Leaving Taiwan, Registration Lapses After 2 Years Abroad
When you move from Taiwan to the US, you must file to move your household registration out once you have been abroad 2 years; if you don’t, the household registration office will notify you to do it by a deadline and can file it for you after that, and the Ministry of the Interior says moving out does not affect your status as a national. Since December 23, 2024, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance no longer allows suspending coverage while abroad; as long as you keep a household registration, you must stay enrolled and pay premiums. To exchange your license in the US, rules differ by state, so check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ state-by-state license exchange notes first.
The rules for each of the three, and how to restore them when you come back, are covered section by section.
Three things before leaving Taiwan
| Item | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Household registration | After 2 years or more abroad, file to move out | Household Registration Act, Article 16 |
| NHI | No new suspensions accepted from 2024-12-23; with a household registration you must stay enrolled and pay | Ministry of Health and Welfare |
| Driver’s license | Exchange rules differ by US state; check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ state notes | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Household registration move out after 2 years abroad
Article 16 of the Household Registration Act: after 2 years or more abroad, you must file to move out, except government staff posted abroad with their families and crew on Taiwan-flagged distant-water fishing vessels. Time after leaving Taiwan during which you entered without a Taiwan passport or entry permit still counts toward the 2 years (Household Registration Act, Article 16).
- If you don’t file: when the household registration office receives an immigration agency notice that you have been abroad 2 years without returning, it notifies you to file by a deadline; if you don’t, it can file the move abroad for you. You can also file online on the Department of Household Registration website (Department of Household Registration).
- Moving out is not deregistration: the Ministry of the Interior says moving out after 2 years abroad is a registration measure and does not affect your status as a national (Ministry of the Interior).
- Restoring it: later, when you enter Taiwan with a Taiwan passport or entry permit, you, the head of household or someone you authorize can file to move back in.
- NHI comes back with it: the Ministry of the Interior says that if you were abroad no more than 4 years, you can join NHI right after restoring your household registration, without the 6-month wait.
- National pension: after moving out, for old-age benefits you can ask an overseas mission to certify proof of identity or residence and mail it to the Bureau of Labor Insurance for review.
NHI suspension while abroad has ended
On December 23, 2024, the Ministry of Health and Welfare amended the NHI Act enforcement rules to end suspension and reinstatement, and the NHI Administration stopped accepting suspension applications that day. As long as you have a household registration, you must stay enrolled and pay premiums (Ministry of Health and Welfare).
- Sudden illness abroad: if you have an unexpected emergency illness or injury, or an emergency delivery, abroad, you can get care locally and then apply to an NHI regional division for reimbursement with your receipts.
- Paying from abroad: you can set up automatic payment from a bank account or credit card, or ask for electronic payment notices and pay by credit card, checking account or mobile payment.
- If you suspended before: if you suspended on or before December 22, 2024 and that trip lasts 6 months or more, the suspension stays valid until you re-enter Taiwan, and you must reinstate on the day you arrive; if the trip is shorter than 6 months, the suspension is cancelled and you must pay the premiums for that period.
For health coverage after you arrive in the US, see health insurance for new immigrants within 60 days of moving.
Driver’s license check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ state notes first
Whether a US state recognizes a Taiwan license, whether you can exchange it without tests, and what documents you need differ by state. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a page on license exchanges worldwide with notes for each state (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
- Washington State as an example: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes updated May 24, 2023 say you must live lawfully in Washington with a fixed address, and bring a copy of your Taiwan license with an English translation certified by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle, plus a driving record certificate showing no accidents or violations (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Washington notes).
- Get it before you leave: if your state requires a driving record certificate or an English translation of your license, it is easier to get them in Taiwan than to arrange them from the US.
What this article could not find
- How to apply for an international driving permit: we could not open the Highway Bureau or motor vehicle office websites when we checked on 2026-10-28, so this article did not read the original.
- The English license verification letter from Taiwan’s offices in the US: the page needs JavaScript, so this article could not read it.
- Phone numbers and bank accounts: rules differ by company, and this article did not check them.
Frequently asked questions
After moving my household registration out, am I still a Taiwan national?
Yes. The Ministry of the Interior says moving out is not deregistration and does not affect your status as a national.
Do I still pay Taiwan NHI premiums while living in the US?
Yes. Suspension ended on December 23, 2024; as long as you have a household registration, you must stay enrolled and pay.
Can I suspend NHI before I leave?
No. The NHI Administration stopped accepting suspension applications on December 23, 2024.
How soon can I get NHI back after returning?
If you were abroad no more than 4 years, you can join right after entering with a Taiwan passport and restoring your household registration.
Can I exchange my Taiwan license directly in the US?
It depends on the state. Check your state’s notes on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs license exchange page, then the state motor vehicle agency.
Your pre-departure checklist
“Prepare your passport, visa and I-94 backup copies” is a free item in the My USA Plan checklist . The first 30 items are free, and the full 91 items cost US$9.90 once, not a subscription. For documents to bring by status, see documents to prepare before moving to the US; for the order after you land, see what to do in your first 30 days in the US.
Sources and dates checked
All checked on 2026-10-27. This article is not legal advice.
- Household Registration Act, Article 16 (Laws and Regulations Database):https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawSingle.aspx?pcode=D0030006&flno=16
- Department of Household Registration, moving out after leaving Taiwan:https://www.ris.gov.tw/documents/html/2/3/4/703.html
- Ministry of the Interior: moving out is not deregistration (2021-11-29):https://www.moi.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=4&s=238278
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: NHI suspension rules end from December 23:https://www.mohw.gov.tw/cp-16-80938-1.html
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, license exchanges worldwide:https://www.mofa.gov.tw/theme.aspx?n=521&s=22
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, notes on exchanging a Taiwan license in Washington State (2023-05-24):https://multilingual.mofa.gov.tw/web/web_UTF-8/driver/8_%E8%8F%AF%E7%9B%9B%E9%A0%93_%E6%8F%9B%E7%85%A7%E9%A0%88%E7%9F%A5.pdf