TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A petition calling for Taiwan to give foreign permanent residents a path to citizenship without giving up their original nationality was launched by the Crossroads organization earlier this week. 

The petition argues that such measures are necessary to ensure Taiwan can maintain a vibrant economy as the country deals with the issues of an aging society and declining birthrates. Currently, foreign residents can only obtain citizenship in Taiwan by relinquishing citizenship in their country of birth. 

The proposal is titled, “Petition to exempt permanent residents of Taiwan from renouncing their original nationality to become Taiwan citizens.” It was launched Monday (Aug. 18) on the National Development Council’s website for online social participation and discussion of government policies (join.gov.tw). 

In recent years, Taiwan has enacted many policies to address population decline and talent retention. The government has acknowledged that immigration may be an effective means of reversing these trends, with an estimated 887,000 foreigners residing in Taiwan. 

An estimated 38,000 of those foreigners have already obtained permanent residency. The Crossroads organization’s petition says these foreign residents “lack equal access to many public services, assistance, and benefits afforded to citizens, as well as representation in public affairs.” 

By allowing foreign residents in Taiwan to obtain dual citizenship, as many Taiwanese have been able to do in a number of foreign nations, Taiwan will become more attractive as a long-term destination to build homes and contribute meaningfully to the development of the economy and civil society, according to the petition.

Given the patchwork of regulations governing renunciation of citizenship, dual citizenship, and Taiwan’s indeterminate status among most nations of the world, many have argued that Taiwan would stand to benefit immensely by allowing foreign permanent residents a clear, standardized path to naturalization and citizenship. 

The Crossroads organization calls on Taiwanese and foreign residents alike to sign the petition, with the goal of reaching 5,000 signatures by late October. The petition can be signed by registering an account with join.gov.tw, or through the the use of a registered Facebook, Google, Yahoo, or Line account.