Twenty-eight foreign professionals were granted Republic of China citizenship this year, nine of whom work in education, the Ministry of the Interior said on Wednesday.
The ministry on Monday convened its final meeting of the year to review naturalization applications for high-level foreign professionals, who under a 2016 amendment to the Nationality Act (國籍法) no longer need to forfeit their original nationality to become citizens.
“High-level professionals” are defined in the act as working in the technological, economic, educational, cultural, art, sports or other domains, who have been recommended by a central authority.
Photo courtesy of the National Immigration Agency
In the six years since the change, 281 people have become naturalized citizens, the ministry said.
The seven applications approved on Monday bring the total for the year to 28, it said.
Education was the best-represented field with nine approved applicants, followed by technology with seven and economics with six, the ministry said.
Twelve of the people hold dual citizenship with the US, followed by two each with Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia, it added.
The most recent approvals include applicants with specializations in traditional Chinese music, optoelectronics and online video production, the ministry said.
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