Applying for or renewing a Taiwan passport domestically costs NT$1,300 for applicants aged 14 and older (10-year validity), and NT$900 for children under 14 (5-year validity); standard processing takes 10 working days, while replacements for lost passports take 11 working days. First-time applicants must apply in person (either directly at the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) or by completing "identity verification" at any household registration office (戶政事務所) before commissioning an agent); renewals can be commissioned to agents or travel agencies. Adult citizens whose passports have expired or have less than 1 year of validity remaining with unchanged personal data can also apply online using a Citizen Digital Certificate. For Taipei and New Taipei residents, the primary counter is BOCA on Jinan Road in Taipei; non-urgent first-time applicants can also use one-stop services at any household registration office (戶政事務所) in Taipei or New Taipei, though household offices only handle initial applications (renewals must visit BOCA, appoint an agent, or renew online).
Notice: By international convention, passports must possess at least 6 months of remaining validity to enter foreign countries; always check expiry dates before traveling abroad. Household office one-stop submissions and online renewals cannot process expedited applications; urgent travelers must visit BOCA counters directly. Fees and processing schedules remain subject to the latest announcements from the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Fee and Processing Time Overview
| Application Category | Statutory Fee | Processing Days / Validity |
|---|
| First-time or renewal for applicants aged 14 and older | NT$1,300 | Standard 10 working days; 10-year validity |
| Applicants under 14 years old | NT$900 | Standard 10 working days; 5-year validity |
| Replacement for lost passport | Same as above (NT$1,300 / NT$900) | 11 working days; validity capped at 5 years (3 years for under 14) |
| Expedited: Advance by 7 working days | Additional NT$300 | Fractions under 7 days also billed as 7 days |
| Expedited: Advance by 8 working days | Additional NT$600 | — |
| Expedited: Advance by 9 working days | Additional NT$900 | Late requests for expedited service approved by BOCA incur a flat NT$900 fee |
| Taoyuan Airport Office emergency passport | Additional NT$3,600 | Accepted only if verified not to disrupt emergency relief duties |
| Household office one-stop submission | NT$1,300 / NT$900 + NT$15 channel fee | 14 working days after payment |
| Online renewal | NT$1,300 (credit card) | 10 working days after payment in Taiwan proper |
Working days are calculated starting from the second half-day following payment completion. Expedited surcharges follow Article 3 of the "Fee Standards for Ordinary Passports of the Republic of China"; BOCA may suspend expedited processing based on administrative capacity.
First-Time Application: Three "In-Person" Methods
BOCA regulations mandate that first-time applicants must apply in person via three available routes:
- Visit BOCA headquarters or MOFA Central, Southern, Eastern, or Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Branch Offices in person: Supports expedited processing.
- Complete "Identity Verification" at any household registration office nationwide, then commission an agent (relative, travel agency, etc.) to complete application: Ideal for individuals unable to visit BOCA branch offices.
- Household Registration Office "One-Stop Passport Application Service": Submit application and payment directly at the household office; collect the passport at the original office after 14 working days, or opt for postal delivery (postage cash-on-delivery). Limited to registered citizens in Taiwan without urgency who have never held a passport; overseas Chinese status or protective custody cases are ineligible.
| Required Document | Specifications |
|---|
| Original National ID Card | Refers to the current national ID card format issued since December 21, Year 94 (2005) |
| Household book or original transcript within 3 months | Used in place of ID for children under 14 who have not received an ID card; cardholders submit ID |
| Simplified Passport Data Sheet | Complete in paper, or pre-fill online via appointment portal with digital photo upload |
| 2 Passport Photos | 4.5 cm high by 3.5 cm wide, crown to chin 3.2 to 3.6 cm, taken within 6 months, color, glossy, white background |
Applicants aged 14 to under 18 must attach a parental consent letter signed by father or mother (legal guardian) alongside their original ID; applicants under 14 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or an authorized direct ascendant or relative within the third degree of kinship. If your ID is lost, see How to Replace a Lost ID Card.
Renewals: Proxy Agents and Online Applications
Passports that are expired, have less than 1 year of validity remaining, or do not reflect the latest format can be renewed; defacement, facial changes, altered biodata, or unreadable chips require mandatory renewal. Required documents include original ID card, simplified data form, 2 photos, and the existing valid passport.
Who can act as proxy: After completing the official power of attorney (Form A), applicants may commission relatives, or colleagues from the same agency, school, company, or registered civil group; proxies must present their own original ID and relationship or employment proof. Alternatively, commission Class A or comprehensive travel agencies licensed by the Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Form D or Form E, exempt from simplified data forms). Other proxy relationships require a notarized power of attorney.
Conditional Online Renewal: Beginning July 1, 2026, eligibility criteria expanded to allow adult citizens meeting three conditions to renew from home:
- Adult citizen holding household registration in Taiwan.
- Current passport is expired, or has less than 1 year of validity, and is not lost.
- Data in new passport is identical to existing passport without endorsements or changes (such as foreign aliases or overseas status).
Applicants require a Citizen Digital Certificate with card reader, or the Mobile Citizen Digital Certificate App (see our guide on How to Apply for Citizen Digital Certificates), a digital passport photo taken within 6 months, and credit card payment of NT$1,300. After 10 working days in Taiwan proper (14 working days in Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu), the applicant must personally collect the passport at their selected location presenting receipt, original ID, and existing passport. The online system cannot process expedited requests and excludes conscription-liable men abroad.
Replacing a Lost Passport
If an unexpired passport is lost domestically, the holder must report the loss in person to any local police precinct presenting ID to obtain an original "Report Form for Lost Passport", then submit it alongside standard renewal documents in person or via proxy. Replacement takes 11 working days, with validity capped at 5 years. Once reported lost, found passports remain legally invalid and cannot be used. Reporting loss 2 or more times within 10 years may trigger investigative interviews and shortened validity. Expired passports that are lost can simply be renewed directly without police reporting.
Service Locations Across Taipei and New Taipei
| Location | Target Applicants | Operating Hours |
|---|
| Bureau of Consular Affairs (3-5F, No. 2-2, Sec. 1, Jinan Rd., Taipei City, Central Joint Office Building North) | First-time applications, renewals, lost replacements, expedited service | Monday to Friday 8:30–17:00, no noon break; Wednesday extended until 20:00 (except national holidays) |
| Any district household registration office (戶政事務所) in Taipei or New Taipei | First-time applicant identity verification or one-stop submission (non-urgent) | Subject to individual household registration office (戶政事務所) business hours |
| Online Renewal Portal | Eligible adult renewals | Online submission per system availability |
BOCA inquiry phone lines: 02-2343-2807, 02-2343-2808. Review pre-departure rules including Airplane Power Bank Rules and Airport MRT Timetable and Fares.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a passport?
Standard processing takes 10 working days, and lost replacements take 11 working days, calculated starting the half-day after payment. Household office one-stop service takes 14 working days after payment, while online renewal in Taiwan proper takes 10 working days.
Can a travel agency handle a first-time passport application?
Yes, but the applicant must personally complete "identity verification" at any household registration office (戶政事務所) nationwide beforehand, then entrust the travel agency or a relative. Alternatively, apply directly at BOCA counters.
Do I need to surrender my old passport when renewing?
Yes. If the old passport remains valid, it must be surrendered upon renewal; for online renewals, bring your current original passport when collecting the new document to have the corners clipped and returned.
Can I renew online if my passport still has 8 months of validity?
Yes. Starting July 1, 2026, adult citizens with unexpired passports possessing less than 1 year of validity, zero data changes, and no loss can renew online via Citizen Digital Certificate.
How fast can I get a passport in an emergency?
Applying for expedited processing at BOCA counters to advance by 7, 8, or 9 working days incurs surcharges of NT$300, NT$600, or NT$900 respectively. Household offices and online systems do not accept expedited applications.
Last updated: 2026-11-01
This article is compiled from public information by SOSfix editors for general guidance; consult the Bureau of Consular Affairs (02-2343-2807) for individual inquiries.
Sources and References
- Bureau of Consular Affairs: Guidelines for First-Time Passport Applications Domestically (Updated 2026-10-30, verified 2026-11-01): Mandatory in-person rule, 3 application routes, required docs, photo rules, NT$1,300/NT$900 fees, 10-day standard, 11-day lost replacement, Wednesday extended hours, contacts.
- Bureau of Consular Affairs: Guidelines for Passport Renewals Domestically (Updated 2026-10-30, verified 2026-11-01): Renewal criteria, surrendering old passports, proxy categories, Form A/D/E powers of attorney, notarization.
- Bureau of Consular Affairs: Household Registration Office One-Stop Service Guidelines (Updated 2026-10-30, verified 2026-11-01): Eligibility, NT$15 fee, 14-day collection or mail delivery, prohibition on expedited conversion.
- Bureau of Consular Affairs: Identity Verification Instructions for First-Time Applicants (Updated 2026-10-29, verified 2026-11-01): Procedures for household identity verification followed by proxy submission.
- Bureau of Consular Affairs: Conditional Online Passport Renewal Instructions (Updated 2026-08-19, verified 2026-11-01): Three qualification rules, Citizen Digital Certificate, NT$1,300 payment, 10-day mainland/14-day offshore schedule, no expedited service, conscription exclusion.
- Bureau of Consular Affairs Press Release: Online Renewal Relaxed to Passports with Less Than 1 Year Validity (Published 2026-07-01, verified 2026-11-01): Policy expansion from July 1, 2026.
- Bureau of Consular Affairs: Guidelines for Domestic Replacement of Lost Unexpired Passports (Updated 2024-03-20, verified 2026-11-01): Police reporting form, 11 working days, 5-year validity cap, found passport invalidity, interview rules for repeat losses within 10 years.
- Laws and Regulations Database: Fee Standards for Ordinary Passports of the Republic of China (Amended 112-02-20, verified 2026-11-01): Article 2 baseline fees NT$1,300/NT$900, Article 3 expedited fees NT$300/NT$600/NT$900, Article 4 airport office emergency fee NT$3,600.
Related reading: Taiwan e-Gate Automated Immigration Clearance Guide · Taiwan Cash Carry Limits and Customs Declaration Thresholds · Taiwan Conscription Travel Permit: Overseas Travel Rules
