The Ministry of the Interior yesterday announced that holders of “natural person certificates” may apply for documents, including copies of household registration records, at convenience stores.
Minister of the Interior Lee Hong-yuan (李鴻源) made the announcement during a press conference in Taipei yesterday.
“In the past, when you needed payment certificates for national pensions or national health insurance, you had to go to the Labor Insurance Bureau or National Health Insurance Bureau in person,” Lee said. “Now you can apply for such documents at convenience stores with your natural person certificate, and all you’ll pay is a NT$2 printing fee.”
Photo: CNA
The natural person certificate, first issued in 2003, is an ID card containing personal information about the holder, which can be used in place of a national ID card for the government’s electronic services.
Also, instead of going to household registration offices, certificate holders may apply for copies of household registration records at convenience stores by paying an NT$28 processing fee and postage. The copies would be mailed to applicants, Lee said.
There are 4,791 7-Eleven stores, 2,830 FamilyMarts and 1,252 HiLife stores across the country, as well as five Circle K stores in Taipei, with electronic service kiosks that provide the service.
“Since 2003, as many as 3.18 million people have applied for natural person certificates, making it an important basis for the government’s campaign to push for electronic and paperless services,” Lee said.
“We’re working to develop more functions on the natural person certificate, such as allowing holders to use it as a national ID card or EasyCard, so that people need only take one card with them for everything when they go out,” he said.
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