A bill that would shorten the time required for foreign “high-level professionals” to apply for naturalization passed committee review at the legislature yesterday.
The Internal Administration Committee approved the amendment to the Nationality Act (國籍法) after hearing reports from the Ministry of the Interior.
Fierce global competition for talent requires Taiwan to relax its immigration rules, the proposal says.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
Under current law, high-level professionals invited by the ministry can apply for citizenship without giving up their nationality.
However, they must have resided in Taiwan for at least 183 days annually for three consecutive years.
Under the changes, the requirement would be shortened to two years, or the applicant must have legally resided in Taiwan for at least five years if they do not meet the 183-day requirement. Special or stateless applicants would be exempt from paying the fee required when applying for naturalization.
The changes also include a provision that would allow social welfare agencies to apply for naturalization on behalf of stateless children who are residents.
Athletes would fall under the category of “high-level professionals,” Department of Household Registration Acting Director Chen Tzu-ho (陳子和) said, when asked whether they would be included.
The ministry earlier said that the changes would aid in recruiting foreign basketball players for the national team.
The Cabinet approved the changes on Feb. 29, sending them to the legislature for deliberation.
They had already been approved by the Cabinet in September last year, but had to be resubmitted because of the new legislative term that began on Feb. 1.
The amendments have been finalized and do not require cross-party negotiations before they are deliberated by the full chamber, committee chair Legislator Wu Chi-ming (吳琪銘) said.
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