Stay limit for foreign parents of eligible naturalized citizens extended to 1 year: NIA

Taipei, Jan. 2 (CNA) The foreign parents of naturalized Taiwanese citizens with household registration can now extend their stay in Taiwan for up to one year to assist with the care of grandchildren under the age of two, including those not yet born, according to the National Immigration Agency (NIA) on Friday.

Effective Thursday, the policy applies to foreign parents of naturalized citizens who are pregnant or have children under the age of two, provided they have household registration in Taiwan, according to a written NIA response to CNA.

According to Taiwan's immigration regulations, naturalized citizens must still meet specific residency thresholds -- which vary depending on the number of days the individual spends in the country each year -- before they are eligible for household registration related rights.

Currently, only naturalized citizens whose parents are nationals of countries other than China, Hong Kong, or Macau are eligible for this policy, given that the residency and entry rules for residents of China, Hong Kong, and Macau are governed by different laws.

The NIA added that the government is consulting with relevant authorities and continues to push forward with legislative amendments to address related issues.

Under the new policy, eligible foreign parents holding a valid visa that permits them to stays in Taiwan for 60 days or longer can apply for an extension for up to one year, as long as their visas do not carry restrictions barring extensions, according to Ministry of the Interior (MOI).

Eligible applicants can apply for the extension by submitting an application to local NIA service centers, MOI said.

If the grandchild is not yet born, applicants must submit either a medical diagnosis certificate issued within one month specifying the pregnancy week and due date, or a Maternal Health Booklet (issued by the Health Promotion Administration) featuring a physician-certified prenatal record dated within the last 30 days.

For grandchildren under the age of two, the NIA requires both the original copy and a photocopy of the child's birth certificate, household registration records and other certified documents that prove the familial relationship, according to the release.

The new policy is part of a broader effort to care for newly naturalized Taiwanese nationals with household registration, the MOI said.

By allowing eligible foreign parents to stay in Taiwan longer, the policy provides naturalized Taiwanese with the flexibility they need for childcare, enabling parents to return to work and reducing the financial stress of raising a child, the MOI said.