Longer Stays

Foreign executives, staff members and their dependents who wish to take up residence in Taiwan of more than 180 days are generally required to apply for a resident visa. A  Resident Visa is generally required for longer continuous stays in Taiwan, and are reserved for reasons of employment, joining family members who are ROC citizens or foreigners with legal resident status, or engaging in other permitted activities in Taiwan.

In the case of residency based on employment, a work permit is required before a Residency Visa can be issued. However, because the application process for obtaining a Resident Visa usually takes more time to prepare and review, some foreign nationals choose to enter Taiwan on a Visitor Visa. If a foreign national has entered Taiwan on a Visitor Visa, and then wishes to undertake employment, he/she must obtain a work permit from the Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training (http://www.evta.gov.tw) under the Council of Labor Affairs before being able to legally work in Taiwan. After obtaining a work permit, the foreign national can then apply for visa status change depending on the type of Visitor Visa and the conditions set thereon.

The following is a list of specialized or technical areas in which foreign nationals may be employed:
• Specialized or technical personnel
• Directors/managers/executives of a business invested in or set up by overseas Chinese or foreigner(s) with the authorization of the Government of the Republic of China
• School teachers
• Full-time teachers teaching course(s) on foreign language(s) for a short-term course registered for supplementary schooling in accordance with the Supplementary Education Act
• Sports coaches and athletes
• Religious, artistic, and entertainment business work
• Foreign students, overseas Chinese students and other foreign students of Chinese origin enrolled in a public or registered private college/university

The following information details the requirements for obtaining legal work and residency status in Taiwan, with sections addressing the requirements for foreign executives to be employed by companies formed as part of an approved foreign investment project, foreign staff, foreign dependents, foreign nationals married to an ROC national, and foreign nationals who have obtained permanent residency.


Foreign Executives and Staff

The following information is for foreign nationals not married to ROC citizens who wish to work  and reside legally in Taiwan, and to be able to leave and re-enter Taiwan during their residence. The designated representative of an approved representative office of a foreign company in Taiwan does not need to obtain a work permit to obtain residency. However, such individuals will need to obtain an official letter of recognition (please see the Representative Office section of the Establishing a Business chapter) from the Department of Commerce, MOEA to apply for a Resident Visa and Alien Resident Certificate.

Work Permit

Employers in Taiwan are required to obtain permission from the Council of Labor Affairs through the Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training before formally employing a foreign national. Both the employer and potential employee must meet certain criteria before such employment may be approved.

In the case of the employer, it must be a legally registered company with a minimum paid-in capital of NT$5 million and annual sales of at least NT$10 million. For newly established companies (less than one year old), only the paid-in capital requirement applies. The employer must also provide proof of having tried to recruit for the position in the local employment market by providing copies of "help wanted" advertisements in the local Taiwan newspapers. Furthermore, the salary level being offered to the prospective employee will be reviewed for minimum salary requirements (please check with the Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training, Council of Labor Affairs for details).

As for the potential employee, they must have a certain level of educational attainment and/or a certain amount of relevant work experience. For holders of a bachelor's degree, two years of relevant experience is required. For holders of a master's degree, no work experience is required. For foreign nationals that do not have at least a bachelor's degree, eight years of relevant work experience is required.

The following describes the requirements required for all work permit applications. Furthermore, depending on the industry or area of work, additional documentation may be required (Please see: http://www2.evta.gov.tw/evta_wcf/index.htm).

Required Documents
1. Completed application form (downloadable bilingual application form: http://www2.evta.gov.tw/evta_wcf/Eng0005.htm#)
2. Photocopy of passport
3. Photocopy of diploma and/or other educational certification(s)
4. Proof of work experience -- letters from former employer(s) attesting to duties performed and period in which you worked
5. Photocopy of employment contract
6. Photocopy of business registration
7. Proof of local recruitment effort -- original or photocopy of advertisements in local newspaper
8. Proof of annual sales (for companies more than a year old only) -- filed income tax statements for the most previous year, CPA statement of income, etc.

Notes on Procedures
1. Only employers or their commissioned employment service organizations may submit work permit applications.
2. Applications, along with attached required documentation, should be submitted directly or mailed to the Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training, Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan at 1F, No. 83, Yanping N. Rd., Sec. 2, Datung District, Taipei, Taiwan 103. If mailing in the application, please send to the attention of the "Coordinating Office (綜合規劃組), Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training".
3. Application Fee: If submitting the application by mail, an application fee of NT$500 should first be paid by postal remittance to 行政院勞工委員會職業訓練局 account no.19058848. Retain the receipt and include it with the application materials. If submitting the application in person, the NT$500 application fee can be paid at the Fee Payment Counter. Again, retain the receipt and make sure to include it with your submitted application materials.
4. Photocopies of required documents should be stamped with "與正本相符" ("same as original") and chopped with the official seal of the company as well as the official seal of the company's responsible person.
5. If approved, employers will receive a formal letter granting them permission to employ said foreign national(s). This letter is the actual work permit document. The work permit document is required for both the Resident Visa and Alien Resident Certificate, application procedures for which are detailed under the "Resident Visa" and "Alien Resident Certificate" sections below.

Period of Validity
Work permits issed to foreign investors, foreign executives, and foreign staff are valid for a period of up to three years.

Time Required for Processing
The review process takes between 7 and 10 working days if application materials are complete.

Questions
Please call the Bureau of Employment and Vocation Training's Taiwan-wide service hotline at 080-080-8011.


Resident Visa

Foreign executives and staff who have obtained permission to work in Taiwan can apply for a Resident Visa with the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the foreign national entered Taiwan on a Visitor Visa, he/she may make the necessary change from a Visitor Visa to a Resident Visa directly in Taiwan. The above regulations do not apply to guest workers or those who enter the ROC via the visa exemption program.

Required Documents
1. Passport valid for at least six months
2. Completed application form with applicant's photograph attached (download A4-size application form [http://www.boca.gov.tw/public/Attachment/5101311415271.pdf] or letter-size application form [http://www.boca.gov.tw/public/Attachment/5101311424871.pdf])
3. Work permit document or letter of recognition -- show original official letter of approval and submit one photocopy for application filing
4. Health certificate if applicable (Depends on the competent authority of the industry in which person will be employed; must be a recent certificate issued within the last 30 days.)

Procedures
Applications can be filed in Taiwan with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, MOFA. If outside of Taiwan, Resident Visa applications should be submitted to the Taiwan, ROC mission in applicant's home country or nearest location.

BOCA Taipei Headquarters
Address: 3~5 Fl., 2-2 Chi-Nan Rd., Sec. 1, Taipei , Taiwan, ROC
Phone: (02) 2343-2888
Fax: (02) 2343-2968
Help Line: (03) 393-2628, (03) 398-2629, (03) 398-5805
Service Hours: Monday ~ Friday, 08:30~17:00
Email post@boca.gov.tw

BOCA Taichung Office
Address: No. 503, 1st Fl., Sec 2, Li-Ming Rd., Tai-Chung City
Phone: (04)22510799
Fax: (04)22510700
Help Line: (03) 393-2628, (03) 398-2629, 0910-080-795
Service Hours: Monday ~ Friday, 08:30 ~ 17:00
Email: taichung@boca.gov.tw

BOCA Kaohsiung
Address: 2Fl., 436 Cheng Gung 1st Rd., Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, ROC
Phone: (07) 211- 0605
Fax: (07) 211- 0523
Help Line: (03) 393-2628, (03) 398-2629
Service Hours: Monday ~ Friday, 08:30 ~ 17:00
Email: bocakhh@boca.gov.tw

BOCA Hualien
Address: 6Fl., 371 Jung Shan Road, Hualien City, Taiwan , ROC
Phone: (03) 833-1041
Fax: (03) 833-0970
Help Line: (03) 393-2628, (03) 398-2629
Service Hour: Monday ~ Friday, 08:30 ~ 17:00
Email: bocahun@ms21.hinet.net

For contact information for ROC missions and visa offices around the world, please see the information on ROC embassies and missions around the world   [http://www.boca.gov.tw/lp.asp?ctNode=125&CtUnit=72&BaseDSD=18&mp=2].

Fees
NT$2,200 (US$ 66) for single entry visa, NT$3,000 (US$90) for multiple entry visa; NT$3,600 (US$100) for US citizens; or gratis for foreign nationals from countries with which the ROC has entered into reciprocal agreements.

Time Required for Processing
5-7 days


Alien Resident Certificate and Re-entry Permit

Once the foreign executive or staff obtain a Resident Visa, which is only valid for a period of 3 months, he/she is required to apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) with the National Police Administration's foreign affairs police within 15 days of entering Taiwan on a Resident Visa or  within 15 days of changing his/her Visitor Visa for a Resident Visa. The ARC will then serve as the foreign resident's official identification card in Taiwan and will be used for opening a bank account, obtaining a driver's license, enrolling in the National Health Insurance program, etc. The period of validity for the ARC is tied to the period of validity of the work permit. The foreign executive or foreign staff may remain in Taiwan as long as the ARC remains valid. Because the ARC in the case of employment is contingent upon the validity of the work permit document, if the work permit document is cancelled (terminating permission for employment), the National Police Administration may cancel the ARC and notify the foreign national to depart Taiwan within a specific period of time.

When applying for an ARC, most foreign nationals also apply for a Re-entry Permit. The Re-entry Permit, as the name indicates, is a verfication notice affixed in your passport that allows you to leave and re-enter Taiwan.

Required Documents for ARC and Re-entry Permit Applications
1. Passport with Resident Visa and photocopy for application filing; previous ARC and photocopy if applicable
2. Work permit document or letter of recognition -- show original official letter of approval and submit one photocopy for application filing
3. Completed application form (Download form: http://iff.npa.gov.tw/enfront/download.php?file=1120133580_6.doc and sample: http://iff.npa.gov.tw/enfront/download.php?file=1120459530_04.doc)
4. Two 1 x 1 inch photos
5. Fees:  one year: NT$1,000,  two years: NT$2,000,  three years: NT$3,000

Period of Validity
An ARC can be valid for up to three years, but may not be valid for a period longer than that of the passport or the work permit, whichever is shorter.

Procedures
Application can be made in person or by authorizing another person to represent him/her for the application process. (For authorizing representatives, applicants should fill out in the authorized statement information on the application form or attach a letter of authorization.) Foreign affairs police locations handling ARC applications can be found here:  http://iff.npa.gov.tw/enfront/life.php?id=231&tr_id=2

Notes and other detailed information regarding applications, extensions, etc.
http://iff.npa.gov.tw/enfront/life.php?tr_id=2&id=228

Time Required for Processing
Within 3 working days (depending on operations of respective county and city police departments).


Foreign Dependents (Spouses and Minor Children)

Family members such as spouses and minor children of foreign executives and professional staff who wish to come to Taiwan can also apply for a Visa-free Entry or a Visitor Visa for shorter stays and a Resident Visa for longer stays. Foreign dependents entering Taiwan in this manner, however, are not automatically allowed to work in Taiwan. They must obtain permission to work from the Council of Labor Affairs before undertaking in any form of employment. Furthermore, spouses from China must follow a different set of immigration rules for entry to Taiwan and for obtaining the right to work.

Visitor Visa
Visitor Visa requirements and application procedures are similar to the ones provided above in the Shorter Stays section, with a few differences. Please see the following pages on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at:  http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1422&ctNode=114&mp=2 and http://www.boca.gov.tw/content.asp?CuItem=1901 for more information.

Resident Visa
The Resident Visa for foreign dependents of either a foreign national or an ROC citizen is called the Joining Family Resident Visa. The application procedures and required documents are detailed on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at:  http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1866&ctNode=113&mp=2 for spouses and http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1834&ctNode=113&mp=2 for minors.

Work Permit
Work permit requirements for foreign dependents who are not students are the same as those detailed above for foreign executives and professional staff.

ARC and Re-entry Permit
The ARC and Re-entry Permit requirements and application procedures for spouses are different in that documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, health certificate, household registration transcript, alien resident certificate of foreign national resident in Taiwan, etc. are required. Please see:
http://iff.npa.gov.tw/enfront/faq.php?tr_id=9&id=451 for spouses and  http://iff.npa.gov.tw/enfront/life.php?id=220&tr_id=2 for minor dependents.


Foreign Nationals Who are Married to ROC citizens
Foreign nationals who are married to ROC citizens are subject to different rules and regulations to obtain legal residency. However, once residency requirements have been fulfilled, foreign spouses do not require a work permit. The following information provides basic information on applying for residency as a foreign spouse of a ROC national only. Please check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and immigration-related departments for full details.

Resident Visa
The Resident Visa requirements and application procedures for foreign nationals who are married to ROC citizens whose households are officially registered in Taiwan can be found here on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website:
http://www.boca.gov.tw/content.asp?CuItem=1319
This information is provided in Chinese only.

Work Permit
Foreign nationals who are married to ROC nationals whose household is officially registered in the Republic of China and who are also legal residents in Taiwan do not need to obtain a work permit to undertake employment in the ROC and can hold any type of job without restriction. A foreign spouse who divorces or whose Taiwanese spouse dies during their term of residence, the foreign spouse will be allowed to work for a period no longer than the term of their resident permit. However, if the foreign spouse's original resident permit is revoked by the issuing authorities, the right to work shall also be cancelled. Foreign spouses who lose their original right to work in the ROC due to the above reasons, but meet the criteria of Article 51 of the Employment Services Act, may be permitted to continue working in the ROC. Either the employer or individual may present required documents to the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) to apply for a work permit. They may continue working in the ROC after a work permit is granted.

ARC and Re-entry Permit

The ARC and Re-entry Permit requirements and application procedures for spouses are different in that documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, health certificate, household registration transcript, alien resident certificate of foreign national resident in Taiwan, etc. are required. Please see:
http://iff.npa.gov.tw/enfront/faq.php?tr_id=9&id=451 for spouses and  http://iff.npa.gov.tw/enfront/life.php?id=220&tr_id=2 for minor dependents.


Foreign Nationals Who Are Permanent Residents

Foreign nationals who have obtained permanent residency are subject to different rules and regulations regarding rights (including those regarding work) and responsibilities in Taiwan. For more information on Applying for the Alien Permanent Resident Certificate, please see: http://iff.npa.gov.tw/enfront/life.php?id=230&tr_id=2

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