A certified letter (存證信函) must be written on the post office's certified-letter paper (or a self-made form whose items and text are exactly the same, which may be A4), in triplicate for each letter, and taken to a post office to be certified and then sent by registered mail. The certification fee is NT$50 for the first page and NT$30 for each extra page or attachment sheet, plus registered-mail postage. For a 1-page letter of up to 20 grams sent by registered mail with a return receipt, this article adds it up to about NT$93. The copy kept by the post office is stored for 3 years. A certified letter can prove what content you sent, but it is not a court judgment and cannot be used for direct compulsory enforcement.
Note: The post office's certification of a certified letter is limited to the original and the copy having the same content; it does not judge for you whether the content is justified. To demand a security deposit or a debt, or to give notice of terminating a contract, how you write the content and set the deadline touches individual rights, so consulting a lawyer or the legal aid foundation (法律扶助基金會) first is recommended. Fees follow Chunghwa Post's latest rate table.
Format and writing rules
Article 34 of the mail handling rules (郵件處理規則) provides that a registered letter that is submitted with the extra certification charges, written in the manner Chunghwa Post prescribes, and with an identical copy kept at the post office as evidence, is a certified letter. The rules listed in Chunghwa Post's FAQ are:
- Use the post office's certified-letter paper, or other paper in a format that meets the post office's rules. If you make your own on a computer, the items and the pre-printed text must be exactly the same as those produced and sold by the post office; the paper may be A4. The post office website offers Word and PDF downloads.
- Write in Chinese (本國文字, the national script); punctuation marks or Arabic numerals may be added. Where a foreign person's name or the name of a foreign thing mentioned in the letter must be quoted in the original, foreign characters may be used.
- Write with non-fading ink or type with carbon copying, or write and then photocopy; write only one character per box, in clear color and neat handwriting. The form states "each item in triplicate".
- The sender's and recipient's names, addresses and postal codes inside the letter must be the same as those written on the envelope.
- Attachments are limited to documents related to the certified letter itself; no objects may be enclosed. If the original has attachments, the copy must have them too; where they cannot be duplicated, use photos or photocopies instead.
- If anything is altered, added or deleted, note in the remarks column at the end of both the original and the copy which characters were changed, and on which page, line and box, and have the sender sign or stamp it; no more than 20 characters may be altered, added or deleted per page.
- If the sender is an agency, organization, company or business, the form requires the unit's seal and the signature or seal of the legal representative.
Chunghwa Post's rate notes add that where a page has more than 220 characters and the sender is unwilling to rewrite it, the letter may be accepted, but each such page is charged an extra certification fee as one continuation page.
How the cost adds up: certification fee plus registered-mail postage
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|
| Certification fee (first page) | NT$50 | Chunghwa Post special-service rate table, in effect from August 1, 2017 |
| Certification fee (each continuation page, or each attachment sheet) | NT$30 | Same as above |
| Same content sent to several people | The 1st letter is charged in full; the certification fee for each other letter is halved | Where the content is exactly the same and only the recipients differ, you can make 2 master copies and list the recipients on a separate sheet |
| Letter postage (not over 20 grams) | NT$8 | Domestic letter rate table, in effect from November 1, 2019 |
| Registration fee | NT$20 per item | Special-service rate table |
| Return-receipt fee (white receipt, the receipt comes back as ordinary mail) | NT$15 per item | Same as above |
| Return receipt with registration fee (red receipt, the receipt comes back by registered mail) | NT$25 per item | Same as above |
| Inspecting it later, or applying for certification of a separate copy | Half of the certification fee at the time of application | Only within the 3-year retention period, and the original receipt must be presented |
Worked example (added up by this article from the rate table; the actual charge is whatever the post office counter collects): 1 page, not over 20 grams, registered with a white return receipt = certification fee 50 + letter 8 + registration 20 + return receipt 15 = NT$93, which matches the rate table's "registered with return receipt" figure of NT$43 for up to 20 grams plus NT$50. With a red registered return receipt = 50 + 8 + 20 + 25 = NT$103. Each extra continuation page or attachment sheet adds NT$30 in certification fee, and postage is calculated by actual weight.
How to send: at the counter or online
| Method | Key points of the process | Basis |
|---|
| At a post office counter | Download or buy the form, fill in the 3 copies and the envelope, and bring your seal to the post office; the post office certifies it and stamps across the seam (騎縫郵戳), sends the original by registered mail and keeps the copy | Certified-letter form; Article 34 of the mail handling rules |
| Applying for online submission | Individuals and groups can both apply; first register online on the electronic mail service system (電子函件服務系統), print the application form and take it to a post office with proof documents; it is activated in about 3 to 4 working days | Chunghwa Post FAQ on online submission of certified letters |
| Using online submission | Prepare the certified letter as an electronic file, with PDF attachments, following the instructions; log in and click "certified letter submission" (存證信函交寄); the system uses an electronic seal in place of a physical seal; the letter body plus attachments (attachments in PDF only), printed double-sided, must not exceed 10 sheets in total | Same as above |
| Fees for online submission | Certification fee plus the rate for ordinary registered mail with return receipt, and a "special handling fee" (特別處理費) added according to the number of sheets printed; payable by postal savings or giro account, prepayment, WebATM or credit card | Same as above |
| The copy for online submission | The system only prints the paper letter that goes to the recipient; what the sender receives is an electronic file of the copy, which can be downloaded and printed from the system | Same as above |
The following is this article's suggestion, not an official rule: send important notices by registered mail with a return receipt, which is the evidence that the other party received the mail (Article 28, paragraph 2 of the mail handling rules); after sending, keep the post office receipt, the return receipt and your retained copy together. If the recipient is not home, a certified letter goes through the same registered-mail pickup process, and it is returned if not collected within 15 days; see How to collect mail with a pickup notice.
Legal effect: what it can prove and what it cannot do
The following is this site's explanation compiled from the legal provisions, not legal advice:
| Question | Explanation | Basis |
|---|
| What it proves | In principle the post office does not certify the content of mail; the copy kept for a certified letter is the exception, and the scope of certification is limited to the original and the copy having the same content | Article 3 of the mail handling rules; Chunghwa Post FAQ |
| When the other party is treated as having received it | A declaration of intent made to a person who is not present takes effect when the notice reaches the other party. A certified letter is often used to prove the content of a notice and that it was sent; whether it arrived can be shown together with the return receipt | Article 95 of the Civil Code; Article 28 of the mail handling rules |
| Demands and limitation periods | The Civil Code provides that a limitation period is interrupted by a "demand" (請求), but if no lawsuit is filed within 6 months after the demand, the interruption is deemed not to have occurred. Sending only a certified letter is not the same as filing a lawsuit | Articles 129 and 130 of the Civil Code |
| Can it be enforced directly | No. Compulsory enforcement requires an enforceable title (執行名義), for example a final judgment, a settlement or mediation reached under the Code of Civil Procedure (民事訴訟法), or a notarized instrument that may be enforced; a certified letter is not among them | Article 4 of the compulsory enforcement act (強制執行法) |
| Sending abroad | Since March 20, 2004 a foreign address can be written; the content must still be in Chinese, and the letter is sent as international registered mail. The post office only certifies the date of sending and the content, and does not concern itself with whether courts in Taiwan or abroad accept the effect of the certification | Chunghwa Post FAQ |
Common uses include asking a landlord to return the security deposit, demanding unpaid management fees, and notifying a business that you are terminating a contract; for the related rules see Rental deposit limits and what to do if it is not returned and What happens if you do not pay the management fee. For consumer disputes, besides sending a certified letter you can also go through 1950 complaints and mediation. Receiving a certified letter from someone else also does not mean that what the sender says is established; read the demands and the deadline carefully and, if necessary, consult a lawyer before responding (this article's suggestion).
FAQ
Do I have to buy the post office's paper for a certified letter?
Not necessarily. Chunghwa Post says you may make your own on a computer, but the items and the pre-printed text must be exactly the same as those produced and sold by the post office; the paper may be A4. The post office website offers Word and PDF downloads.
How many copies of a certified letter do I write?
The form states 3 copies for each item. You can write with non-fading ink or type with carbon copying, or write it and then photocopy it, with only one character per box.
How much does it cost to send one certified letter?
The certification fee is NT$50 for the first page and NT$30 for each continuation page or attachment sheet, plus registered-mail postage. For 1 page, up to 20 grams, registered with a white return receipt, this article adds it up from the rate table to NT$93; with a red registered return receipt it is NT$103.
Can I correct a mistake in a certified letter?
Yes, but in the remarks column of both the original and the copy you must note which characters were altered, added or deleted, and on which page, line and box, and the sender must sign or stamp it; no more than 20 characters per page.
How long does the post office keep a certified letter?
The copy kept by the post office is stored for 3 years from the date of submission and destroyed when the period ends. Within the 3 years the sender can present the original receipt to apply to inspect it, or to apply for certification of a separate copy; the fee is half of the certification fee at the time of application.
Last updated: 2026-11-01
This article is compiled by the SOSfix editors from public information and is for general reference only; for your own case, contact the Chunghwa Post customer service line 0800-700-365 or a nearby post office; for legal questions, contact a lawyer or the legal aid foundation.
Sources
- Laws and regulations database: mail handling rules (全國法規資料庫：郵件處理規則; in Chinese; last amended May 27, 2022, verified 2026-11-01): Article 3 on the exception to non-certification of content, Article 28 on registered mail and return receipts, Article 34 on the definition of a certified letter and the 3-year retention of the copy, Article 50 on 15 days for pickup.
- Chunghwa Post FAQ, "What are the rules for submitting a certified letter?" (中華郵政：常見問答「交寄存證信函有什麼規定?」; in Chinese; page last viewed 2022-04-14, verified 2026-11-01): form paper, national language, how to write, names and addresses matching, attachments, the 20-character alteration limit, 3-year retention.
- Chunghwa Post FAQ, "Must a set form of paper be used?" (中華郵政：常見問答「要用一定的格式用紙書寫嗎？」; in Chinese; verified 2026-11-01): text of a self-made form must be identical, A4 allowed, Word and PDF downloads.
- Chunghwa Post: certified-letter form, Word file (中華郵政：存證信函格式 Word 檔; in Chinese; October 2021 edition, verified 2026-11-01): 3 copies per item, alteration notes, unit seal and legal representative, valid only after post office certification.
- Chunghwa Post FAQ, "How is the certified letter fee calculated?" (中華郵政：常見問答「存證信函費用怎麼計算？」; in Chinese; verified 2026-11-01): NT$50 first page, NT$30 per continuation page or attachment sheet.
- Chunghwa Post FAQ, "Submitting 2 certified letters at the same time" (中華郵政：常見問答「同時交寄2件存證信函」; in Chinese; verified 2026-11-01): 2 master copies, certification fee halved for the other letters.
- Chunghwa Post FAQ, "What is a certified letter used for?" (中華郵政：常見問答「存證信函有什麼用途？」; in Chinese; verified 2026-11-01): can serve as evidence, certification limited to the original and copy having the same content.
- Chunghwa Post FAQ, "Can the recipient's address be a foreign address?" (中華郵政：常見問答「收件人地址是否可書國外之地址？」; in Chinese; verified 2026-11-01): foreign mailing allowed from March 20, 2004, written in Chinese, international registered mail, effect not guaranteed.
- Chunghwa Post FAQ, "Can a certified letter sent a year ago be inspected?" (中華郵政：常見問答「一年前交寄的存證信函可以查閱嗎？」; in Chinese; verified 2026-11-01): inspection within 3 years on presenting the original receipt, half the certification fee.
- Chunghwa Post FAQ, "Can a separate copy of a certified letter sent a year ago be certified?" (中華郵政：常見問答「一年前交寄的存證信函可以另具副本申請證明嗎？」; in Chinese; verified 2026-11-01): separate-copy certification within 3 years on presenting the original receipt, half the certification fee.
- Chunghwa Post: rate overview (中華郵政：資費一覽; in Chinese; page last viewed 2025-06-30; letter rates in effect from November 1, 2019 and special-service rates from August 1, 2017; verified 2026-11-01): letter up to 20 grams NT$8, registered with return receipt NT$43, registration fee NT$20, return receipts NT$15 and NT$25, certification fee, extra charge for pages over 220 characters.
- Chunghwa Post: FAQ on online submission of certified letters (中華郵政：存證信函網路交寄常見問答; in Chinese; page last viewed 2025-06-20, verified 2026-11-01): eligibility, registering online then sending to the post office, activation in 3 to 4 working days, how to use it, electronic seal and the 10-sheet limit, fees and payment methods, electronic file of the copy.
- Laws and regulations database: Civil Code (全國法規資料庫：民法; in Chinese; last amended August 17, 2026, verified 2026-11-01): Article 95 on a declaration of intent taking effect on arrival, Article 129 on a demand interrupting the limitation period, Article 130 on a suit not filed within 6 months being treated as no interruption.
- Laws and regulations database: compulsory enforcement act (全國法規資料庫：強制執行法; in Chinese; last amended May 29, 2019, verified 2026-11-01): Article 4 on the types of enforceable title.
