Ways to migrate to Taiwan
1. Migration from business
If you have opened a successful company and a partner in Taiwan is interested in your business, you can also apply for a visa at the embassy.
After receiving the status, you can start opening your own business. It should be recognized that the authorities of Taiwan encourage young entrepreneurs. Recently, the tax on their activities was reduced to 17%, and some companies are completely exempt from deductions for the first five years. As a result, the country ranks 22nd in the world according to the prosperity index, and the rapid development of the economy since 2010 is called nothing else than the "Taiwanese miracle."
2. Migration to Taiwan for education
As of 2022, there are 157 educational institutions in the country where you can obtain secondary special, higher, second higher education, or a candidate/doctorate degree. Migrants from any country who are fluent in English or Chinese can study in most of these institutions, and you can choose either to study.
It should be noted that many professors of well-known universities in the Pacific state have studied in America, which increases their qualifications. This indicates a fairly high quality of the received education. An equally important advantage of studying in Taiwan is the relatively small tuition fee, which does not exceed $1,000 per semester. Moreover, a foreigner can get a good job and citizenship after graduating from a university or college.
3. Migration for work
To get a job in Taiwan, you need to take care of employment in your home country. Another challenge will be high competition, as only about 11 million citizens are employed on an island with a population of over 23 million. The highest percentage of unemployment is observed among young people.
To obtain a permanent residence permit or residence permit in Taiwan, you must provide two main documents: an employment permit and a copy of the contract certified by a public notary.
4. Migration for real estate owners
Foreigners who buy real estate in Taiwan can also obtain a visa and residence permit. However, housing prices are constantly rising.
To view options in the Taiwanese real estate market, an invitation from an agency or apartment owner is required. Only one residential property can be purchased on the island.
5. Migration upon marriage
When marrying a citizen of Taiwan, the immigrant is first issued a residence permit for ten years. Then, after five years of cohabitation, permanent residence can be issued, and then citizenship.
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Residence permit and Permanent residence in Taiwan: features of registration.
After visiting the embassy, collecting the appropriate package of documents, and obtaining a visa, you can issue an initial ARC. The status term, which is issued based on obtaining a job or education, is limited to 1-3 years. Then it can be extended.
If you lose your job or study place, you must leave Taiwan. Such problems can be avoided if, instead of extending the Residence permit, you get a Permanent residence (APRC). A person with an APRC has the right to be officially employed in several different places. But there is also a nuance here: you must live on the territory of the state for at least 183 days a year. Otherwise, you will be deprived of your status.
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Applying for a APRC
People over the age of 20 who have been in Taiwan for the required period of time and meet all the requirements for permanent residence can apply for an Alien Permanent Residence Permit (APRC).
The APRC application must be submitted within two years of fulfilling the length of stay requirements in Taiwan.
On June 30, Taiwan's National Migration Agency announced that from July 1, 2022, foreign professionals and their family members can apply for a residence permit online.
The application form must be filled out and submitted to the service center of the National Immigration Agency with the following documents:
- Color photograph printed in passport size;
- Originals and copies of all passports (current and previous);
- Alien Resident Card (ARC) and one copy thereof;
- Medical examination certificate issued by the Department of Health;
- Certificate of entry and exit;
- Certificates of financial assets or any special skills or talents;
- Certificates of no criminal record;
- Accompanying certificates, for example: marriage certificate, work permit, family certificate, confirmation from work and others.
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Citizenship of Taiwan
Migrants who have reached the age of 20 and have lived in Taiwan for more than 5 years (even intermittently) can expect to receive citizenship.
In addition, it is necessary:
- have housing (rental housing is suitable);
- to be officially employed;
- have an impeccable reputation (no offences);
- renounce original citizenship.
Importantly! Foreigners with high qualifications do not fall under the last point. Migrants who are professionals in various fields of activity may not renounce their original citizenship. Such a decision demonstrates the policy of local authorities aimed at creating conditions that are as attractive as possible for high-class specialists from abroad.
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Grounds for obtaining citizenship
1. By right of birth or origin
This right can be used by:
- Children who have not reached the age of 18 and were born to a full-fledged citizen on the territory of Taiwan (at least one of the parents must have a Taiwanese passport);
- Children who were born outside the country and at least one parent is a full-fledged citizen of Taiwan. Also, the child must not be a citizen of another state.
- Minor children of an immigrant who has a permanent residence in Taiwan and does not have citizenship in another state;
- Orphans found near the country.
If a child is born in another country and acquires citizenship, they are automatically deprived of the right to receive a Taiwanese passport. However, if a child is born on the territory of Taiwan and his parents have been living in the country for a long time without having citizenship, the child acquires the right to citizenship.
You can submit a request for citizenship registration after age 16. Before this age, only legal representatives of the child (both at the same time) have the right to submit a request. The absence of one of the parents has the right only for an objective reason (deprivation of parental rights, death, etc.) and must be documented.
If the parents are divorced, it is necessary to provide a divorce certificate and a notarized power of attorney for the right to obtain citizenship for minors.
2. As a result of marriage
It is important that the marriage union must be recognized as real and legal. Local authorities will carefully monitor the fulfillment of all necessary conditions: joint management and budget, joint property ownership, etc. If the couple has children, the control by the migration services stops.
If deception is detected (creating a fictitious marriage), the spouses face criminal liability.
3. Family reunion
Family reunification is one of the most important reasons for obtaining Taiwanese citizenship. In this case, it is only about close relatives who have the status of a citizen. It can be parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, parents or legal spouses.
For immigration and citizenship registration, you need to receive an invitation from a relative, which indicates the degree of kinship and the period of residence in Taiwan (if the relative is not a citizen). In addition, confirmation of financial well-being and the availability of living space, the size of which should be sufficient to support the visitor, will be required.
4. Investments and business
Financially secure and independent people are primarily considered by the Taiwanese authorities as applicants for citizenship. However, in the case of investment, the amount of income must be from USD 2,000,000.
Suppose you want to open your own business or buy a ready-made one. In that case, you first need to interest Taiwanese entrepreneurs, who will provide an opportunity to get closer to the chance of obtaining citizenship. Otherwise, the businessman will only be able to participate in negotiations or show his achievements at exhibitions.
5. Obtaining refugee status
Acquiring refugee status in China is quite tricky. The government is skeptical of such claims, but some people obtain a residence permit and then permanent residence with citizenship.
The "refugee" must not only prove that he is constantly persecuted in his homeland because of his religious views or belonging to a certain race but also go through many interviews, after which only the final verdict is issued. If the status is denied, the immigrant is given time to leave the country. Otherwise, he is granted a residence permit and financial assistance for several years.
6. By naturalization
Naturalization is the most difficult, time-consuming and long process of acquiring citizenship.
To use this method, a person must have lived in the country for at least 5 years, be over 20 years old and be able to provide for himself financially. However, meeting all conditions does not guarantee approval of a passport application. The authorities treat all applicants very meticulously, and reject them at the slightest opportunity.
7. Purchase of real estate
Although this method is available, it is not entirely profitable since, starting from 2008, real estate prices began to rise at an irresistible speed. Therefore, all newcomers do not buy housing for permanent residence but rent it since a small but good apartment can be rented for only $200 per month.
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Registration procedure
Before starting the process of obtaining citizenship, it is necessary to live in Taiwan on a permanent basis for 5 to 10 years, special attention is paid to the characteristics of the workplace and how the candidate was able to integrate into the workforce.
Knowledge of the local language is one of the main conditions for obtaining a Taiwanese passport. It can be studied while in the homeland or on free courses upon arrival in the country.
Also, first of all, before applying to specialized services, the immigrant must decide on the clause of the Law "About Citizenship", which allows applying for citizenship. You can then go to the embassy and security office for an application that will need to be filled out.
After that, the visitor needs to collect a package of necessary documents and, together with the application, submit them to the authorized organizations engaged in issuing the passport.
Necessary documents:
- An application personally drawn up by the applicant, with his signature (if the applicant is under 18 years of age, the application must be filled out by his legal representatives);
- Valid foreign passport;
- All expired passports (if the person has them);
- The document on the basis of which a person resides in the country (permanent residence permit);
- Marriage or divorce certificate;
- A certificate from a local clinic about the absence of dangerous diseases (HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, drug addiction, etc.);
- Biometric data (fingerprints);
- Photographs (6 color photographs measuring 3.3×4.8 cm);
- Certificate of intention to leave previous citizenship or confirmation of these actions;
- A written commitment that the immigrant does not intend to engage in criminal and terrorist activities;
- A document confirming the presence of family ties (during family reunification).
Who can be refused?
A refusal may be received in the following cases:
- If an incorrect package of documents was submitted;
- If inaccuracies are found in the submitted documentation;
- If false information was indicated when filling out the documents;
- If the immigrant has a criminal record in his homeland;
- If the immigrant has a certificate of illness for dangerous disease.
