If you are a foreigner and wish to work in Taiwan, you must obtain all three of the following documents:

1. Work permit in Taiwan;
2. A Taiwan work visa that allows you to travel to Taiwan for employment;
3. Taiwan Residence Permit (Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)), which allows you to live in Taiwan long-term.

However, not everyone can just move to Taiwan and get a job. The Taiwanese government issues work permits in Taiwan only to certain categories of workers. Also, before you can apply for a work visa in Taiwan, you must receive a job offer from an employer in Taiwan.

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Who is eligible for a work permit in Taiwan?

According to the Manpower Development Agency of the Ministry of Labor of Taiwan, only the following foreign professionals are allowed to work in Taiwan:

• Specialist or technical workers in one of these fields: construction and architecture workers, communications and transport, tax and financial services, real estate agencies, immigration workers, lawyers, technicians, health and environmental workers, culture, sports and recreation services, academic research, veterinarians , production, wholesale and other areas as decided by the central government body and central competent authorities.
  
• Positions:
• Director or manager of an enterprise founded or invested by a foreign citizen;
• School teachers;
• Foreign teachers in schools (full-time);
• Sports coaches or athletes;
• Artists and performers;
• Contract worker (construction, sales, technical cooperation, etc.).

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How to apply for a work permit in Taiwan?

Your employer must obtain a work permit for you in Taiwan. He can apply for your work permit in one of two ways:

• Online, through the Ministry of Labour's Workforce Development Agency (WDA) website;
• By submitting an application to the reception desk of the Agency for Workforce Development of the Ministry of Labor (in person or by registered letter).

Once your employer has obtained a Taiwan work permit on your behalf, depending on your situation, you can:

• Apply for a Taiwan work visa (if you are overseas); 
• Apply for a residence permit in Taiwan (if you are already in Taiwan on a visitor visa).

*Work permit applications for school teachers must be obtained from the Taiwan Ministry of Education, not the WDA.

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What are the requirements for a Taiwan work visa?

When applying for a work visa in Taiwan, you must have the following documents:

• Completed application for a work visa, printed and signed.
• Two passport-size photographs taken within the last six months. They should have a white background without patterns. Dimensions should be 35mm by 45mm without a frame.
• Your passport that is valid for at least another six months and contains at least three blank pages where you can insert a visa.
• Health certificate issued in the last three months (original and photocopy). Before applying for a work visa in Taiwan, you must obtain a health certificate from a hospital designated by the Center for Disease Control of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan or a hospital in your home country. If you receive a medical certificate from a non-Taiwanese hospital, it must be legalized at a Taiwan diplomatic mission.
• Taiwan work permit (original and photocopy) valid for at least another six months.
• Any additional documents according to your profession.

This is not the entire list of documents. Taiwan authorities may request additional documents as they deem necessary in each specific case.

All documents you submit must be in English or Chinese. They must be translated by an official translator and certified by Taiwan's overseas diplomatic mission.

• How to apply for a Taiwan work visa?
  You can apply for a Taiwan work visa in one of two ways:
  • Abroad: at a Taiwanese diplomatic mission (embassy, ​​consulate, etc.).
  • In Taiwan, at the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) or any of its offices.
  
  
  1. Apply for a Taiwan work visa at a Taiwan diplomatic mission.
  After your employer obtains a work permit for you, you must apply for a Taiwan work visa at a Taiwan diplomatic mission.
  The application process is:
  • Fill out the application for obtaining a work visa in Taiwan online. Print it and sign it.
  • Collect the necessary documents.
  • Submit the application form and documents to the Taiwan diplomatic mission in person within 30 days of completing the online application.
  • When you complete the application form, you will need to select which diplomatic mission you are applying to.
  • You can apply to any mission, but we recommend that you apply to the mission of your country. If there is no Taiwanese diplomatic mission in your country, please contact the nearest one.
  • Wait for the Taiwan work visa to be processed.
  • Employees of the diplomatic mission may also invite you to an interview if they need to.
  
  
  Importantly! After entering Taiwan, apply for a Taiwan residence permit at the local service center of the National Immigration Agency within 15 days.
  
  
  2. Applying for a work visa when you are already in Taiwan.
  If you are already in Taiwan on a visitor visa for employment purposes (eg for business, investment, job search), you do not need to leave the country to apply for a resident visa. You can apply to convert a visitor visa to a resident work visa at the Taiwan Consular Office.
  
  
  You must apply for a Taiwan resident (work) visa after your employer receives your work permit and at least 8 days before your visitor visa expires.
  
  
  Importantly! After BOCA issues you a work visa, you must apply for a residence permit in Taiwan at the local service center of the National Immigration Agency within 15 days.
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• How long is a Taiwan work visa valid for?
  
  A work visa is valid for up to three months. However, if you intend to work longer, you should get an ARC that is issued for one, two or three years.
  
  
  Can you extend your Taiwan work visa?
  No, you cannot extend your Taiwan work visa. However, if you will be working in Taiwan for longer than three months, you must obtain an ARC that can be extended. You must apply to renew your ARC at the National Taiwan Migration Agency at least 30 days before your current one expires.
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  Business Visa
  A Foreign Business Visa is an attractive option for foreign investors for the following reasons:
  • This enables them to start a business within one year of their arrival in Taiwan without setting up a business in advance.
  • You will receive an initial 1-year residence permit with multiple entries.
  • If your business is successful, you can extend your business visa to Taiwan.
  • Up to three team members can apply together.
  
  
  However, in order to obtain a Entrepreneur Visa to Taiwan, you and your team members must meet certain eligibility criteria.
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  Who is eligible for a Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa?
  
  You can only apply for an Entrepreneur Visa in Taiwan if you meet one of the following requirements:
  
  • You have received venture capital investment or international fundraising of more than NT$2 million.
  • You have obtained patent rights or a certificate of professional skills.
  • You have received a residence permit in a startup incubator or a recognized innovation park in Taiwan.
  • You won an award in a leading startup or design competition or participated in a foreign entrepreneurship project.
  • You are (or have been) in a startup accelerator recognized by Taiwan.
  • Your company or a person who is the head of your company has been awarded or nominated at a film festival.
  • You have received a government innovation subsidy of at least NT$3 million from the central government or NT$1 million from the local government.
  • You have established an enterprise with innovative potential in Taiwan and act as its legal representative, manager, or director with an investment of at least NT$1 million.
  • You have the innovative potential identified by the Taiwan government.
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• When you apply for an Entrepreneur Visa in Taiwan, you must have several supporting documents, such as:
  • Completed, printed, and signed application form for an Entrepreneur Visa.
    
  • Two passport-size photographs taken within the last six months. They should have a white background without patterns. Dimensions should be 35mm by 45mm without a frame.
  • Your passport that is valid for at least another six months and contains at least three blank pages where you can insert a visa.
  • If you received venture capital investment or international fundraising:
  - an investment commitment letter or any other evidence of investment signed by you and the relevant venture capital firm;
  - registration documents of a venture capital firm or any other documents confirming the legality of such an enterprise;
  - documents confirming receipt of investment.
  • If you have patent rights or a certificate of professional skills:
  - a patent certificate issued by a relevant agency in Taiwan or a foreign agency;
  • If you are allowed to live in a startup incubator or recognized innovation park in Taiwan:
  - confirmation of the cooperation agreement signed by both parties
  • If you won an award in a leading startup or design competition or participated in a foreign entrepreneurship project:
  - confirmation of the award certificate you have received from the relevant agency
  • If you are setting up an enterprise with an investment of at least NT$1 million:
  • - company registration documents and the relevant permit
  • - investment permit letter together with confirmation of the investment amount.
  • If you won an award or were nominated at a film festival:
  - Confirmation of the Award of Excellence certificate
  • Any other necessary documents related to your business or otherwise.
  
  
• How to apply for an Entrepreneur Visa to Taiwan?
  
  Depending on where you are located, there are two possible ways to apply for a Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa:
  • Abroad, in the diplomatic mission of Taiwan.
  • In Taiwan, at a consular office or any of its offices.
  
  
  Applying from abroad and in Taiwan looks the same:
  The application process is:
  • Fill out the online visa application form for Taiwan, print it and sign it.
  • Collect the necessary documents.
  • Submit the documents and application form to the diplomatic mission of Taiwan. In case you are already in Taiwan, contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) or any of its offices.
  
  
  After arriving in Taiwan, you have 15 days to apply for a Residence Permit (ARC) at the National Immigration Agency.
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  What is the validity period of the Taiwan entrepreneur visa?
  When you first get a business visa to Taiwan, you will receive a foreigner's residence permit valid for 1 year. After the first year in which you have to set up your business, you can apply for an ARC extension if you meet all the extension criteria.
  
  
  Extension of a Entrepreneur Visa to Taiwan
  After the first year is over, you can renew your Entrepreneur Visa to Taiwan (technically, your Foreigner Permanent Residence Permit) two more times, each valid for a maximum of two years.
  
  
  You can apply for an Entrepreneur Visa to Taiwan extension if you meet one of the following conditions:
  • In the previous year, your business generated a profit of at least NT$3 million.
    
  • Or, if you are renewing for the second or third time, the average annual income for the past three years will be at least NT$3 million.
  • Your business operating expenses for the past year (or average annual expenses for the past three years) are at least NT$1 million.
  • Your company has at least three full-time Taiwanese employees.
  
  
  There are other ways you can demonstrate that your company is making a positive contribution to Taiwan's economic development.
  
  
  If you meet any of these conditions, you can apply to renew your ARC at least 40 days before your current one expires at the National Migration Agency.

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