Overseas Compatriot Identity Certification Act Article 4
The R.O.C. (TAIWAN) nationals residing overseas and who satisfy any of the following conditions may apply for the Overseas Compatriot Identity Certificate:1.A person who resides in a country or region with a permanent residency system, and satisfies the following requirements:(1) Obtaining permanent residency in the place of residence overseas;(2) Accumulating residence overseas for at least four years;(3) Continuously residing in the place of residence overseas for six months, or accumulating residence overseas for at least eight months of each year in the past two years at the place of residence overseas.2.A person who resides in a country or region where there is no permanent residency system, or where there is a system of permanent residency but it is difficult for foreigners to obtain such permanent residency, and satisfies the following requirements:(1) Obtaining legal residence status at the place of residence overseas for four consecutive years, and is eligible for further extension of residency;(2) Accumulating residence overseas for at least four years;(3) Continuously residing in the place of residence overseas for six months, or cumulative residence overseas for at least eight months of each year in the past two years at the place of residence overseas.3.A person who currently or previously has had household registration in the R.O.C. (TAIWAN), and legally resides in the place of residence overseas for ten consecutive years and has been legally employed in the place of residence overseas for at least four years since his or her departure from the R.O.C. (TAIWAN), and is eligible for further extension of residency.The “countries or regions that are difficult for foreigners to obtain permanent residency” as referred to in Subparagraph 2 above, as well as recognition of residency qualifications shall be publicly announced each year by the competent authority upon consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the “MOFA”) and published in the Executive Yuan Gazette.For males who currently or previously have had household registration in the R.O.C. (TAIWAN) and satisfy the requirements in Paragraph 1 above but have not fulfilled their compulsory military services and are close to or of conscription age, and who are applying for an Overseas Compatriot Identity Certificate for the purpose of conscription administration or recognition of identity upon arrival or departure processing, their applications shall only be granted as long as Article 10 of this Act and other laws and regulations do not restrict them from obtaining an Overseas Compatriot Identity Endorsement. The competent authority shall annotate on such Certificate that the said Certificate is issued for the purpose of conscription administration only.
中文原文 華僑身分證明條例第4條
僑居國外國民，符合下列各款情形之一，得申請華僑身分證明書：
一、居住於有永久居留制度之國家或地區，具備下列條件者：
（一）取得僑居地永久居留權。
（二）在國外累計居住滿四年。
（三）在僑居地連續居住滿六個月或最近二年每年在僑居地累計居住八個月以上。
二、居住於無永久居留制度，或有永久居留制度而永久居留權取得困難之國家或地區，具備下列條件者：
（一）取得僑居地居留資格連續四年，且能繼續延長居留。
（二）在國外累計居住滿四年。
（三）在僑居地連續居住滿六個月或最近二年每年在僑居地累計居住八個月以上。
三、現在或原在臺灣地區設有戶籍，自臺灣地區出國，在國外合法連續居留十年並在僑居地合法工作居留四年以上，且能繼續延長居留者。
前項第二款永久居留權取得困難之國家或地區及其居留資格之認定，由主管機關會商外交部後，每年定期公告，並刊登於政府公報。
現在或原在臺灣地區設有戶籍，且符合第一項規定之尚未履行兵役義務之接近役齡或役齡男子，為辦理徵兵處理或入出國事項，認定其身分需要，申請華僑身分證明書者，應以第十條及其他法規未限制其為僑居身分加簽者為限，主管機關並應於該證明書註明供役政使用。
一、居住於有永久居留制度之國家或地區，具備下列條件者：
（一）取得僑居地永久居留權。
（二）在國外累計居住滿四年。
（三）在僑居地連續居住滿六個月或最近二年每年在僑居地累計居住八個月以上。
二、居住於無永久居留制度，或有永久居留制度而永久居留權取得困難之國家或地區，具備下列條件者：
（一）取得僑居地居留資格連續四年，且能繼續延長居留。
（二）在國外累計居住滿四年。
（三）在僑居地連續居住滿六個月或最近二年每年在僑居地累計居住八個月以上。
三、現在或原在臺灣地區設有戶籍，自臺灣地區出國，在國外合法連續居留十年並在僑居地合法工作居留四年以上，且能繼續延長居留者。
前項第二款永久居留權取得困難之國家或地區及其居留資格之認定，由主管機關會商外交部後，每年定期公告，並刊登於政府公報。
現在或原在臺灣地區設有戶籍，且符合第一項規定之尚未履行兵役義務之接近役齡或役齡男子，為辦理徵兵處理或入出國事項，認定其身分需要，申請華僑身分證明書者，應以第十條及其他法規未限制其為僑居身分加簽者為限，主管機關並應於該證明書註明供役政使用。