When you lose your national ID card, you must take two steps: first report the loss (available 24 hours online, by phone, or in person; call the 1996 Ministry of the Interior (內政部) service hotline outside office hours), and then visit any household registration office (戶政事務所) in Taiwan to apply for a replacement; the reissue fee is NT$200 per card, and applicants aged 14 or older must apply in person and cannot authorize an agent. You must bring your personal seal (or signature), original household certificate (戶口名簿) or photo ID proof, and 1 compliant photo taken within 2 years. Residents in Taipei and New Taipei can visit any district household registration office near work or home without returning to their registered domicile.
Reminder: Loss reporting can be completed 24 hours a day, but revoking a loss report can only be processed during office hours. Replacements require in-person attendance; for minors under 14, legal representatives apply while the child must appear in person for facial verification. Fees and documentation are subject to latest announcements from the Department of Household Registration and local offices.
Step 1: Reporting the Loss (Online, Phone, or Counter)
The Department of Household Registration provides three channels for reporting lost national ID cards:
| Channel | How to Apply | Available Hours |
|---|
| Online (without certificate) | Department website portal "ID Card Loss Reporting and Cancellation (Certificate-Free)" | 24 hours |
| Online (with digital certificate) | Log in with Citizen Digital Certificate or Mobile Citizen Digital Certificate on the Department website | 24 hours |
| Telephone | Call any household registration office during office hours; call 1996 hotline outside office hours and leave contact info for identity verification on next working day | Office hours + non-office hours |
| In-person counter | Visit any household registration office in person with identity documents | Household office business hours |
| Calling from overseas | Dial 886-2-7750-5096 | — |
If you have a Citizen Digital Certificate, applying online with credentials is most direct; if you do not have one yet, see how to apply and renew Citizen Digital Certificates. If you locate your card after reporting it lost, you must revoke the loss report during office hours. The Department also advises checking lost-and-found websites operated by the National Police Agency, Taiwan Railway, and Taipei Metro.
Step 2: Reissuing the Card (Required Documents and Attendance)
Under Department application guidelines, reissue rules match initial issuance standards:
| Item | Aged 14 and Over | Under 14 Years Old |
|---|
| Who applies | In person only, cannot authorize agent | Statutory agent or authorized lineal ascendant; minor must appear in person for facial verification |
| Seal / signature | Personal seal (or signature) | Statutory agent's ID card and seal (or signature); consent form required from absent agent |
| Identity proof | Original household certificate (戶口名簿) or photo identity documents | Same as left |
| Photograph | 1 compliant color photo taken within 2 years, or pre-uploaded digital photo | Same as left |
| Statutory fee | NT$200 per card | NT$200 per card |
| Where to apply | Any household registration office nationwide | Any household registration office nationwide |
Photo waiver rules: If your archived digital photo was taken within 2 years and matches your current appearance and age upon facial verification, submitting a new photo is waived. National Health Insurance (健保) cards, passports, or driver licenses serve as supporting photo identity proof.
Statutory Fees Comparison
| Category | Fee | Applicable Scenario |
|---|
| Initial issuance | NT$50 | First-time ID card issuance |
| Renewal / replacement | NT$50 | Changes in registered data, physical damage, photo update |
| Reissue | NT$200 | Loss or destruction |
If you are simultaneously changing household registration domicile, apply at the office handling the move; see documents required for moving household registration.
Taipei and New Taipei: Cross-District Applications
Since July 1, 2014 (ROC year 103), ID card reissues can be processed at any household registration office nationwide. Residents living in New Taipei and working in Taipei can apply at the Taipei office near their workplace, and vice versa. The only exception: individuals holding old-style paper ID cards who have never replaced them with current laminated cards must apply at their registered household office.
Addresses and phone numbers of district offices can be found in the Department directory. Check local business hours before visiting.
Does the Digital ID (New eID) Affect Reissuance?
No. On January 21, 2021 (ROC year 110), the Executive Yuan decided to suspend the New eID rollout pending legal frameworks and consensus. Consular Affairs announcements in October 2026 confirm that new-style national ID cards refer to the current cards rolled out starting December 21, 2005 (ROC year 94). Currently, all reissues provide existing laminated ID cards.
Post-Loss Precautions (Editorial Guidance)
- Report lost cards, driver licenses, or credit cards in the same wallet simultaneously.
- Beware of identity theft for mobile accounts or banking; see how to identify fraudulent calls and SMS.
- Filing a police report provides documentation if identity theft occurs, though household offices do not require police reports for reissuance.
- If traveling abroad soon, apply for ID replacement promptly because passport applications require inspecting original ID cards, as detailed in Taiwan passport application and renewal guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can family members reissue my ID card on my behalf?
No. Applicants aged 14 or older must apply in person. Only minors under 14 may have statutory agents apply, though the minor must appear in person for facial verification.
How much does ID card replacement cost?
Reissuing a lost ID card costs NT$200. Initial issuances and renewals cost NT$50.
Do I have to return to my registered household office?
No. Reissues can be filed at any household registration office nationwide, unless holding old-format pre-2005 ID cards.
How do I report a lost ID card in the middle of the night?
Use the 24-hour online reporting portal on the Department website or dial the 1996 hotline.
Can I use my ID card if found after reporting it lost?
You must revoke the loss report at a household registration office during regular business hours before reusing it.
Last updated: 2026-11-01
This article was compiled by SOSfix editors from public information for general reference only; for individual cases, contact the Department of Household Registration, Ministry of the Interior, the 1996 hotline, or local household registration offices.
Sources
- Department of Household Registration, Ministry of the Interior: ID card loss reporting and revocation methods (verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): online, telephone, and counter reporting channels, 1996 hotline, overseas phone number, revocation during business hours, nationwide processing since July 1, 2014, lost-and-found websites.
- Department of Household Registration, Ministry of the Interior: Application guide for national ID cards (initial, reissue, replacement) (verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): age 14 personal application rule, under 14 agent rules, required documents, 2-year photo rules, fees NT$50/50/200, nationwide processing.
- Department of Household Registration, Ministry of the Interior: New eID public information portal (verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): Executive Yuan January 21, 2021 suspension decision, legal frameworks, cross-agency integration.
- Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Instructions for domestic ordinary passport applications (updated October 30, 2026, verified 2026-11-01) (in Chinese): definition of current national ID cards rolled out from December 21, 2005.
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