Chinese must show proof of passport renunciation for permanent residency

Taipei, Oct. 30 (CNA) An amended regulation requiring Chinese nationals to provide notarized proof they have renounced their People's Republic of China (PRC) passport to qualify for permanent residency in Taiwan will take effect Friday, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) announced Wednesday.

Under the amendment, the required document must be notarized and demonstrate that the applicant has "lost their household registration in the Mainland Area" and that they have "either not applied for, or renounced their PRC passport."

Before the amendment, the applicant was only required to hand in a document proving that their "original household registration" has been lost.

The amendment is necessary because, in practice, Chinese nationals can still hold a PRC passport even after renouncing their household registration in China, the MOI said.

According to the Mainland Affairs Council's most recent interpretation of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area -- which requires proof of loss of original household registration -- the intent is that applicants cannot retain the status of "Mainland Area" residents, hence the amendment.