Japan permits Taiwanese professionals to list Taiwan on licenses

Starting this month, Taiwanese professionals in Japan may indicate "Taiwan" as their origin on national qualification certificates after the government altered the wording of the nationality field. The change, disclosed by the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Parliamentarians’ League, covers a wide range of occupations such as doctors and nurses. Under the former system, licenses listed "China," which many Taiwanese found incongruent with their identity.

Lawmakers and task-force members highlighted the reform as a milestone for bilateral relations, while noting that local offices must be briefed on the new wording and that applications can be submitted without a strict deadline. Taiwanese practitioners, including doctors who previously covered the "China" label with stickers, welcomed the adjustment as a recognition of their true background.