Can Taiwan NHI Be Maintained After Immigration? Suspension/Reinstatement Abolished, Termination via Household Registration Removal, and 6-Month Waiting Period for Re-enrollment
Direct answer: The "suspension of coverage when going abroad" system for Taiwan's NHI was abolished on December 23, 2024 (R.O.C. 113). The NHIA no longer accepts new suspension applications; eligible individuals must continue enrollment. What actually terminates your coverage is "household registration"—when household registration is removed after being abroad for 2 years, NHI is simultaneously terminated; later, if you restore household registration, if the removal was less than 2 years, you can re-enroll on the same day; if 2 years or more, you must wait another 6 months. The following is compiled based on official regulations from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the NHIA; individual cases are subject to the latest announcements from the competent authorities.
First, the latest change: The "suspension of coverage when going abroad" system has been abolished (effective December 23, 2024).
In the past, if you were abroad for 6 months or more, you could apply for "suspension" to temporarily stop paying premiums. This system was abolished on December 23, 2024 (R.O.C. 113). The NHIA no longer accepts new suspension applications; as long as you still meet eligibility requirements (have household registration in Taiwan), you must continue to enroll and pay premiums. If you completed suspension on or before December 22, 2024, and have been abroad for 6 months or more, the suspension remains effective until you return to Taiwan and apply for reinstatement. In other words, the option to "suspend NHI premium payments" is no longer available for those who go abroad after this date.
Source.：NHIA, Ministry of Health and Welfare — Abolition of Suspension/Reinstatement Provisions
What actually terminates your coverage is "household registration": being abroad for 2 years leads to removal of household registration = termination of coverage.
NHI is tied to household registration. According to regulations, if a national has been abroad for 2 years, the household registration office will remove their household registration. Once household registration is removed, NHI coverage is simultaneously terminated—thereafter, no premiums are required, and no benefits are provided. Therefore, the real dividing line for long-term overseas residence is not whether you have applied for suspension, but whether your household registration remains. If you plan to retain your Taiwan household registration and maintain NHI, you should be mindful of the duration of your overseas stay and whether your household registration may be removed.
How to Re-enroll Upon Return: Same-day enrollment if within 2 years; 6-month waiting period if over 2 years.
To re-enroll in NHI after household registration has been removed, it depends on how long you have been away: If household registration was removed less than 2 years ago (roughly equivalent to being abroad for less than 4 years), you can enroll on the same day you restore your household registration. If household registration was removed 2 years or more ago (abroad for over 4 years), you must wait 6 months from the date of restoring household registration before you can enroll in NHI (waiting period). This 6-month waiting period is often overlooked—if you plan to return to Taiwan for medical treatment or retirement, be sure to factor it into your timeline; do not assume you can use NHI immediately upon arrival.
Retain or Remove Household Registration: Implications for NHI, Tax Status, and Other Benefits
Whether to retain Taiwan household registration is a decision with far-reaching implications in immigration planning: retaining household registration generally ties to eligibility for NHI, National Pension, and other social benefits, but may also affect whether you are still considered a Taiwan tax resident (see also: "Are You Still a Taiwan Tax Resident After Investment Immigration?" on this site). The decision regarding NHI should not be based solely on healthcare needs but should be evaluated together with tax status, actual residence plans, and family members' needs. Individual cases regarding household registration, NHI, and tax status are subject to the latest regulations from the household registration authorities, NHIA, and tax authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am emigrating. Can I still apply for "suspension of coverage when going abroad" to temporarily stop paying NHI premiums?
No. The system for suspending NHI coverage when going abroad was abolished on December 23, 2024 (R.O.C. 113). The NHIA no longer accepts new suspension applications; as long as you still have household registration in Taiwan and meet eligibility requirements, you must continue to enroll and pay premiums. Those who completed suspension before December 22, 2024, will have their suspension handled under the old rules.
So under what circumstances does NHI actually terminate?
It mainly depends on household registration. If a national has been abroad for 2 years, their household registration will be removed as per regulations. Once household registration is removed, NHI coverage is simultaneously terminated—thereafter, no premiums are required, and no benefits are provided. The real dividing line for long-term overseas residence is household registration, not suspension.
If I return to Taiwan to settle later, can I re-enroll in NHI immediately?
It depends on how long the household registration has been removed. If household registration was removed less than 2 years ago and you return to restore it, you can enroll on the same day. If household registration was removed 2 years or more ago (abroad for over 4 years), you must wait 6 months from the date of restoring household registration before you can enroll in NHI.
If I obtain foreign residency or a passport, must I give up my Taiwan household registration and NHI?
Not necessarily. Acquiring foreign nationality and retaining Taiwan household registration are two separate matters; as long as your household registration has not been removed and you still meet the eligibility criteria, National Health Insurance (NHI) can continue. Whether to retain household registration should be evaluated together with tax residency status and actual residence plans.
Do I still need to pay NHI premiums while abroad?
As long as you are still insured (household registration still in place, not yet terminated), you are generally required to pay NHI premiums as stipulated; the suspension system has been abolished, so you can no longer suspend payments through that mechanism. Actual circumstances are subject to the latest announcements from the NHIA.
How should NHI status be considered together with Taiwan taxes?
Retaining household registration is often seen as a signal of a closer connection to Taiwan, which may affect tax residency determination. Therefore, NHI, household registration, and tax status should be planned together (see also: "Are You Still a Taiwan Tax Resident After Investment Immigration?" and "Post-Immigration Taxation" on this site).
Official data sources
- Ministry of Health and Welfare — Rights to NHI and National Pension for Those Whose Household Registration Is Removed After Being Abroad for Over 2 Years
- NHIA, Ministry of Health and Welfare — Abolition of NHI Suspension/Reinstatement Provisions Effective December 23, 2024
- NHIA, Ministry of Health and Welfare — Rights to NHI Enrollment and Premium Payment for Nationals Abroad for Over 6 Months
This page is a neutral information compilation, for reference only, notImmigration/LawAdvice, which does not constitute any commitment. Programs frequently change, please refer to the latest official announcements. · Last Updated：