Short answer: draft-age men with household registration in Taiwan must do military service and need approval to leave the country. Families with sons should understand service duties, study-abroad arrangements and the effect of moving household registration before emigrating to the US, to avoid restrictions when visiting Taiwan later.
Why check early?
- Service duty is tied to Taiwan household registration, not to holding a US green card.
- A US green card or citizenship doesn’t automatically remove the Taiwan service obligation.
- Without planning, a son may face exit restrictions when returning to visit, work or study.
Common situations
| Situation | General approach |
|---|---|
| Moving to the US with family before draft age | Check rules on moving household registration and overseas draftees |
| Studying in the US at draft age | Apply under the study-abroad rules, which have age limits |
| Service already completed in Taiwan | Generally unaffected |
| Living in the US long term, registration moved out | Check the rules on length of stays when returning |
Before emigrating
- Confirm your son’s age and household registration status.
- Ask the Conscription Agency, Ministry of the Interior or your local military service office for the current rules.
- Plan study abroad, moving registration and visits home.
- Fit this with the EB-5 timeline — for example green cards before 21, see CSPA.
Our advice
Service rules are detailed and change from time to time, so confirm your son’s situation with the Conscription Agency before applying for EB-5. We raise this as part of planning.
General information only, not legal advice; follow the Conscription Agency’s latest rules. Read more: a complete EB-5 guide for Taiwanese applicants.