In early 2025, news of a proposed NT$750 review fee for personal imports of wireless devices sent shockwaves through cross-border sellers. While the policy is suspended, it signals a clear trend: Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) is tightening compliance oversight for wireless products entering the market.
For businesses selling legally in Taiwan, NCC certification is no longer optional—it’s the “only valid ID” for your product. This ID relies on two critical pillars: a complete, logically consistent set of technical documents and a time-bound compliance commitment.
NCC Product Certification: Required Documents
Many assume certification is just “testing a sample.” In reality, the most critical (and error-prone) step is preparing a comprehensive “evidence chain” of documents. These materials must answer two core NCC questions: “Who are you?” and “Why is your product safe?” Below is a checklist aligned with 2025’s latest practical requirements:
1.Proof of Eligibility: Your “Business License”
NCC applications must be submitted via a Taiwan-registered company or agent. Thus, the first set of documents verifies the applicant’s legitimacy:
·Company Registration: The Taiwanese agent’s “Business Registration Certificate” or equivalent establishment documents.
·Authorization Agreement: A fully signed and stamped delegation agreement between the foreign manufacturer and Taiwanese agent.
2.Product Technical File: Your “Anatomical Report”
This is the focus of technical review—any ambiguity or omission leads to rejection.
A.Core Identity & Design Documents
·Application Form: Complete details of the product, applicant, and manufacturer.
·Product Specification Sheet: Must be in Traditional Chinese or English, with detailed RF parameters (e.g., operating frequency, modulation method, output power).
·Circuit Diagrams & Block Diagrams: Clear schematics of the RF design architecture.
·Key Photos: Six-sided external views, internal structure, and PCB close-ups (showing RF chip models clearly). All photos require a scale reference.
B.2025 Enhanced Requirement: Antenna Specification Report
A simple parameter table is no longer sufficient. You must submit a detailed “antenna gain report” meeting international standards (e.g., FCC KDB 353028). The report must include:
·Antenna model, manufacturer, gain value, radiation pattern, and installation diagrams.This is a “new pitfall” for first-time applicants—don’t overlook it.
C.User Guidance & Compliance Statements
·Traditional Chinese User Manual: Beyond translation, content must align with local habits. It must include a mandatory NCC warning stating the device shall not be modified and must accept legal communication interference.
·Test Report: A complete report from an NCC-accredited lab, including all test data, configuration photos, and a clear pass/fail determination.
Special Note: Product-Specific New Rule
For mobile phones: Starting May 1, 2025, all new NCC certification applications for phones require the 2G base station connectivity function to be “disabled by default.” Your technical documents and software settings must prove compliance with this requirement.
NCC Product Certification “Shelf Life”: Validity
Misinformation about NCC certificate validity abounds online—some claim “permanent validity,” others “5 years.” Based on 2025’s latest official practices and confirmation from authoritative service providers, NCC “Examination Certificates” are valid for 3 years.
Why 3 Years?
The 3-year period aligns with product technology cycles and market supervision needs. The NCC recognizes that after 3 years, product technology, applicable standards, and market conditions may change—requiring revalidation of compliance.
“Dynamic” Validity: Two Causes of Early Expiration
A certificate isn’t valid for 3 years automatically. It expires immediately if:
1.Major Product Changes: Any modifications affecting RF characteristics, electrical safety, or EMC (e.g., replacing key RF chips, adjusting antenna design, or altering circuit layouts) require re-certification or series change applications. You cannot reuse the original certificate.
2.Regulatory Updates: If the NCC revises technical standards (e.g., CNS 13438) during the 3-year period, authorities will issue a transition period. You must ensure compliance with the new standard within the deadline—this may involve supplementary testing or re-certification.
Certificate Maintenance & Market Supervision
To continue selling after 3 years, you must renew the certificate. The renewal process is similar to a new application: submit updated technical documents and potentially retest samples.
Additionally, the NCC conducts random market inspections to verify consistency between certified samples and mass-produced products. Non-compliance results in penalties: rectification orders, recalls, or fines of up to NT$1 million.
The latest developments show NCC certification is evolving from a “passive compliance cost” to an “active market asset.” As grey-market personal imports become more costly, a valid NCC certificate is your most visible trust signal in Taiwan. It protects not just your right to sell, but also your brand reputation and customer confidence. Contact BLUEASIA at +86 13534225140 for professional certification consulting.
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