To marry in Taiwan, citizens must bring both original National ID cards, household registration certificates (household books), personal seals (or signatures), 1 recent color passport photo taken within 2 years each, and a written marriage agreement signed by at least 2 witnesses, and apply in person together at any Household Registration Office; marriage legally takes effect upon registration (Civil Code Article 982, Household Registration Act Article 26). Administrative fees set by Taipei and New Taipei City are NT$50 per replacement National ID card, NT$30 per household book copy, and NT$100 for an optional marriage certificate. In principle, both parties must apply in person; written authorization for third-party representation is permitted only under justifiable reasons with prior approval (Household Registration Act Articles 33 and 47).
Reminder: Since May 23, 2008 (ROC Year 97), Taiwan has enforced a "registration-effective" system: without formal household office registration, banquets or signed contracts do not constitute a legal marriage. Since January 1, 2023 (112), individuals under age 18 cannot marry (Civil Code Article 980). Same-sex marriages follow the Act for Implementation of J.Y. Interpretation No. 748 Article 4, requiring written agreements signed by 2+ witnesses registered at household offices. Marriages involving foreign or Mainland Chinese spouses require verification and interview procedures governed by Ministry of the Interior regulations.
Required Documents Checklist
| Marriage Scenario | Required Documents | Who Must Attend & Venue |
|---|
| ROC citizen and ROC citizen marrying in Taiwan | Both National ID cards, household books, personal seals (or signatures), 1 color photo taken within 2 years each (or uploaded digital photo), marriage agreement (signed by 2+ witnesses) | Both parties in person, any Household Registration Office |
| ROC citizen and foreign national marrying in Taiwan | ROC documents above, foreign passport or ARC, marriage agreement, foreign spouse Chinese name declaration, overseas authenticated single status certificate and Chinese translation (valid within 6 months) | Both parties in person, any Household Registration Office |
| Already legally married abroad under local law | National ID, household book, photo, overseas marriage certificate authenticated by ROC overseas mission noting local legal compliance with Chinese translation; foreign spouse passport and Chinese name declaration | Either party, any Household Registration Office, or forwarded via overseas mission |
| Marrying a Mainland China resident | Marriage certificates, and Taiwan Entry/Exit Permit endorsed by National Immigration Agency with "Interview Passed, Eligible for Marriage Registration" stamp | Per household registration guidelines |
Nationals of designated countries announced by MOFA must register marriage in the foreign spouse's home country first, attend overseas mission interviews and authentications, before returning to Taiwan to register. If ID photo files in the household system were updated within 2 years and facial features match, physical photos may be exempted.
Marriage Agreement and 2 Witnesses
Civil Code Article 982 provides that marriage must be in writing, signed by 2 or more witnesses, and registered by both parties with the household authority. MOI Department of Household Registration guidelines state that the marriage contract must record both parties' full names, birth dates, National ID or passport/ARC numbers, registered addresses, and signatures or seals of at least 2 witnesses.
- Witness Qualifications: Songshan District Household Office reminds that 2 witnesses aged 18 or above with legal capacity must personally witness and sign; citing Supreme Court Precedent No. 3792 of 1979 (68), witnesses must verify genuine mutual matrimonial intent, otherwise marriage validity may be defective.
- Do Witnesses Need to Attend in Person: Regulations require witness signatures on the written agreement; physical presence of witnesses at the household registration office is not required.
- Where to Obtain Marriage Contracts: Available free at all household offices, or downloadable from municipal household office websites like Songshan District.
Surname Adoption and Moving Household Registration
| Matter | Statutory Regulation |
|---|
| Surname Adoption (Hyphenated Spouse Name) | Spouses retain birth surnames, but may agree in writing to prefix spouse surname and register with household authorities (Civil Code Article 1000 Paragraph 1); can be processed concurrently with marriage registration |
| Resuming Original Birth Surname | The spouse who prefixed a name may revert to original surname anytime, limited to 1 occurrence during the same marriage (Civil Code Article 1000 Paragraph 2, Name Act Article 8 Paragraph 2) |
| Children's Surname Determination | Not determined at marriage; parents submit written agreement on father or mother surname before birth registration, or draw lots at household office if undecided (Civil Code Article 1059) |
| Moving Household Registration Concurrently | Songshan Household Office clarifies relocation registrations cannot be handled cross-district; to move simultaneously, apply at the household office of the move-in address |
For newborn surname rules, see How to Process Birth Registration; for required relocation documents, see What Documents to Bring for Household Relocation. Because marriage registration fees include National ID card replacement, both spouses must prepare photos.
Cross-District Registration, Appointments and Designated Effective Dates
ROC citizens having current or past household registration in Taiwan may register marriage at any Household Registration Office nationwide (Household Registration Act Article 26 Item 2), not limited to their household registration jurisdiction.
Couples wishing to make marriage effective on specific dates (including weekends/holidays) without attending on that day may visit any household office within 3 business days prior to designate the effective date, pursuant to Point 4 of the Marriage Registration Directions. Songshan District illustrates permissible designated date ranges:
| Application Day | Permissible Designated Effective Date Range |
|---|
| Monday | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday |
| Tuesday | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday |
| Wednesday | Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday |
| Thursday | Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday |
| Friday | Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday |
New Taipei City application guidance: for weekday registration appointments, reserve 3 to 30 business days in advance via phone, fax, or in person; online appointments must be finalized between 7 days and 3:00 PM of 1 day prior (via MOI online portal).
| City | Inquiry and Appointment Windows |
|---|
| Taipei City | District household offices, e.g. Songshan (02)2753-3043 (appointment ext. 412); Citizen Hotline 1999 (inter-county 02-2720-8889) |
| New Taipei City | Any district household office; municipal service hotline (02)2960-3456 |
Consequences of Failing to Register Marriage
In Taiwan, registration itself is the validity requirement for marriage; there is no penalty for "late registration" because without registration, parties are legally unmarried, unable to claim statutory spousal inheritance, estate tax spouse deductions, or gift tax exemptions between spouses. For marriages already legally registered abroad, registration is a vital status recording obligation (Household Registration Act Articles 9 and 48); failure to register within 30 days without justification incurs administrative fines of NT$300 to NT$900 under Article 79 and penalty tables.
Wedding gifts from parents up to NT$1 million (1,000,000 / 100 萬元) are excluded from taxable gifts; see Gift Tax Annual Exemptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can only one person attend marriage registration?
For marriages taking place after May 23, 2008 (97), both parties must apply in person (Household Registration Act Article 33); written authorization is permitted only with valid justifications approved by the household office (Article 47 Paragraph 2). For marriages already effective abroad, one party may register.
Do witnesses have to appear in person at the household office?
No. Civil Code Article 982 requires witness signatures on the written contract; physical attendance at the household office is not required, provided witnesses genuinely confirmed mutual matrimonial intent.
How much does marriage registration cost?
According to municipal schedules, new National ID cards cost NT$50 each, household registration books NT$30 per copy, and optional marriage certificates NT$100 each. Replacing two ID cards and one household book totals NT$130 minimum.
How do we make marriage effective on a weekend or specific day?
Visit any household office within 3 business days prior to designate the effective date, which can be a weekend or holiday. For instance, applying on Friday allows designating Saturday through Wednesday.
Can same-sex couples register marriage?
Yes. Under Article 4 of the Act for Implementation of J.Y. Interpretation No. 748, same-sex couples register in person with written agreements signed by 2 witnesses; parties must be at least 18 years of age (Article 3). Cross-border unions follow MOI interpretations.
Last updated: 2026-11-03
Compiled by SOSfix from official open data for general reference; consult Household Registration Offices or MOI Department of Household Registration for specific cases.
Sources
- Laws & Regulations Database: Civil Code (Amended Aug 17, 2026 / 115, verified 2026-11-02): Article 980 marriage age 18, Article 982 written form and 2 witnesses, Article 1000 surname adoption, Article 1059 child surname.
- Laws & Regulations Database: Household Registration Act (Amended Jan 21, 2015 / ROC 104, verified 2026-11-02): Article 9 registration, Article 26 cross-district, Article 33 joint application, Article 47 proxy rules, Article 48 30 days, Article 79 fines.
- Laws & Regulations Database: Name Act (Amended May 29, 2024 / ROC 113, verified 2026-11-02): Article 8 Paragraph 2 surname prefixing and reversion.
- Laws & Regulations Database: Act for Implementation of J.Y. Interpretation No. 748 (Amended Jun 9, 2023 / ROC 112, verified 2026-11-02): Articles 2-4 same-sex marriage requirements.
- MOI Department of Household Registration: Marriage Registration Application Guide (Verified 2026-11-02): Applicants, contract elements, documents, foreign spouse rules, designated date Point 4.
- Taipei Songshan Household Registration Office: Opposite-Sex Marriage Rules (Verified 2026-11-02): Designated date table, phone reservations, non-cross-district relocation, fees, witness age 18.
- New Taipei City Government Online Services: Marriage Registration Case Instructions (Verified 2026-11-02): Required documents, weekday reservations 3-30 days, online booking rules, fees 50, 30, 100, hotlines.
- Ministry of the Interior: Household Registration Fine Penalty Scale (Amended Sep 17, 2010 / ROC 99, downloaded 2026-11-02): 30-day deadline, NT$300 to NT$900 tiered fines.
- Taipei Songshan Household Registration Office: Household Fee Schedule (Updated Sep 13, 2024 / ROC 113, verified 2026-11-02): Standard fees for ID replacement, household book, and marriage certificates.
