April 10, 2025 – (Taipei) – Taiwan is contemplating tightening its immigration policies for Hong Kong residents, with proposed changes that could significantly alter the residency and citizenship process. A proposal by eight Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, recently submitted to the Legislative Yuan, suggests stricter regulations for individuals seeking settlement in Taiwan, including a mandatory renunciation of Hong Kong passports for those applying for Taiwanese citizenship.
Under the current laws, Hong Kong residents can apply for residency in Taiwan through various channels, including marriage, investment, or professional immigration. However, legal experts note that the process for Hong Kong residents to gain residency status could take anywhere from one to six years, depending on individual circumstances.
The push for these stricter measures comes in the wake of increasing concerns over national security, particularly following the 2019 anti-extradition bill protests in Hong Kong. Since then, many Hong Kong residents have sought to relocate to Taiwan. Reports suggest that Taiwanese authorities are considering changes to immigration regulations for residents of Hong Kong and Macau after a National Security Council meeting that discussed the issue.
The proposal, led by DPP legislators Wang Ting-yu and 18 others, argues that Hong Kong residents previously enjoyed the ability to apply for settlement and obtain Taiwanese identification cards almost immediately through marriage, investment, or professional channels. However, the new proposal highlights growing concerns over the Chinese Communist Party’s increasing control over Hong Kong and Macau, suggesting that the influx of mainland Chinese residents moving to Hong Kong has been exploited to bypass Taiwan’s relatively lenient immigration laws.
For national security reasons, the proposal calls for aligning the residency and settlement regulations for Hong Kong and Macau residents with those outlined in Article 17 of Taiwan’s Cross-Strait Relations Act. This would bring the process closer to that of mainland Chinese residents, requiring approximately six years to acquire Taiwanese citizenship. The proposal also suggests that Hong Kong and Macau residents wishing to apply for Republic of China nationality would need to relinquish their original passports, marking a departure from the previous policy, which did not require the surrender of Special Administrative Region (SAR) or British National Overseas (BNO) passports.
In March, Taiwan’s Liberty Times reported that Taiwanese authorities were contemplating extending the required residency period for Hong Kong residents to apply for settlement from one to four years. A new “long-term residency” category is also under consideration, which would grant Hong Kong residents similar rights to permanent residency without the need for a Taiwanese ID card. This would allow them to stay in Taiwan for an extended period with fewer associated risks.
Officials have pointed out that the current system, which allows Hong Kong residents to apply for settlement after just one year of residence, is in need of adjustment. The proposed changes would require Hong Kong and Macau residents to stay in Taiwan for at least four years before applying for settlement. However, even with this change, Hong Kong and Macau residents would still be afforded preferential treatment compared to mainland Chinese spouses, who currently need to reside in Taiwan for six years before they can apply for settlement.
The proposed “long-term residency” option for Hong Kong residents would offer similar benefits to permanent residency, without granting voting rights or requiring the acquisition of a Taiwanese ID card. This would provide Hong Kong residents with an extended stay in Taiwan while mitigating security risks.
As the proposal moves through the legislative process, it has already sparked debate over its potential impact on Taiwan’s relationship with Hong Kong residents and its broader immigration policies.
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