For Filipino couples in Taiwan, as well as Filipinos who are married to Taiwanese or foreign nationals, keep in mind that when you have children, their birth must be reported through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). By doing so, your child’s birth would be reported to the relevant government agencies in the Philippines.
Reporting your child’s birth through MECO is connected to his/her registration with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the main statistical authority of the Philippine government. The report of birth also enables you to apply for your child’s Philippine passport.
Guide to Registering Your Child’s Birth in Taiwan
This guide on reporting or registering children’s birth in Taiwan is based on the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) official website. Before filing an application at the office, parents must first book an appointment through the MECO Appointment System.
The processing fee for Report of Birth is TWD 1,000. Typically, the application and registration process takes around one hour at the MECO office.
Documentary Requirements
The list of requirements for filing a Report of Birth varies for: Filipino parents; Filipino and Taiwanese/Chinese parents; and Filipino and non-Taiwanese/non-Chinese parents.
Furthermore, additional documents may be required, depending on the parents’ marital status (i.e. married or not married). All of these documents can help verify and determine the child’s eligibility for registration of birth under Philippine laws.
Filipino Parents
If both parents are Filipino, these documents must be prepared:
- Duly accomplished Report of Birth Form
- English Birth Certificate from the hospital – 5 copies (1 original and 4 photocopies);
- Parents’ PSA Marriage Certificate – 5 copies (1 original and 4 photocopies); and
- Valid Philippine passport of each parent, including 5 photocopies of bio data page.
NOTE: All 5 copies of the Birth Certificate must be notarized by the Local District Court or Notary Public and authenticated by the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Additional Requirements
If the registration is filed one year after the child’s birth, an Affidavit of Delayed Report of Birth is required.
If the parents are not married, the following must be submitted:
- Father – Affidavit of Admission of Paternity (AAP) and Certificate of Registration to be accomplished in MECO; and 5 copies of Father’s valid Philippine passport (bio data page)
- Mother – Affidavit to Use the Surname of the Father (AUSF) and Certificate of Registration to be accomplished in MECO; and 5 copies of Father’s valid Philippine passport (bio data page)
- Filipino Parents – 1 copy of PSA Birth Certificate
Filipino and Taiwanese/Chinese Parents
If one parent is Filipino and the other is Taiwanese/Chinese, the following documents must be prepared:
- Duly accomplished Report of Birth Form;
- Household Registration Transcript – 5 copies (1 original and 4 photocopies);
- English Birth Certificate from the hospital – 5 copies (1 original and 4 photocopies);
- Parents’ PSA Marriage Certificate – 5 copies (1 original and 4 photocopies); and
- Valid passport of each parent, including 5 photocopies of bio data page (including Filipino Parent’s valid Philippine Passport and Taiwanese Parent’s valid Taiwan Passport).
NOTE: An English version of the Household Registration Transcript must be requested from the Household Registration Office. All 5 copies of the transcript must be notarized by the Local District Court or Notary Public and authenticated by the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Additional Requirements
If the registration is filed one year after the child’s birth, an Affidavit of Delayed Report of Birth is required.
If the parents are not married, the following must be submitted:
- Non-Filipino Father – 5 copies of Affidavit of Admission of Paternity (AAP) and Certificate of Registration, duly accomplished AAP Form; and 5 copies of Father’s valid Taiwan Passport (bio data page)
- Non-Filipino Mother – 5 copies of Affidavit to Use the Surname of the Father (AUSF) and Certificate of Registration, duly accomplished AUSF Form; and 5 copies of Mother’s valid Taiwan Passport (bio date page)
- Filipino Parent – 1 copy of PSA Birth Certificate and 1 copy of PSA Certificate of No Marriage (CeNoMar)
NOTE: All 5 copies of the AAP and AUSF must be notarized by the Local District Court or Notary Public and authenticated by the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Filipino and Non-Taiwanese/Non-Chinese Parents
If one parent is Filipino and the other is non-Taiwanese/non-Chinese, these documents must be submitted:
- Duly accomplished Report of Birth Form;
- English Birth Certificate from the hospital – 5 copies (1 original and 4 photocopies);
- Parents’ PSA Marriage Certificate – 5 copies (1 original and 4 photocopies); and
- Valid passport of each parent, including 5 photocopies of bio data page (including Filipino Parent’s valid Philippine Passport and non-Taiwanese/non-Chinese Parent’s valid Passport).
NOTE: All 5 copies of the Birth Certificate must be notarized by the Local District Court or Notary Public and authenticated by the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Additional Requirements
If the registration is filed one year after the child’s birth, an Affidavit of Delayed Report of Birth must be submitted.
If the parents are not married, these documents are required:
- Non-Filipino Father – 5 copies of Affidavit of Admission of Paternity (AAP) and Certificate of Registration, duly accomplished AAP Form; and 5 copies of Father’s valid foreign Passport (bio data page)
- Non-Filipino Mother – 5 copies of Affidavit to Use the Surname of the Father (AUSF) and Certificate of Registration, duly accomplished AUSF Form; and 5 copies of Mother’s valid foreign Passport (bio date page)
- Both Parents – 1 copy of PSA Birth Certificate and 1 copy of PSA Certificate of No Marriage (CeNoMar)
NOTE: All 5 copies of the AAP and AUSF must be notarized by the Local District Court or Notary Public and authenticated by the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
After Report of Birth, What’s Next?
As soon as the MECO office issues your child’s Report of Birth, the report is transmitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and eventually to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Around 6 to 8 months after the Report of Birth issued by MECO, you can apply for its certified true copy from the PSA.
Furthermore, you can use the Report of Birth when applying for your child’s Philippine passport — provided that you apply for the passport within 3 months from the registration of the Report of Birth. If you decide to apply after 3 months, you will need to submit a PSA-issued certified copy of the Report of Birth.
Contact Information: MECO
For questions and concerns regarding Report of Birth in Taiwan, you can get in touch with the MECO office through these contact details:
Address: 2F, Chang Hong New Era Building, 55 & 57 Zhouzi St., Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan
Telephone: +886 2 2658 8825
Website: https://www.meco.org.tw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MECO.official
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