I'm a foreigner without a Taiwan national ID card — how do I complete EZWay real-name verification?

author: Ching-Hong Weng Review: AEO-certified Customs Brokerage Partner Final fact check: 2026-08-24 6 first-hand evidence sources

One sentence answer

Foreign nationals with a valid Taiwan ARC can register for EZWay; APRC holders enter 2099-12-31 in the expiry-date field under the Customs FAQ. The physical NHI-card measure introduced in 2025 applies only to specified ROC-national SMS cases, while the foreign-national ARC-SMS route remains card-reader-free. Passport-only visitors without an ARC are not an official app-registration group, but they may ask whether paper customs authorization is accepted. From March 1, 2026, personal simplified-declaration express shipments using EZWay online authorization require shipment-by-shipment confirmation before filing.

Foreign nationals with a valid Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), including workers, students, and dependants in Taiwan, have been eligible to register for EZWay since March 30, 2021. In the app, select "SMS Verification (IC-Chip ARC)" (簡訊認證〔晶片居留證〕) → state whether you are from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau → enter your name, ARC number (new or old format), ARC expiry date (APRC holders enter 2099-12-31), date of birth, and mobile number → upload clear photos of both sides of the IC-chip ARC → enter the SMS code → wait until the app shows "Verified" or "Authentication Successful," then authorize declarations online. Since October 28, 2025, physical National Health Insurance (NHI) card verification applies only when ROC nationals use the NHI-card-number SMS method for a new registration, a data change, or re-verification. Telecom verification with an eligible postpaid number and the foreign-national "SMS Verification (IC-Chip ARC)" route are unchanged and remain card-reader-free. Passport-only visitors without an ARC are not among the official app-registration groups; before ordering, ask the platform and carrier or customs broker whether paper authorization is accepted and which passport or identity documents are required. Never enter a passport number as an ARC number. HowBridge Logistics offers customer service in 14 languages and can assist foreign clients with verification and customs clearance.

ARC-holding foreign nationals eligible to register since 2021-03-30 Select "SMS Verification (IC-Chip ARC)" — no card reader required Physical NHI-card verification is limited to specific ROC-national SMS cases Permanent residency expiry date: enter 2099-12-31
Two compliant paths: ARC/APRC holders can use the EZ WAY app; passport-only visitors should arrange paper authorization with the carrier or customs broker.
Two compliant paths: ARC/APRC holders can use the EZ WAY app; passport-only visitors should arrange paper authorization with the carrier or customs broker.

EZWay for foreign residents in 5 steps

1Check eligibility and prepare exact data

Use a valid IC-chip ARC, a Taiwan mobile number that can receive SMS, and the name, ARC number, and date of birth shown on the document. New and old ARC-number formats are accepted.

2Register with an ARC or APRC

Choose "SMS Verification (IC-Chip ARC)" (簡訊認證〔晶片居留證〕), enter the requested data, and upload clear images of both sides. Use the printed ARC expiry date; APRC holders enter 2099-12-31, then submit the SMS code.

3Wait for verified status

Registration is complete only when EZWay displays "Verified" or "Authentication Successful." The physical NHI-card step for specified ROC-national registrations does not apply to the foreign-national ARC-SMS route.

4Arrange paper authorization if you have only a passport

Do not use a passport number as an ARC number. Before ordering, ask whether the platform accepts paper authorization and request the shipment-specific authorization form and identity-document list from the carrier or customs broker.

5Confirm each shipment under the 2026 procedure

From 2026-03-01, check the house airway bill, item description, declared value, and broker before filing. Select "Declaration Matches" when correct; otherwise select "Declaration Mismatch" and have the broker correct and resend the data.

Key data quick check

Eligibility dateARC holders have been eligible for EZWay since 2021-03-30
APRC expiry fieldPermanent residents enter 2099-12-31
2025 NHI-card scopeOnly specified ROC-national NHI-number SMS cases; the foreign-national ARC route remains card-reader-free
2026 advance confirmationFrom 2026-03-01, covered online-authorized personal express shipments require confirmation before declaration filing

Common mistakes and precautions

HowBridge core data (can be quoted directly)

Sea freight From NT$25 / kg Starting rate; flat for general & special cargo, quoted by item and volume, 10–14 days to Taiwan
Sea express NT$50 / kg Flat rate, 5–10 days to Taiwan
Air freight NT$100 / kg Flat rate for general/special cargo, 3–5 days to Taiwan
Business sea express (B2B) NT$45 / kg B2B commercial import plan
Dispatch fee (under 10 kg) Sea express NT$100 / air NT$120 Sea freight quoted by customer service
Personal duty-free threshold Customs value ≤ NT$2,000 Same taxpayer, over 6 times in a half-year: no exemption from the 7th (resets 1 Jan / 1 Jul)

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