Taiwanese parents wanting to bring surrogate babies born in Ukraine back to Taiwan are advised to first obtain a certificate of paternity, which they can use to apply for a passport and entry permit for their new born child from Taiwan’s authorities, allowing temporary residence in Taiwan, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) said Thursday.
The NIA made the statement in response to an Apple Daily report that a baby girl born via surrogacy in Ukraine to Taiwanese parents became undocumented because she was born two days before the Russia-Ukraine war broke out.
The hospital where the girl was born was so badly damaged that it was unable to issue a birth certificate, the report said.
With a paternity test certificate to prove the familial relationship, Taiwanese parents in such situations can apply for a Taiwan-issued passport for nationals without household registration for their surrogate baby and a three-month entry permit at a Taiwan diplomatic outpost overseas, the NIA said.
That permit can be extended one time on expiration and the child will be eligible to reside in Taiwan as long as relevant documents are provided to the NIA within the 60-day period, the agency said.
Meanwhile, the newborn girl’s father, identified as Mr. C from central Taiwan, is reportedly currently in Warsaw with his wife.
“After our daughter was born, she and other newborns and their surrogate mothers were all hidden in bomb shelters,” Mr. C told the Apple Daily.
“We were so scared seeing them online living in such horrible conditions, and we contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for help,” C said.
Fortunately, he said, the surrogate mother and the baby were evacuated to Poland in the third wave of evacuations, allowing him and his wife to fly to Poland and meet them there.
The couple were finally able to see their daughter in Warsaw on March 4 after flying 8,715 kilometers, according to the Apple Daily report.
According to Deputy Minister of the Interior Chen Tsung-yen (???), there have been two similar cases so far. Ukraine is a popular destination for Taiwanese parents seeking a surrogate baby.
On Thursday, Chen said Taiwanese parents should first take their surrogate newborns to Poland where they can do a paternity test so the government can help them bring their child back to Taiwan.
Chen said if there is no access to a paternity test in Poland, Taiwanese parents should let the authorities know as soon as possible, so other arrangements can be made.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel