Representative Office

A representative office is one the easiest ways to establish a legal business presence in Taiwan. It is a form that many foreign companies take during early development stages of investing in Taiwan. A representative office is basically a legal agent of the foreign company that is permitted to engage in price negotiations, provide quotations, participate in tenders, and sign procurement agreements. However, a representative office is not permitted to engage in income-generating business activities such as signing sales contracts, providing services, or receiving funds from clients. Only businesses recognized as legally established companies in a foreign country are allowed to establish a representative office in Taiwan.
Applications to establish a representative office of a foreign company in Taiwan must be filed with the Department of Commerce, MOEA.

Required Documents

1. Photocopies of the documents certifying the establishment of the foreign company in its home country
2. Document certifying the identity and residence of the representative (passport, ARC, legalized affidavit)
3. Power of attorney appointing the representative in the ROC
4. Power of attorney if the application filed by a lawyer or a CPA
5. Two copies of the registration card
6. Application form

Notes on Procedures

• Applications for a representative to conduct legal business actvities in the ROC must be filed pursuant to Article 386 of the Company Act.
• Applications must be filed by the designated representative of the foreign company in the ROC.
• Chinese translations must be provided for documents in a foreign language, i.e. any language other than Chinese.
• The power of attorney appointing the representative in the ROC must clearly specify the types of business activities, such as contract signing, providing quotations, conducting negotiations, project bidding, purchasing, etc. that may be done by the representative in the ROC.
• The foreign company certificate must be authenticated by the competent authority of the government where the foreign company is domiciled.
• The foreign company certificate and two power of attorney documents listed in the required documents above (items 2, 3, 4) must be authenticated by the nearest ROC embassy or consulate or by the appropriate representative of the R.O.C .in the country where the foreign company is located.

Processing Time:  Approximately 3~4 working days

Contact Information:
Department of Commerce, MOEA
No.15, Fujhou St., Jhongjheng District, Taipei City 100, Taiwan, ROC
Telephone: +886-412-1166
E-mail: docmail@moea.gov.tw

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