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From the lens Taiwan Marriage for Foreigners.

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  • Simon May 23, 2012 @ 7:40 am | delete
    glad I found this page as I'm planning on getting married to a Taiwanese woman and relocate from the UK. Thanks again.
  • ChouDoufu May 23, 2012 @ 1:41 pm | delete
    Glad you have found it help. Please note that I've not updated this lens in a few years, so do be sure to check official sources.
  • Jordan Dec 21, 2011 @ 3:58 pm | delete
    Hi, I've been married to my Taiwanese wife for 11+ years. We were married in India and I can't seem to find the paper and it wasn't very impressive from a legal point of view - would've been difficult to authenticate. Recently, we began discussing the possibility of living inTaiwan. We also have an 8 year old daughter (born in U.S.). Do you have any suggestions regarding proof of marriage. We've been paying taxes, filing as married since 2002 in U.S. so I could make copies of that, joint bank accounts, etc. Do you think that will be sufficient, or would we need to get married all over again? Thanks!
  • Aaron S. Nov 11, 2011 @ 9:00 pm | delete
    Thanks for this post. I'm American and am going to get married to a Taiwanese girl soon. Thanks for your generous details of the process. It's a daunting prospect but you have helped me know where to get started.
  • Grace C. Oct 13, 2011 @ 12:40 am | delete
    Thank you! This is very thorough and helpful!
  • Grace C. Oct 13, 2011 @ 12:40 am | delete
    Thank you! This is very thorough and helpful!
  • jjm79kid Jul 24, 2011 @ 7:07 am | delete
    I am married to a Taiwanese and have lived in Taiwan for 24 years. My ARC had expired. I also have been charged in court for Drink Driving, did my prison time in default of a fine, and deported. Am I allowed to return to Taiwan?
  • LW Oct 14, 2011 @ 1:34 am | delete
    No, deportation under the reason you stated, means you cannot return.
  • Niraj Jul 14, 2011 @ 10:24 pm | delete
    Very Helpful Site!!!! It's give the detail procedures. I just got married with my Taiwanese wife. This just made it very simple what to do nextt!!!! Cheers.
  • Gary Mar 28, 2011 @ 2:10 am | delete
    Interesting article. I'm a Canadian citizen in Taiwan and I myself plan to marry a Taiwanese girl soon, so the exact step by step procedure of the entire process would be very helpful. Can anyone elighten me?
  • ChouDoufu Apr 22, 2011 @ 1:44 am | delete
    Check out the Forumosa forums. You'll definitely find someone there that can help you out.
  • LW Oct 14, 2011 @ 1:36 am | delete
    So you intend to find just any girl and marry her?
  • Xan Feb 8, 2011 @ 5:32 am | delete
    BRILLIANT!! This is excellent. Many thanks....
  • andrewsongnyc Jan 29, 2011 @ 10:19 am | delete
    thank you so much for this ... i will be relocating and marrying taipei from NYC
    this has helped so much... i have completed all i need to do i nyc now just the TPE leg of this instructions.
  • Andy Jan 20, 2011 @ 1:23 pm | delete
    Thanks for the wealth of info.
  • Manto Jan 6, 2011 @ 2:42 pm | delete
    Excellent informations!!! This is exactly what I need. Thanks you very very very much!!!
  • fm202 May 15, 2010 @ 5:14 am | delete
    I am going to get marry with my Taiwanese girlfriend, May I have some Information about:

    1. Is Taiwan Government accepting Dual citizenship?
    2. Hw long is Permanent Residence Period?
    3. How long will it take time to get Taiwanese passport?
    Regards,
    Farhad.
  • Jon Leonhardt Feb 14, 2010 @ 11:37 am | delete
    Great - This will work for me. I met my wife in UK 5 years ago and we married in TW in 2007. We have lived in UK since but will move to Taipei in September. Thanks for doing this. Only difference was that it is called clean 'criminal record certificate' in UK. - Thanks again.
  • Paul Jan 27, 2010 @ 2:00 am | delete
    Your site and the links you provide are very helpful. I have been married to a Taiwanese for the last five years, and we have been living together outside of Taiwan for that time. My wife and I returned to Taiwan last December, and I have just recently obtained my ARC. The big question we had in our minds was whether or not I could work legally. I am happy to learn that I can. I guess now that I will have to read further to find out how to pay taxes and such. Thanks. Paul
  • ChouDoufu Nov 8, 2009 @ 12:09 pm | in reply to Keith | delete
    I don't get your point. Of course my marriage wasn't recognized in Taiwan until registered there, a process that was easy in comparison to what the US Dept. of Homeland Security will put foreign-married couples through. As for being "sinicized," again, what is your point? Do you find something sinister in the fact that Taiwan household registrations don't accept non-Chinese? Should U.S. marriage certificates accept names in scripts other than the Latin alphabet? There is an inevitable about of Anglicization in the process of becoming a legal resident of the United States. Similarly, there is an inevitable amount of Sinicization in the process of becoming a legal resident of Taiwan.

    Please specify, exactly, how I'm misinformed. If I have misstated something, I would certainly like to correct it.
  • Keith Nov 6, 2009 @ 3:48 am | delete
    To Step 5: Household Registration

    Dude, you seem misinformed about marriage in China. Sorry, but let me explain:

    I.
    First, your wife wasn't married. Not to you, I mean. For ten years, you thought that she was your wife, but not so in the Chinese world, my friend. Unless she registers you in her Household Registration, she is not married by law. She knew that, her parents knew that. Congratulations, but you were happy, right?

    It turned out lucky. After ten years she probably felt too old to be unmarried, so decided to get you closer to her family and register your 'phony marriage' for real in Taiwan. After all, her poor man need a visa, right?

    II.
    Now, she is married to you. Did you read what you signed? Foreigners must be sinicized in Chinese Household Registers. They probably lulled you into using your Chinese pet name, right? And your child must have a Chinese name, too. That cannot be changed, ever, my man. You were siniziced. It's official history now. Good luck!
  • Ashley Oct 8, 2009 @ 5:00 pm | delete
    Can my foreign husband get ARC even though we currently do not live in Taiwan? Thanks. Your information is very helpful.
  • Ashley Oct 8, 2009 @ 5:00 pm | delete
    Can my foreign husband get ARC even though we currently do not live in Taiwan? Thanks. Your information is very helpful.
  • Fred's Mum Sep 8, 2009 @ 5:45 am | delete
    Does anyone know of an English national who has married a Taiwanese national in Taiwan? My son has done this already, but has been told that it's not recognised in England and must have another ceremony in the UK? Is this correct? does anyone know of anyone who has done this and if so how as the UK registrar won't marry you if you say you've been married before even if it's to the same person.
  • ChouDoufu Aug 4, 2009 @ 12:32 am | delete
    First, sorry for responding so late. For some reason, I didn't get or missed the normal e-mail notification of new comments. Ouderui, thanks for the update; I'm sorry things are not going very smoothly and wish you and your family the best. I wish I could provide more help, but as you note, my experiences are now several years out of date. I highly recommend that anyone looking for more current help and advice check out the Forumosa.com forums. [in reply to Ouderui]
  • Ouderui Jun 4, 2009 @ 7:50 am | delete
    It's amazing (and in some ways heartening) to hear a success story from someone who has been through this since my wife and I have been jumping through hoops for the past 4 months to get this only to be told that many of the old laws have changed and under the new laws it is entirely possible that it could not only take up to another 6 months, but that we may be denied. For anyone trying this after May 11th you also have to provide a ciminial background check from Taiwan and it is only valid for one month instead of the previous 3. You also have to have 2 interviews with someone from foreign affairs, one of which is a home-visit. After what I had read I was of the opinion that it was a fairly simple procedure and I would have my ARC through my wife within about 3 months, but now because of all of the confusion, stress, and frustration caused by this process, I am seriously considering packing us up and heading back to the States. Good luck to all others.
  • alan Jun 4, 2009 @ 3:20 am | delete
    thanks for your help but i cant seem to get any reply from my question.
    is there any official departments i can contact ?
    maybe i can get an answer from them .
    thank you
  • ChouDoufu May 24, 2009 @ 9:58 pm | in reply to alan | delete
    I'm not qualified to give advice on Taiwan law and I've never been through a divorce in Taiwan. I suggest checking out the Forumosa discussion forum on divorce.
  • alan May 23, 2009 @ 8:32 pm | delete
    what happens if u divorce ? would the foreign partner have to leave taiwan and return home ?
    or are you given any rights after so many years of living and being married in taiwan ?

    i think in england foreigners can stay in the country permanent after two years of marriage even if it ends in divorce.

    i think it would be unfair if u had to leave after you had built a life there .

    does anyone know the rights we would have there ?
  • Joseph May 14, 2009 @ 3:21 am | delete
    Just a question. I'm already married and on household registration etc. Does anyone know if obtaining a spousal visa gets you off any of the capital requirements ($NT1 million for a company without a Taiwanese partner and $NT500,000 with a Taiwanese partner) for registering a company in Taiwan?

    Cheers.
  • ChouDoufu Apr 19, 2009 @ 6:32 pm | delete
    Roy Boy,

    This lens is written from my experiences, so it is focused on Americans marrying Taiwanese. Much of the information, however, will be applicable to your situation. A good resource to check out, if you have not already, is the "marriage and divorce" forum on Forumosa.

    Best of luck!
  • Royboy Apr 19, 2009 @ 7:43 am | delete
    Hi,

    Your Lens and other peoples comments are very helpful..I am however intrigued to know if this is all USA related blurb or would you think to any nationality ? I am a UK guy about to make a 'life move' to be with my wife in Taiwan.
  • Pete Mar 5, 2009 @ 1:30 pm | in reply to Julie Lee | delete
    Julie,

    What did you find out? From what I understand, you would have to relinguish your USA citizenship to become a Taiwanese with national ID and passport. Otherwise you can always only be a PARC (permanent alien registration card) holder.
  • Audrey Dec 25, 2008 @ 9:44 am | delete
    Julie:
    Not sure if this is too late...but I'm a Taiwanese citizen, became U.S. citizen years later after immigrating to the states, got married and had my kids in NYC. When it came time to move to Taiwan with my family (husband and two kids), the TECO office in NYC told me that the Taiwanese immigration law changed such that if one of the parents is a Taiwanese national, then the kids can apply for Taiwanese passport and get ID number and cards once they get here (you don't need a national ID in Taiwan until you're 14 but an ID number will be issued regardless) so they automatically become Taiwanese citizens even though they were born in the U.S. So, if one of your parents is a Taiwanese citizen and still has their valid Taiwanese passport, they can go to the local TECO office and get you a Taiwanese passport and when you arrive in Taiwan, you should be able to get a new one issued with your national ID and an ID card once you and your husband has done the household registry.
  • Nink (NingKang) Nov 4, 2008 @ 6:37 am | delete
    Just a "Xie xie"! I married my Taiwanese wife in USA 18 months ago. She later had to return to Taiwan, and I wanted to accompany her. I found your site several months ago, and found it VERY helpful in my process. Ended up doing some things a bit differently, but I'm sure no 2 situations are the exactly same anyway.
    Tomorrow, picking up my Resident Visa (arrived on Visitor's, as thought to avert an extra trip to TECRO in DC from Baltimore), then ARC.
    Taiwan is GREAT! Been here just over 2 weeks. And my wife was able to celebrate her birthday in her home country after being away for 5 years.
    Thanks again for the help that your site provided!
  • ChouDoufu Aug 3, 2008 @ 3:46 am | delete
    George, sorry, but the purpose of this lens is to share my very specific situation. I am not an immigration lawyer and can't tell you much. I do, however, remember that for someone in your situation, you will probably want to get a fiance visa for your girlfriend before her trip where you intend to wed. But this was years ago, the law may have changed. I suggest hiring an immigration attorney.
  • George Jul 15, 2008 @ 10:48 pm | delete
    My long time girl friend who lives in Taiwan an goes back and forth to the United States here in Seattle on a business visa. My question is we want to get married the next time she comes here and then stay. If we get married then what do I have to do to get her a permanent residence visa so she can stay.

    Thank you for your help, you can write me at gwpii43@yahoo.com

    George
  • Irene Jun 5, 2008 @ 10:40 am | delete
    Very helpful and extremely detailed. Thanks!
  • ChouDoufu Jun 3, 2008 @ 5:00 pm | delete
    Ramesh, sorry, I can't help you. If you are looking for dating services, there are plenty around and I'm sure you can find something by running a Google search. This isn't the place to post such requests.
  • ChouDoufu Jun 3, 2008 @ 4:58 pm | delete
    Julie, I suggest you post to Forumosa.com, which has a good community of ex-pats in Taiwan. I'm sure that there is someone who was in your situation that can help you. I am not an expert in Taiwanese family or immigration law. I only am sharing my personal experience and my circumstances were different from yours. You'd do best to post your question at Forumosa.com.
  • rameshadhikari_8@hotmail.com May 31, 2008 @ 10:23 am | delete
    my name is ramesh adhikari and my birth place is in nepal and i want to marry with taiwan ladies so plz if there is any beautiful simple co-operative ladies meet with me
    yours sincerly
    ramesh
  • Julie Lee May 30, 2008 @ 2:03 am | delete
    I am Chinese American born in USA and my husband is originally from Taiwan. We were married in the States. Would I be able to become a Taiwanese citizen? Can I get a Taiwanese national ID and passport after we moved to Taiwan? Thanks.
  • James Mar 25, 2008 @ 2:13 am | delete
    Excellent information.
  • ChantĂ© Jun 24, 2007 @ 11:13 pm | delete
    I really appreciated this article... my Taiwanese Fiancé and I are busy trying to get all our paperwork ready, but your info has made it a lot easier... THANK YOU
  • ChouDoufu Nov 16, 2006 @ 2:05 pm | delete
    YEAH! My scanner arrived. I'm hoping to get it set up and have time to update the images on this site.
  • ChouDoufu Oct 28, 2006 @ 2:18 pm | delete
    It is taking me a while to put up all the supporting images for this lens on Flickr. I will not get my scanner until the end of the month. Also, with a baby on the way my work on this and other lenses is sporadic.

by

ChouDoufu

United States citizen living in Taiwan. Father. Connoisseur of Taiwanese night-market fare.

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