First-time Passport Applications Now Accepted at All Household Registration Offices Nationwide; 1.28 Million Benefited in Nearly 6 Years

(CNA) Taipei, July 4 - The Ministry of the Interior announced today that during the peak summer travel season, citizens applying for a passport for the first time can utilize the ministry's "One-Stop Submission, Full Service." Applicants only need to submit their application at a nearby household registration office and then pay the fees through convenience stores or online banking. Passports can be obtained in approximately 14 working days, and nearly 1.28 million people have benefited from this service in the past six years.

With the summer travel rush, the Ministry of the Interior stated in a press release today that while citizens previously had to apply for passports at the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since 2020, first-time applicants can submit their applications at any household registration office nationwide. They can then pay the passport fees through various channels such as major convenience stores, post offices, farmers' and fishermen's associations, or online banking.

The Ministry of the Interior said that after review and issuance by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citizens can return to the original household registration office to collect their passports free of charge in about 14 working days, or opt for paid mail delivery to a designated address. The process is very fast and convenient, and since its implementation in 2020, it has accumulated over 1.28 million applications.

The Ministry of the Interior stated that this cross-ministerial cooperation not only strengthens the service capacity of grassroots convenience services but also demonstrates the tangible results of public departments working together to improve administrative efficiency. In the future, the ministry will continue to deepen horizontal communication with various ministries and promote more high-quality household registration services that are convenient and barrier-free, allowing public administration to more precisely meet the daily needs of the public.

According to the Ministry of the Interior's official website, the "One-Stop Submission, Full Service" applies to citizens with household registration in Taiwan who are applying for a passport for the first time. However, it does not apply to individuals without household registration in Taiwan, those with overseas Chinese status, legal guardians who are not registered in Taiwan, foreigners or stateless persons, mainland Chinese residents, Hong Kong and Macao residents, or those who urgently need a passport. These individuals must apply directly to the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any of its branch offices in Central, Southern, Eastern, and Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan regions. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150704)