in [[Shei-Pa National Park]]||[[Miaoli County]]
|42, 43||[[Taroko National Park]] and [[Central Cross-Island Highway]]||rowspan=2|[[Hualien County]]
|-
|18, 19||[[Oncorhynchus masou formosanus|Formosan landlocked salmon]]||rowspan=2|[[Taichung City]]
|44, 45||[[Chingshui Cliff]]
|-
|20, 21||[[Taichung Park]]
|46, 47||[[Guishan Island (Yilan)|Guishan Island]] and [[Cetacea]]s||[[Yilan County, Taiwan|Yilan County]]
|-
|22, 23||[[Sun Moon Lake]]||rowspan=2|[[Nantou County]]
|48, 49||[[Geology of Taiwan|Volcanic geology]]||[[Penghu County]]
|-
|24, 25||[[Yushan (mountain)|Jade Mountain]] in [[Yushan National Park]]
|50||[[Shisa]]||[[Kinmen County]]
|}

====Back cover====
A contactless biometric chip is embedded in the back cover page, with the warning as follows.<br/>
In [[Traditional Chinese characters|Traditional Chinese]]:
{{blockquote|{{Lang|zh-tw|本護照內植高感度電子晶片，使用上請視同攜帶式電子產品，並妥善保管。為維持護照最佳效能，請勿折壓、扭曲或在內頁穿孔、裝訂；並勿將護照曝曬於陽光下，或置於高溫、潮濕及電磁環境，或沾染化學藥品。}}}}
In English:
{{blockquote|This passport contains a sensitive electronic chip, and should be treated with great care in the same way as a portable electronic device. For best performance, please do not bend, twist, perforate or staple the passport. Neither expose it to direct sunlight, extreme temperature or humidity. Avoid electro-magnetic fields or chemical substance.<br/><br/>DO NOT STAMP THIS PAGE}}

=== Second generation biometric passport ===
[[File:Republic of China Passport Data Page.jpg|thumb|Data page of a second generation biometric passport]]
The second generation biometric passport has been issued since 5 February 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-220-4151-fe123-2.html|title=Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China(Taiwan)|last=外交部領事事務局|date=2017-07-31|website=MOFA to start issuing next-generation e-Passports on February 5|language=en|access-date=2018-03-14|archive-date=2018-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315195917/https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-220-4151-fe123-2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was originally scheduled to be rolled out on 25 December 2017,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/News_Content.aspx?n=1EADDCFD4C6EC567&s=25A06C2B8428626E|title=MOFA to introduce next-generation e-Passport - News and Events - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) 中華民國外交部 - 全球資訊網英文網|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) 中華民國外交部 - 全球資訊網英文網|language=en|access-date=2018-03-24|archive-date=2018-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325045049/https://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/News_Content.aspx?n=1EADDCFD4C6EC567&s=25A06C2B8428626E|url-status=live}}</ref> however the rollout was suspended a day later and did not resume until 5 February 2018 due to the [[#Dulles Airport image incident|Dulles Airport image controversy]].<ref name=":4" />

==Passport regulations for nationals with household registration==
[[File:Military Service Unserved Remark on the ROC (Taiwan) Passport.png|thumb|Military service uncompleted remarks on the remarks page.]]
[[File:Military Service Unserved Notice on the ROC (Taiwan) Passport.png|thumb|Departure Notice for men of conscription age on the back cover.]]
Nationals with household registration in the [[Taiwan Area]] may apply for passports from the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) in [[Taipei]] or its branch offices in [[Kaohsiung]], [[Hualien City|Hualien]], [[Chiayi City|Chiayi]] and [[Taichung]] with the following documents:
:* Application form
:* [[National Identification Card (Taiwan)|National Identification Card]]
:* Two photos (3.5 × 4.5 cm)
First time applicants are required to submit their documents in person to the BOCA headquarters or a BOCA branch.
*'''Processing time''': Four working days.
*'''Validity period''': Starting from 21 May 2000, the validity period for an ordinary passport is generally 10 years and 1 day but for applicants aged under 15, it is 5 years and for male citizens who have not completed their conscription duty it is only 3 years.
*'''Application fee''': Effective since 1 January 2013, the application fee for a 10-year passport is NT$1,300; for a passport with restricted validity period is NT$900.<ref name="boca">{{cite web |url = http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1297&CtNode=765&mp=2 |title = Passport Application Fees |work = Bureau of Consular Affairs |date = January 1, 2013 |archive-date = November 13, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113234448/http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1297&CtNode=765&mp=2 |url-status = live }}</ref> In comparison, the cost of manufacturing a passport is NT$1,361, regardless of the validity period.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/intl-community/2016/05/19/466608/Foreign-Ministry.htm|title=Foreign Ministry opposes lower passport application fee|access-date=2016-06-08|archive-date=2016-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519110824/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/intl-community/2016/05/19/466608/Foreign-Ministry.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to [[conscription in Taiwan|mandatory military service]] for men, travel restrictions are placed on male citizens from the age of 15 until they have completed their military service before 29 April 2019. When a passport is issued to a such citizen, a stamp with the following words will be shown on the remarks page, and a sticker which describes the regulation will be attached to the back cover of the passport.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1296&CtNode=518&mp=2 |title = Enforcement Rules of the Passport Act |access-date = April 27, 2011 |archive-date = February 24, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130224032557/http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1296&CtNode=518&mp=2 |url-status = live }}</ref><br />
In [[Traditional Chinese characters|Traditional Chinese]]:
{{blockquote|{{Lang|zh-tw|持照人出國應經核准，尙未履行兵役義務。}}}}
:Translation: ''The bearer needs a permission to travel abroad and has not yet completed his military service.''
Before traveling, the holder needs to apply for permission to travel overseas with the [[National Immigration Agency]] or the [[Department of Conscription Administration|conscription administration]] near his residence. Permission is granted in the form of a stamp on the remarks page, including the expiration date and the issuing authority.

After 29 Apr 2019, the Ministry of the Interior lifted the limitation of stamping on the passport to streamline the government process and digitalization.<ref>{{cite web |title=108年4月29日起 取消護照加蓋兵役管制章戳 |url=https://dca.moi.gov.tw/chaspx/News_Detail.aspx?web=49&id=10712}}</ref> However, citizens who have not completed their military service still have to apply for permission before departure.

== Passport regulations for nationals without household registration ==
{{See also|National without household registration}}

[[File:ROC National Without Registration Passport Datapage.jpg|thumb|right|The ROC passport of a national without household registration does not have an identification card number listed on its data pages in the empty spaces labeled (1).]]
[[File:Taiwan Area Entry Permit Sticker.jpg|thumb|An Entry permit for NWOHR, which is mandatory for entering Taiwan]]
Around 60,000 Taiwan passport holders are NWOHRs, accounting for approximately 0.5% of total valid passports. NWOHRs are overseas nationals without [[Household registration in Taiwan|household registration]] in Taiwan, and hence do not have the [[right of abode]] in [[Taiwan]], [[Penghu]], [[Kinmen]], [[Matsu Islands|Matsu]] and other outlying islands.

=== Application ===
Overseas nationals can only apply for a passport from an embassy, consulate or [[Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office]] near their residing country with the following document.
:* Application form
:* A certificate of [[nationality]] of [[Taiwan|the Republic of China (Taiwan)]]
:* Two photos (3.5 × 4.5 cm)
The [[Republic of China nationality law]] adopts the ''[[jus sanguinis]]'' principle. The applicant's nationality may be established through ancestral ties. Various documents may be used as proof, see the eligibility paragraph for more information thereto.
*'''Application fee''': For a 10-year passport is US$45, for a passport with restricted validity period is US$31.<ref name="boca" />

===Travel requirements and limitations===
Unlike residents of Taiwan, NWOHRs do not automatically have [[right of abode]] in Taiwan. They are required to apply for an entry permit to enter Taiwan prior to their travel if they are not exempted. The application must be submitted to the embassy, consulate or [[Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office]] of their country of residence. Once the application is approved, a visa-like permit will be affixed on the visa page.
* This legal situation is similar to [[British Overseas Citizen]]s, who have no automatic right of abode in the [[United Kingdom]] or any other British [[British Crown Dependencies|dependency]] or [[British Overseas Territories|territory]]. 
* In the United States, passports without a [[National Identification Card (Taiwan)|National ID number]] (without unrestricted right to enter and/or reside in [[Taiwan]]) do not satisfy the definition of a passport under INA 101(a)(30), because NWOHRs do not have the right of abode in Taiwan. Bearers of such passports are considered [[Statelessness|stateless]] for [[Visa (document)|visa]] issuing purposes.<ref>{{Citation |url = https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/TW.html |title = Taiwan Reciprocity Schedule |publisher = US State Dept. |author = travel.state.gov |access-date = 2016-06-07 |archive-date = 2016-08-10 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160810091829/https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/TW.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

Page 50 of NWOHR passports show the following words in ink.<br />
In [[Traditional Chinese characters|Traditional Chinese]]:
{{blockquote|{{Lang|zh-tw|本護照不適用部分國家之免簽證計劃。}}}}
In English:
{{blockquote|This passport is not eligible for visa waiver programs of some countries according to their regulations.}}
<ref>{{cite news |script-title=zh:韓華僑拿我護照無免簽 盼政府改善 - 生活 - 自由時報電子報 |url=http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/793706 |access-date=31 July 2018 |work=[[Liberty Times]] |date=16 April 2013 |language=zh |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731093456/http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/793706 |url-status=live |author1=自由時報電子報 }}</ref>

Both NWHR and NWOHR passport holders can apply for a special stamp known as the Overseas Chinese endorsement, subject to some conditions such as citizenship/permanent residency in a foreign country and/or some prescribed period of residency outside of Taiwan. The primary usage in practice of this stamp is that it allows male NWHRs to indefinitely defer [[Conscription|military service]], so long as they do not return to Taiwan to take residence, which invalidates the Overseas Chinese status.<ref>{{Cite web |last=外交部領事事務局 |date=2017-07-10 |title=外交部領事事務局全球資訊網 |url=https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-31-25-2c4c1-1.html |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=外交部領事事務局}}</ref> The specific conditions that will trigger the loss of said status depends on the holder's year of birth.

===Eligibility for Taiwan passports===
{{see also|Japanese passport}}
The ROC was founded in 1912 governing mainland China while [[Taiwan under Japanese rule|Taiwan was part of Japan]]. The earliest verifiable ROC passports were issued by the [[Beiyang Government]] in Beijing in September 1919, and an ROC passport booklet was first issued by Beiyang Foreign Minister [[Wellington Koo|Wellington Koo Wei-chun]] in April 1922. After the [[Surrender of Japan|surrender of the Japanese Empire]] in 1945, the Republic of China was given administrative jurisdiction over Taiwan and maintained control of it ever since. At the end of the [[Chinese Civil War]] in 1949, the ROC lost its control of [[mainland China]] to the [[Chinese Communist Party]], which established the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC). Henceforth, the ROC has been able to administer only Taiwan and some islands off the mainland's coast. Maintaining the view that it is still the legitimate government of the whole of China, the ROC does not formally recognize the legitimacy of PRC. It has also constitutionally defined all the territory under its control as the "[[Free Area of the Republic of China|Free Area]]" (or the "Taiwan Area") and the territory outside Taiwan Area as the "Mainland Area". The ROC constitution allows the ROC government to make laws for one Area of the country without affecting the other Area.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}.

However, permanent residents in the Mainland Area, Hong Kong or Macau are not generally eligible to obtain a ROC passport [Passport Act, Article 6].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawContentIf.aspx?PCODE=E0030001 |title = Passport Act |access-date = September 9, 2012 |archive-date = September 26, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200926201817/https://law.moj.gov.tw/ErrorPage.aspx |url-status = live }}</ref> Furthermore, Overseas Chinese applicants normally must submit one of the following forms of proof of ROC nationality [Passport Act Enforcement Rules, Article 4]:<ref name="enforcement">{{cite web |url = http://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAllIf.aspx?PCode=E0030004 |title = Enforcement Rules of the Passport Act |access-date = September 9, 2012 |archive-date = September 26, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200926201817/https://law.moj.gov.tw/ErrorPage.aspx |url-status = live }}</ref>
* A ROC passport;
* A Certificate of Overseas Chinese status, issued on the basis of proof of ROC nationality;
* Proof of ROC nationality for a parent or ancestor, together with proof of descent.

As the first ROC nationality law, in effect from 5 February 1929 to 9 February 2000, only permitted ROC national fathers to pass nationality down to the descendants, any person who was born on or before 9 February 1980 to an ROC national mother and a foreign father is not a ROC national, regardless of place of birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moi.gov.tw/chi/chi_faq/faq_detail.aspx?t=2&n=4533&p=3&f=2|title=Determination of ROC nationality|access-date=2016-10-26|archive-date=2016-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026231337/http://www.moi.gov.tw/chi/chi_faq/faq_detail.aspx?t=2&n=4533&p=3&f=2|url-status=live}}</ref>

There are certain exceptions to this in certain cases for first and second generation emigrants, but in general an applicant will be unable to obtain a ROC passport unless he already holds ROC-issued nationality documentation for himself or an ancestor.

Therefore, for a person to obtain a ROC passport, one of the following must normally apply:
* The person first obtained proof of ROC nationality before 1949, when the ROC controlled the Mainland Area; or
* The person first obtained a ROC passport or a Certificate of Overseas Chinese status before 1 July 1997 as a resident of Hong Kong, or before 20 December 1999 as resident of Macau; or
* The person first obtained a ROC passport before 2002, as an Overseas-born Chinese, on the basis of Chinese ethnicity, before the Passport Act Enforcement Rules were revised to prevent this; or
* The person obtained an ROC passport after emigrating overseas from the Mainland Area [Passport Act Enforcement Rules, Article 18];<ref name="enforcement" /> or	
* The person obtained an ROC passport after emigrating overseas from Hong Kong or Macau, whilst not holding a foreign passport other than a BN(O) passport [Passport Act Enforcement Rules, Article 19], or after being born overseas to a parent who so emigrated;<ref name="enforcement" /> or
* The person has an ancestor in one of the previous categories (i.e. the ancestor actually obtained the ROC document, as opposed to merely having the right to do so), and the chain of descent is through the male line until 9 February 1980 (afterwards the chain of descent can be through the mother or father).
The interior is in [[traditional Chinese characters]] and English. Until the mid-1990s, the passport also contained an entry for provincial ancestry ({{Lang|zh-tw|籍貫}}), stating the Chinese province and county of one's [[Ancestral home (China)|ancestral home]], but this field has been eliminated. However, the Chinese province or county of birth is still listed in the birthplace entry if the passport holder was born in either mainland China or Taiwan.

==Visa requirements==
{{main|Visa requirements for Taiwanese citizens}}
[[File:Visa requirements for Republic of China citizens.svg|center|800px|thumb|Map of visa requirements for Taiwanese citizens
{{legend|#002377|Taiwan}}
{{legend|#a65628|Taiwan compatriot permit or Chinese travel document required}}
{{legend|#4daf4a|Visa not required}}
{{legend|#ff7f00|Visa on arrival}}
{{legend|#377eb8|eVisa}}
{{legend|#984ea3|Visa available both on arrival or online}}
{{legend|#ABABAB|Visa required}}
{{legend|#555555|Admission refused}}]]
Visa requirements for Taiwan passport holders are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on nationals of Taiwan. As of 7 January 2020, holders of ordinary Taiwan passports (for ROC nationals with [[Household registration in Taiwan|Taiwan area household registration]] who therefore possess right of abode in Taiwan and also the right to obtain a National Identity Card) had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 146 countries and territories, ranking the Taiwan passport 32nd in the world in terms of travel freedom (tied with the Mauritius and St. Vincent and the Grenadines passports), according to the [[Henley Passport Index]] 2020.<ref name="auto"/><ref name=":1" />{{efn|The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan)|Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], however, lists 167 countries with visa-free or visa on arrival access, which included a large number of countries requiring pre-arrival documentations such as invitations or visa approval letters (such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam). Such countries are '''not''' considered as providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, since the visa is usually approved before arrival and during the process of obtaining such documentations.}} Additionally, [[Arton Capital's Passport Index]] ranked the ordinary Taiwan passport 30th in the world in terms of travel freedom, with a visa-free score of 135 (tied with Panamanian passports), as of 12 January 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php|title=Global Passport Power Rank - The Passport Index 2020|website=Passport Index - All the world's passports in one place.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915064602/https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php|archive-date=2017-09-15}}</ref>

Visa requirements for ROC [[national without household registration|nationals without household registration]] (NWOHR), i.e., nationals of Taiwan who do not possess right of abode in Taiwan and hence ineligible for a National Identity Card, are different. Unlike ROC nationals with household registration in Taiwan, NWOHRs cannot apply for the Australian [[Visa policy of Australia#Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (subclass 601)|Electronic Travel Authority]] (ETA) and must instead apply for a subclass 600 visa in order to visit Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Electronic Travel Authorities (ETA) |url=https://hongkong.china.embassy.gov.au/hkng/VISMG_ETA.html |publisher=Australian Consulate-General, Hong Kong |access-date=1 December 2018 |archive-date=2 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202070536/https://hongkong.china.embassy.gov.au/hkng/VISMG_ETA.html |url-status=live }}</ref> NWOHRs also require visas to visit Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the [[Schengen Area]] (including future member states Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus), the United Kingdom and the United States (where NWOHRs are considered stateless and their visas issued on a separate form<ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan Reciprocity Schedule |url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Taiwan.html |website=Travel.state.gov |publisher=Department of State |access-date=1 December 2018 |archive-date=15 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115201843/https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Taiwan.html |url-status=live }}</ref>).

===Limitations in usage===
{{See also|Political status of Taiwan}}
Even though the [[Republic of China]] maintains official relations with only [[foreign relations of Taiwan|15 countries]], the ROC passport is still accepted as a valid travel document in most countries of the world. Although Taiwanese enjoy visa-free status in 148 countries, some countries, pursuant to their policies on Taiwan's political status, refuse to endorse or [[Passport stamp|stamp]] ROC passports, and instead issue visas on a separate travel document or a separate piece of paper to Taiwanese travelers to avoid conveying any kind of diplomatic recognition to the ROC. The chart below only lists countries or territories which explicitly state that ROC passports are not accepted, while also requiring a visa or entry permit for ROC nationals prior to arrival.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width=120 | Country  !! width=800 | Restrictions
|-
| {{CHN-MLD}} || ROC passports are not recognized or accepted. ROC nationals with right of abode in Taiwan are required to apply for a [[Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents]] (a credit card sized travel document). For those without right of abode in Taiwan, a passport-like [[Chinese Travel Document]] is required.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Timatic|nationality=TW|destination=CN}}</ref>
|-
| {{CUB}} || Due to Cuba's new policy, Taiwanese citizens are denied entry into Cuba.
|-
| {{GEO}} || ROC passports are neither recognized or accepted for entry or transit. (Visas can still be obtained on a case-by-case basis for Taiwanese passport holders, including for participation in international conferences and sports events held in Georgia.)<ref>{{Timatic|nationality=TW|destination=GE}}</ref>
|-
| {{JAM}} || ROC passports are not recognized. Must hold an Affidavit of Identity issued by Jamaica in addition to the ROC passport.<ref>{{Timatic|nationality=TW|destination=JM}}</ref>
|-
| {{MDA}} || ROC passports are neither recognized or accepted for entry or transit.<ref>{{Timatic|nationality=TW|destination=MD}}</ref>
|-
| {{SHN}} || From May 2015, the Ascension Island Government does not issue entry visas including eVisas to citizens of [[Taiwan]].
|-
| {{VEN}} || Venezuela is extremely unfriendly to [[Taiwan]]. Due to the influence of the [[Government of China|Chinese government]], [[Venezuela]] no longer recognizes Taiwanese passports and therefore does not issue visas to Taiwanese citizens (for [[business]] and [[tourism]]). This means that Taiwanese citizens will not be able to enter [[Venezuela]].
|-
|}

==Controversies==
==="Republic of Taiwan" sticker===
{{Main|Taiwan Passport Sticker}}
In 2015, a pro-independence activist, Denis Chen, designed the [[Taiwan Passport Sticker]] (Republic of Taiwan sticker) to be placed on the front cover of ROC passports. The stickers re-brand the country's name as {{Lang|zh-tw|「臺灣國」}} ({{Lit|''State of Taiwan''}}) and "Republic of Taiwan", as well as replacing the existing national emblem of a [[Blue Sky with a White Sun]] with cartoons either of [[Yu Shan|Jade Mountain]], [[Formosan black bear]], or pro-democracy activist [[Cheng Nan-jung]].

Although applauded by pro-independence supporters, this move caused controversies in Taiwan's neighboring countries and regions, as well as the United States, since the alteration of passport covers might be a violation of immigration laws in other countries or regions and eventually cause the refusal of entry to holders of such passports.

Singapore was the first country in Asia to deny entry to holders of altered passports on 29 November 2015, and deported three ROC nationals for "altering their travel documents".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=110962|title=「台灣國」貼紙遭星國拒絕入境 網友：愛貼就要負起責任 - 政治 - 三立新聞網 SETN.COM|last=三立新聞網|access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304232141/http://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=110962|url-status=live}}</ref> Among the three, two immediately removed the Republic of Taiwan stickers upon the further inquiries by the [[Immigration and Checkpoints Authority]] (ICA) officers, but were eventually deported by Singapore to Taiwan. Another person had refused to remove such stickers and instead requested diplomatic representatives of Taiwan for consular protection, but was also deported in the end by ICA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=109206|title=護照貼台灣國遭拘留？黃暐瀚：為何向不認同的外交部求救？ - 政治 - 三立新聞網 SETN.COM|last=三立新聞網|access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407151950/http://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=109206|url-status=live}}</ref> The two Special Administrative Regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau, soon followed suit and refused to accept holders of such passports for entry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1588540|title=貼台灣國遭澳門遣返 他說「不會放棄愛台灣的心」 - 政治 - 自由時報電子報|date=29 January 2016 |access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419104949/http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1588540|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20160301-587436|title=台湾旅客持"台湾国贴纸护照"被港遣返|date=1 March 2016|access-date=21 May 2016|archive-date=6 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606091428/http://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20160301-587436|url-status=live}}</ref> A spokesperson of [[Hong Kong Immigration Department]] said that any person who "altered the travel document without lawful authority, or, who possess or use altered travel document", is a violation of ''Immigration Ordinance'' and can be sentenced for up to 14 years in prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/press/press-releases/20160227.html|title=Two Taiwan visitors refused permission to land - Immigration Department|website=www.immd.gov.hk|access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822055855/http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/press/press-releases/20160227.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[American Institute in Taiwan]] (AIT) had, through diplomatic channels, notified the MOFA and confirmed that holders of such altered passports may be extensively questioned by the [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection]] (CBP) officers and be removed from the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=107124|title=拒絕入境！護照不准貼「台灣國」 連AIT都說要撕掉 - 生活 - 三立新聞網 SETN.COM|last=三立新聞網|access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407091117/http://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=107124|url-status=live}}</ref> and in March 2016, two travelers from Taiwan voluntarily removed Republic of Taiwan stickers because of the extensive questioning by CBP officers. The two travelers were eventually admitted into the U.S., while a CBP spokesperson warned that alterations of travel documents made by any person who is not authorized by the government of a country can render it invalid and will result the holder's refusal of admission to the U.S., and placing Republic of Taiwan stickers on passports is deemed to have altered the travel documents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldjournal.com/3942706/article-%E5%8F%B0%E7%81%A3%E8%AD%B7%E7%85%A7%E8%B2%BC%E8%B2%BC%E7%B4%99-%E7%BE%8E%E6%8B%92%E5%85%A5%E5%A2%83/|title=世界新聞網 - World Journal,世界新聞網, worldjournal.com,北美, North America,新聞, news,華人, Chinese,網路新聞,頭條,即時,要聞,美國,中國,台灣,香港,國際,醫藥,健康,移民,法律,紐約,舊金山,洛杉磯,溫哥華,多倫多,地產,房市,教育,升學, NY, LA, SF|website=世界新聞網|date=26 April 2016 |access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530033943/http://www.worldjournal.com/3942706/article-%E5%8F%B0%E7%81%A3%E8%AD%B7%E7%85%A7%E8%B2%BC%E8%B2%BC%E7%B4%99-%E7%BE%8E%E6%8B%92%E5%85%A5%E5%A2%83/|url-status=live}}</ref> Similar incident also occurred in Japan when a holder of altered passport was taken to secondary inspection. After being told that he would be deported, the man finally removed the Republic of Taiwan stickers and placed them on his T-shirt and was allowed into Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hk.on.cc/tw/bkn/cnt/news/20160324/bkntw-20160324195908424-0324_04011_001.html|title=護照貼台灣國貼紙赴日遇阻 台男改貼胸前|date=24 March 2016 |access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414173043/http://hk.on.cc/tw/bkn/cnt/news/20160324/bkntw-20160324195908424-0324_04011_001.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Supporters of the stickers claimed that passports with Republic of Taiwan stickers were accepted in the United Arab Emirates<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1544381|title=台灣國護照貼紙被禁 可是這國家一口氣貼3張... - 政治 - 自由時報電子報|work=自由時報電子報 |date=18 December 2015 |access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507001526/http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1544381|url-status=live |author1=自由時報電子報 }}</ref> and in Japan. In the latter case, the person who placed Republic of Taiwan sticker claimed that he was simply trying to block the word "China" from his passport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/1577143|title=護照貼「台灣國」赴日險被攔 民眾質疑… - 生活 - 自由時報電子報|work=自由時報電子報 |date=18 January 2016 |access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624080703/http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/1577143|url-status=live |author1=自由時報電子報 }}</ref> Holders of such passports were also allowed entry in the Philippines, although a Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson claimed that the passenger would normally be thoroughly inspected and called the incident "a serious matter", while also said that the government would launch an investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201509070173-1.aspx|title=護照貼「台灣國」入境 菲移民局：不宜 - 重點新聞 - 中央社即時新聞 CNA NEWS|date=7 September 2015 |access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611005016/http://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201509070173-1.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the BOCA, a total of 21 people had been denied entry by Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong since the end of 2015. Also, incidents were reported in Japan and the U.S. of the use of Republic of Taiwan stickers. The MOFA called upon travelers to not alter the cover of their travel documents so that they would not be denied entry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=7540&ctNode=697&mp=1|title=外交部呼籲國人切勿改變護照原狀以確保旅行權益 - 外交部領事事務局全球資訊網|website=www.boca.gov.tw|access-date=2016-05-21|archive-date=2016-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424055417/http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=7540&ctNode=697&mp=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

From 2020, such problems have largely ceased to exist after the Taiwanese government issued new versions of passports that have reduced "[[Republic of China]]" to small texts surrounding the national emblem, and highlighted "Taiwan" instead.

===Dulles Airport image incident===
{{multiple image|perrow=1/2|total_width=300
 | image1 = P4-5 of Republic of China Passport (2017 version).jpg
 | image2 = Washington Dulles International Airport at Dusk.jpg 
 | image3 = Exterior of Terminal 1, Taoyuan Airport 20141230.jpg
 | footer = The image of Washington Dulles International Airport in page 5 of the first batch of the second-generation ROC passport (top), in comparison to the actual Saarinen-designed Dulles terminal building and control tower (bottom-left) and the renovated Dan-redesigned Taoyuan Terminal 1 (bottom-right).
}}
Page 5 of the redesigned second generation biometric passport, originally scheduled to roll out on 25 December 2017, was to feature an image of the iconic terminal 1 of [[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]], a project of Chinese-American architect [[Tung-Yen Lin]] completed in 1979. On the same day, however, netizens on Facebook noticed that a picture of the terminal building of [[Washington Dulles International Airport]] was used on page 5 instead.<ref>{{cite news |title=獨／新護照內頁底圖疑美國機場 網友：台灣成美第51州？ |url=https://udn.com/news/story/6656/2895418 |access-date=23 October 2018 |agency=Udn.com |date=26 December 2017 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926201813/https://udn.com/news/e404?nver |url-status=live }}</ref> Dulles's terminal, which was completed in 1962 and designed by renowned architect [[Eero Saarinen]], had greatly inspired Lin's design of terminal 1, hence the two buildings bear a high degree of similarity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moyer |first1=Justin Wm |title=Taiwan mistakenly prints 200,000 passports featuring the image of Dulles airport |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2017/12/28/taiwan-mistakenly-printed-200000-passports-featuring-the-image-of-dulles-airport/ |access-date=22 October 2018 |agency=The Washington Post |date=28 December 2017 |archive-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228034925/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2017/12/28/taiwan-mistakenly-printed-200000-passports-featuring-the-image-of-dulles-airport/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Regeneration of Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 1 by Norihiko Dan and Associates |url=https://www.archdaily.com/771071/regeneration-of-taoyuan-international-airport-terminal-1-norihiko-dan-and-associates |website=ArchDaily |date=2 August 2015 |access-date=2018-10-23 |archive-date=2018-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207015834/https://www.archdaily.com/771071/regeneration-of-taoyuan-international-airport-terminal-1-norihiko-dan-and-associates |url-status=live }}</ref>

The MOFA initially dismissed the reports in the morning of 26 December when a spokesperson of the ministry claimed that the photo was taken at Taoyuan Airport.<ref>{{cite web |title=本部單位主管例行新聞說明會紀要---NGO | date=26 December 2017 |url=https://www.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content_M_2.aspx?n=70BCE89F4594745D&sms=700DE7A3F880BAE6&s=0759643F3FCF0130 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=23 October 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035319/https://www.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content_M_2.aspx?n=70BCE89F4594745D&sms=700DE7A3F880BAE6&s=0759643F3FCF0130 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nearly 12 hours would pass before the MOFA acknowledged the error and stated that over 220,000 new passports were printed and delivered by the [[Central Engraving and Printing Plant]] (CEPP) and 285 of them, which were already recalled, had been delivered to applicants by the time the mistake was discovered. BOCA chief Agnes Chen took responsibility and resigned on 27 December as the rollout of the new passport was halted, and applicants were issued first generation biometric passports instead.<ref>{{cite news |title=護照錯很大 外交部12小時才認了 |url=https://udn.com/news/story/11311/2897027 |access-date=23 October 2018 |date=26 December 2017 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035530/https://udn.com/news/story/11311/2897027 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Yeh |first1=Joseph |title=Consular affairs chief resigns over passport fiasco |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201712270027.aspx |access-date=22 October 2018 |agency=Focus Taiwan |date=27 December 2017 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023080128/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201712270027.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> It was later reported that an extra 330,000 undelivered blank booklets were already printed by the CEPP, bringing the number of total affected booklets to more than 550,000, and destroying those would cost the government [[NT$]]220 million. To reduce costs, the MOFA decided to print new stickers with the correct building which would cover page 5 and turn it into a travel warnings page from a blank amendment/endorsement page, a move that will cost a much smaller NT$16 million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yeh |first1=Joseph |title=MOFA to put stickers on e-passport to cover Dulles Airport image |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201712310019.aspx |access-date=23 October 2018 |agency=Focus Taiwan |date=31 December 2018 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023120032/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201712310019.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2018, the CEPP had also agreed to cover the NT$9.9 million manufacturing cost of the undelivered 330,000 booklets.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yeh |first1=Joseph |title=MOFA unveils sticker on e-passport to cover Dulles Airport image |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201801240009.aspx |access-date=23 October 2018 |agency=Focus Taiwan |date=24 January 2018 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023080132/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201801240009.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

The second generation biometric passport with stickers on page 5 was officially rolled out on 5 February 2018, more than a month behind the original schedule, to ameliorate the controversy. MOFA confirmed that it had notified immigration authorities of foreign countries so that holders of passports with the sticker would not encounter difficulties when travelling.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |title=台灣二代晶片護照製作出錯 2月5日重新發行 |url=https://hk.on.cc/tw/bkn/cnt/news/20180129/bkntw-20180129194627815-0129_04011_001.html |website=On.cc |date=29 January 2018 |access-date=23 October 2018 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023120102/https://hk.on.cc/tw/bkn/cnt/news/20180129/bkntw-20180129194627815-0129_04011_001.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Two months later in April 2018, the [[Control Yuan]] had released a report on the incident, in which it placed the majority of the blame on the BOCA passport design group and group members' carelessness when researching images for the terminal. The report also highlighted the lack of communication between the BOCA and the CEPP, which failed to exercise due diligence on copyright issues and did not independently verify the correctness of the image due to the BOCA's status as a long-time customer. The report also strongly condemned the MOFA's initial dismissal of the incident.<ref>{{cite web |title=第二代晶片護照誤用外國機場意象圖 重創國家形象案 監察院促請外交部、中央印製廠檢討改善 |url=https://www.cy.gov.tw/sp.asp?xdURL=./di/Message/message_1.asp&ctNode=903&mp=12&msg_id=6412 |website=Control Yuan | date=28 May 2018 |access-date=23 October 2018 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023080237/https://www.cy.gov.tw/sp.asp?xdURL=.%2Fdi%2FMessage%2Fmessage_1.asp&ctNode=903&mp=12&msg_id=6412 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 4 May 2018, the BOCA announced that it had estimated that the initial stock of the 550,000 booklets with the sticker would be depleted by mid-May, and the new version without the sticker on page 5 would then be issued. The sticker-less version would continue to feature page 5, which now bears the correct terminal building, as a travel warnings page rather than an amendment/endorsement page.<ref>{{cite news |title=全新版二代晶片護照5月中發行 |url=https://taronews.tw/2018/05/04/33184/ |access-date=23 October 2018 |agency=Taro News |date=4 May 2018 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023081705/https://taronews.tw/2018/05/04/33184/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===References to "Taiwan"===
The common English word "Taiwan" has been printed on the front of passports since 2003.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202007220009|title=Resolutions passed to highlight 'Taiwan' on passport, CAL jet - Focus Taiwan|website=focustaiwan.tw|date=22 July 2020 |access-date=2020-08-09|archive-date=2020-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723195228/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202007220009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2002-01-13|title=Taiwan passport change angers China|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1758230.stm|access-date=2020-08-09|archive-date=2019-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410205858/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1758230.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This was added after an original proposal to add "Issued in Taiwan" was shelved after strong criticism from the mainland Chinese government the previous year.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Elisabeth Rosenthal|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/15/world/new-china-taiwan-battle-3-words-on-passports.html|newspaper=New York Times|date=January 15, 2002|title=New China-Taiwan Battle: 3 Words on Passports|access-date=August 21, 2020|archive-date=January 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129112208/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/15/world/new-china-taiwan-battle-3-words-on-passports.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite report|author=Kerry B. Dumbaugh|url=https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/20030530_IB98034_dbb21c7f1d9562451a59ca751a3ee76b6d053647.pdf|title=CRS Issue Brief for Congress: Taiwan: Recent Developments and U.S. Policy Choices|publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]]|date=May 30, 2003|page=CRS-9|access-date=August 21, 2020|archive-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926201841/https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/20030530_IB98034_dbb21c7f1d9562451a59ca751a3ee76b6d053647.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 22 July 2020, the Legislative Yuan passed two resolutions put forth by the ruling [[Democratic Progressive Party]] (DPP) that ask the executive branch of government to highlight "Taiwan" on passports and China Airlines' (CAL) aircraft. The resolutions require the [[Executive Yuan]] to work out measures to emphasize the word for "Taiwan" written in Chinese ({{Lang|zh-tw|臺灣}}) and in English on the passport cover.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Legislative Yuan votes to spotlight 'Taiwan' on passport|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3971769|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Taiwan News|date=22 July 2020 |archive-date=2020-08-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821191859/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3971769|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> The [[New Power Party]] has submitted proposals for new passport designs for public vote.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Taiwan passport design up for public vote|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3982502|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Taiwan News|date=7 August 2020 |archive-date=2020-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809163543/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3982502|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Kuomintang]] (KMT; Nationalist Party of China) has accused the DPP of revisionism and criticized President [[Tsai Ing-wen]]'s administration for missing an opportunity to advertise the nation to the world due to its focus on its own ideological and political considerations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Kelvin |date=2 September 2020 |title=KMT responds to new Taiwan passport design |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4000246 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904035115/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4000246 |archive-date=2020-09-04 |access-date=2020-09-03 |website=Taiwan News}}</ref> The new passport design was officially announced in September 2020.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2020-09-02 |title=Taiwan's redesigned passport shrinks words 'Republic of China' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54001811 |access-date=2023-04-16}}</ref>

== Passport gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Horiuchi,Denju Passport.jpg|A Japanese passport issued to [[Denjū Horiuchi]] <small>([[:ja:堀内伝重|ja]])</small> in 1903. This passport was also used in Taiwan.
File:Imperial Japanese Overseas Passport 343274 1917-05-18.jpg|Imperial Japanese Overseas Passport issued in Taiwan in 1917.
File:Passport Cn 20s.jpg|A Republic of China passport booklet issued during the [[Beiyang government|Beiyang-era]] in the 1920s.
File:1939 ROC passport.jpg|A Republic of China passport issued in 1939.
File:Republic of China Passport 1946.jpg|A Republic of China passport issued in 1946.
File:Passport of the Republic of China 1982.jpg|A Republic of China passport issued in 1982.
File:ROC Passport in 2000.jpg|A machine-readable, non-biometric Republic of China passport issued in 2000.
File:ROC-Pass.jpg|A machine-readable, non-biometric Republic of China passport issued in 2006.
File:Taiwan ROC Passport.jpg|A biometric Republic of China passport issued on December 29, 2008.
File:REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) PASSPORT 2020.png|alt=A new version of the biometric passport has been introduced since January 2021. This mock-up shows design elements with references to both names "Taiwan" and "Republic of China".[62]|A new version of the biometric passport has been introduced since January 2021. This mock-up shows design elements with references to both names "Taiwan" and "Republic of China".<ref name=":3" />
File:Taiwanese passport seal.svg|A new version of the biometric passport has been introduced since January 2021. Emblem of the Republic of China with encircling text as depicted on new passports.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Visa requirements for Taiwanese citizens]]
* [[Foreign relations of Taiwan]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikibooks|Annotated Republic of China Laws/Passport Act/2000}}
* [https://www.boca.gov.tw/mp-1.html Bureau of Consular Affairs]

{{Taiwan Travel Documents}}
{{Passports}}
{{Foreign relations of Taiwan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Republic Of China Passport}}
[[Category:Foreign relations of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Passports by country|Taiwan]]