Disclaimer
This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the British Office Taipei by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the British Office Taipei will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain any further information must contact the relevant local authority.
Introduction
This guide sets out useful information for British nationals residing in Taiwan. We are unable to provide any guidance on general lifestyle enquiries apart from the information and links listed below. This information supplements the travel advice for Taiwan, which should also be read. See also UK help and services in Taiwan.
Coronavirus
You should follow the advice of the Taiwan government and your local authority. You can also read Taiwan travel advice for our latest guidance.
For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Taiwan, see our coronavirus travel advice.
Getting married in Taiwan
If you are considering marrying in Taiwan, please read this guide in its entirety.
Marriage in Taiwan key points
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British nationals are able to marry in Taiwan
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both same-sex and opposite-sex marriage is recognised in Taiwan
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it is not possible to have a civil partnership ceremony in Taiwan
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in order to marry in Taiwan, a British national will need to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) from the UK. This document must be obtained from the UK
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the British Office Taipei is unable to issue a Certificate of No Impediment, or produce any other document or statement in relation to marriage in Taiwan
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the British Office Taipei is unable to conduct marriage or civil partnership ceremonies
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a Certificate of No Impediment for use in Taiwan cannot be obtained from another British diplomatic mission in the region. If you wish to marry in Taiwan, you should obtain the Certificate of No Impediment from the UK and follow the procedures outlined below
Same sex marriage
In May 2019, Taiwan’s parliament passed a law to recognise same-sex marriage. The rights of married same-sex couples are the same as those of heterosexual couples, except that same-sex couples cannot adopt, other than to adopt the children of one of the parties to the marriage. You may only marry a same-sex partner from a country or legal jurisdiction that also recognises same-sex marriage.
This guidance applies to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples seeking to marry in Taiwan.
How to Obtain a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)
To obtain a Certificate of No Impediment, you should contact your local registry office in the UK and request a Certificate of No Impediment be issued to you. The staff will be able to provide you with a complete list of requirements you will need to meet, including a public notice period, before the document can be issued.
Once you have the document it will need to be legalised by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London.
In order to have the document authenticated, you will then need to make an appointment with the Taipei Representative Office (TRO) in London, 50 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0EB, telephone: 020 7881 2650 or in Edinburgh, 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7PE, telephone: 01312 206886.
You will need to obtain a translation of the legalised and authenticated Certificate of No Impediment. After this, the document can be presented to the Household Registration Bureau in Taiwan. Unless the document has been both legalised by the FCDO and then authenticated by the TRO, it will not be valid for use in Taiwan.
Alternatives to marrying in Taiwan
Some British nationals choose to marry in Hong Kong, which does not require a Certificate of No Impediment in order to marry.
If you are considering this option you should conduct your own research into the relevant requirements for Hong Kong and Taiwan.
It is not currently possible for same sex couples to marry in Hong Kong.
Using alternatives to a Certificate of No Impediment
British nationals should not attempt to submit a search of the historical marriage indexes from the General Register Office in the UK in lieu of a Certificate of No Impediment. This is not a valid document for the purpose of marriage in Taiwan.
Marriage records only become available to the General Register Office 18 months after the marriage is registered, and this fact is stated on the letter issued in relation to such an application. Because the 18 month period preceding the application is not covered by the search, a letter or certificate from the General Register Office stating that there is no record of marriage does not meet the requirements for a British national who wishes to marry in Taiwan.
If you submit this document in Taiwan, even if it initially appears to be accepted, you could face complications or legal issues at a later stage. If you wish to marry in Taiwan, you should obtain a Certificate of No Impediment.
Further Information
If you have any further questions regarding marriage in Taiwan you should contact the Household Registration Department. The Department can also be contacted via the Ministry of Interior Helpline. Dial 1996 then select option 9 to be connected to the call centre operator. The Household Registration Department has offices throughout Taiwan, including Taipei.
Importing personal medication from the UK
Most medications and treatments are available in Taiwan, however, some British nationals who live in Taiwan may require medications from the UK. In Taiwan, the import of medication for personal use is regulated and controlled by the Food and Drug Administration (TFDA).
The basic process to import medication for personal use is:
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register your details at the relevant TFDA website. Please note that the website is only available in Chinese
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complete the online application form for importing medication for personal use (個人自用藥品專案進口申請) and provide any supporting documents requested. You would usually be asked for; the prescription for the medication, a photocopy/picture of the box cover of the medication, and a medical certificate or diagnosis from a doctor
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the authorities will notify you by email once the importation certificate has been issued (usually within 14-30 days of application)
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you will need to pick the medication up from customs in person and present your importation certificate. Your ID documents much match those on your medication
The British Office Taipei is unable to offer any assistance or personalised advice about importing medication from the UK. If you have any further questions about how to import personal medication from the UK, you should contact the TFDA and ensure you understand the rules and regulations before proceeding.
Exchanging UK driving licence for Taiwan driving licence
About the licence exchange agreement
The UK and Taiwan have entered into an arrangement that will enable the exchange of driving licences issued by the respective Licensing Authorities. This means holders of a valid UK driving licence who are currently resident in Taiwan will be able to exchange their licence for a Taiwan one, and vice versa for holders of Taiwan driving licences in the UK. The arrangement will come into effect from 1 January 2022, when applications will open.
An exchanged Taiwan driving licence will last for 6 years from the date of issue. In line with the standard requirements of UK legislation your existing UK licence must be returned to the DVLA by Taiwanese authorities to enable the exchange of licences. You will be able to drive in the UK for up to 12 months each time you enter the UK as a visitor, using your exchanged Taiwan licence. If you return to the UK more permanently you may apply to the DVLA to exchange your Taiwan licence back for your UK licence.
The new arrangement provides you with another option whereby you can drive in Taiwan, in addition to the existing options of obtaining an International Driving Permit (IDP) in the UK and getting that endorsed locally, or of taking a local driving test to obtain a Taiwan driving licence. You may wish to compare each option to decide which route is more appropriate to your personal needs and circumstances (please see the Frequently Asked Questions section for further advice).
Full details of the Licence Exchange Arrangement are detailed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that underpins this arrangement.
Eligibility
Foreign nationals in Taiwan with a valid UK driving licence and a permit issued by Taiwanese authorities to stay or reside in Taiwan for more than 6 months, e.g. an ARC. An application can only be submitted after you have entered Taiwan.
How to apply
- Application submission: you, or someone applying on your behalf, should visit a local Motor Vehicles Office in Taiwan to submit the following required documents for the licence exchange. Any person applying on your behalf will need to bring their own ID.
- NT$200 application fee
- passport (original and photocopy)
- valid UK driving licence issued by the DVLA (original and photocopy of both sides)
- if the driving licence has been lost, stolen or damaged, please provide instead a “Certificate of Entitlement” issued by the DVLA within six months prior to the date of application
- permit by Taiwanese authorities to stay or reside in Taiwan for more than 6 months, e.g. Alien Resident Certificate or Alien Permanent Resident Certificate
- 3x one-inch passport-style ID photos in colour with a plain background, showing clear facial features and no headgear, taken within the past two years
- “Check Code” issued by the DVLA via GOV.UK (please generate a check code yourself using our online service, and print out the licence information summary which includes the check code. You will need to enter your driving licence number, National Insurance number and registered postcode. The process will take about 5 minutes to complete.)
- health certificate for driving licence issued by a Taiwan public hospital, after performing a simple physical health check (Note: Motor Vehicle Offices are typically close to hospitals that offer walk-in health checks for this purpose.)
- Taiwan Certificate of Entry and Exit Dates (see guidance on National Immigration Agency)
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Verification process: the Motor Vehicles Office will send your UK driving licence, supporting documentation and DVLA “check code” to Taiwan’s Directorate General of Highways (DGH), who will liaise with the Taipei Representative Office in the UK (TRO) to verify the validity of the UK driving licence. The verification process typically takes at least 5-7 working days.
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Collection: once the documentation has been verified, the local Motor Vehicles Office will inform you of the result and issue a Taiwan driving licence for collection. Your UK licence will be returned to the DVLA for you as required by UK legislation.
Note: you can still drive in the UK for up to 12 months whenever you return to the UK as a visitor, using your exchanged Taiwan driving licence. The 12 month period starts each time you enter the UK.
Help and support
For further information on the application process, please speak to staff at the local Motor Vehicles Office, consult Taiwan’s Directorate General of Highways website, or see the Frequently Asked Questions below.
To enquire about the status of your application after you have submitted your documents for verification, please contact your local Motor Vehicles Office in the first instance. If it is approaching two weeks and you still have not heard back, then please contact Mr. LIN Chia-Min at the Directorate General of Highways by calling 02-2307-0123 #2511 or emailing license@gmail.com.tw.
Note: Motor Vehicles Offices in Taiwan are responsible for processing applications on behalf of the Directorate General of Highways. British Office Taipei will not be able to provide support or advice on individual applications.
For those in the UK with a Taiwan driving licence who wish to exchange theirs for a UK driving licence, please contact Taipei Representative Office in the UK.
