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Work Visa
in Taiwan (China).

SALARY PAYMENT IN New Taiwan dollar (TWD, NT$, $)

CONTRACT LANGUAGES Chinese / English

PAYROLL TAX 17.152%

PAYROLL CYCLE Bi-Weekly or Monthly

TIME TO HIRE 12 hours

Types of work visas in Taiwan

The key types of Taiwan work visa are: 

  • The Taiwan employment visa/permit — expats wanting to work in Taiwan will need both a work permit and a work visa. There are strict requirements for obtaining these, including an existing employment contract and at least five years of experience in their field
  • The Blue Collar work visa — this visa is for foreign workers in non-professional industries, such as manufacturing, construction, or agriculture. The visa process and requirements for blue-collar workers are different from those of professional workers, and the duration of the visa is typically tied to the employment contract
  • The Gold Card (4-in-1 Card) is a special type of visa designed to attract highly skilled foreigners to live and work in Taiwan. Unlike the standard work visa and permit, the applicant does not need to have a job offer or contract. The Gold Card includes four elements: Resident Visa, Work Permit, Alien Residence Certificate (ARC), and Re-Entry Permit

To be eligible for the Gold Card Visa, applicants must be experienced in one of these eight areas: sports, science and technology, law, education, economics, culture and art, finance, and architecture. Applicants with a current monthly salary of over 160k TWD (5600 USD) may also be eligible.

Applicants who do not qualify for a Gold Card but who have an employment offer from a Taiwanese employer may still be able to gain a work visa and permit by applying for the four elements separately.

Required documents for a work visa in Taiwan (China)

The employer and employee must provide the following documents for a work visa in Taiwan:

Employer (in the work permit application)

  • Valid registration certification, business registration, and any other applicable permits.
  • Corporate income tax return and the employee’s most recent individual income tax statement.
  • Letter of foreign investment approval
  • Authenticated education diploma for the employee.
  • Identification cards or passports for both the company representatives and the employee.
  • Employment contract
  • Work experience certificate
  • Medical examination report
  • Any applicable fee

Employee (in the work visa application)

  • A passport valid for at least six months after entry
  • Two recent passport-sized color photographs. These must have a white background and have been taken within the last six months.
  • Their approved work permit.
  • A health certificate, issued within the past three months.
  • Any applicable supplementary documents regarding the employee’s profession
  • Identification documents for a spouse or children who will accompany the employee

Once the employee receives the work permit from the employer and has visa clearance, he/she can
travel to Taiwan. They must obtain an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) from a local National Immigration Agency (NIA) in Taiwan within 15 days of arrival. The ARC allows day to day activities without the need for a passport while the employee is in Taiwan. The ARC also allows multiple re-entries, which must be shown at immigration checkpoints if the employee intends on entering and exiting Taiwan.

Within three days of arrival in Taiwan, the foreign worker must undergo a medical examination if it is
his/her first time traveling to Taiwan. This can be done at a local Center for Disease Control.

Within three days of the employee’s arrival, the employer must apply for an entrance report at the local Department of City Government. Without this, the employer’s recruitment permit and the employer’s work permit may be annulled. The employer must also enrol the employee in the National Health Insurance scheme within three days from the date the ARC is issued, via the Bureau of National Health Insurance.

It is a slightly less laborious process to obtain a Gold Card, but the requirements are strict and proof will need to be provided.

Processing time to get a work visa in Taiwan (China)

It takes between 7 and 14 days to process an application for a work permit in Taiwan

Process to get a work visa in Taiwan (China)

Getting a work visa when the employee is based outside of Taiwan (China)

When applying for a Taiwan work visa from outside Taiwan, you’ll need to follow several steps:

  1. Obtain a job offer: Secure a job offer from a Taiwan employer. The employer must apply for a work permit on your behalf through Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor.

  2. Work Permit Approval: Once the work permit application is approved, your employer will receive a Work Permit Certificate. They should send you a copy of this document, which you will need for your visa application.

  3. Gather required documents: When applying for a Taiwan work visa, you will need to provide several documents, including:

    • A completed visa application form
    • A valid passport with at least six months remaining before expiration
    • Passport-sized photos
    • A copy of the Work Permit Certificate from your employer
    • Other documents as required by the local Taiwan embassy/consulate, which may include a health check, criminal background check, or proof of qualifications.
  4. Submit the visa application: You will need to submit your visa application to the nearest Taiwan embassy, consulate, or visa application center in your country. The application process may vary depending on the location, so it’s crucial to contact the relevant office to confirm their specific requirements, fees, and processing times.

  5. Visa approval and collection: If your visa application is approved, you will be notified by the Taiwan embassy/consulate. You will then need to collect your passport with the visa affixed to it.

  6. Enter Taiwan and apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC): Upon arrival in Taiwan, you will need to apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) at the local National Immigration Agency office within 15 days. The ARC serves as your residency permit in Taiwan and should be carried with you as proof of legal residence.

Getting a work visa when the employee is based inside of Taiwan (China)

Foreign workers already inside Taiwan with a standard work visa who intend to take up employment may apply for a change of visa status from the National Immigration Agency (NIA). The application form must be completed and submitted along with the required documents.

If the foreign worker has a Gold Card then this is an open employment visa, which is not tied to an employer. The employee is free to move employers within Taiwan while their Gold Card is valid

Hiring in Taiwan, Made Easy

Your business can easily hire employees in Taiwan without opening a local entity. We handle local employment law, complex tax regulations, and international payroll in 180+ countries worldwide. All you need to do is focus on your business.

FAQs

Spouses or dependents of a foreigner with a Taiwan work permit can apply for a Resident Visa.

Work permits are valid for one year, and Gold Cards are typically valid for 1-3 years.

 

It will take 7-14 days after submitting the relevant documentation to get a work visa in Taiwan.

 

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