Taiwan permanent residency (APRC)

Applicants must be aged 18 or over, have good conduct with no criminal record as shown by police certificates, possess sufficient assets or skills to support themselves (spouses of nationals with household registration are exempt) and serve the national interests of Taiwan. People who also hold Taiwanese citizenship cannot apply.

The general rule is five consecutive years of legal residence with at least 183 days each year. Foreign professionals doing professional work need five years with an average of 183 days a year. Foreign specialist professionals can apply after three years, or after one year with at least 183 days and Taiwanese salary and professional income of at least NT$6,000,000 in the most recent year. Foreign spouses and children of nationals with household registration need more than ten years, with 183 days a year in five of them. Periods spent studying do not count towards the residence requirement.

Common documents are the application form, one colour ID photo, the new and old passports, a valid ARC, a health examination certificate (waived if you were never abroad for more than three months at a time in the last five years), proof of self-support, and a national police certificate from your home country covering the last five years together with a Taiwanese police record. Foreign documents must be authenticated by a Taiwan mission; home-country police certificates are valid for one year from issue.

Self-support can be shown by an average monthly income in Taiwan over the past year above twice the minimum wage announced by the Ministry of Labor (proven by tax returns or withholding statements), by personal and real property in Taiwan worth more than NT$5,000,000 held for over a year (a NT$5,000,000 deposit certificate needs an explanation of the source of funds), by Taiwanese professional or technical certifications, or by other documents accepted by the NIA.

Most applicants must apply within two years after the end of their qualifying residence. Once granted, the APRC can be revoked if your average residence over the most recent five years falls below 183 days a year, unless an exception under the foreign professionals act applies. Gold Card holders can apply after three years, and a Taiwanese doctorate or master's degree can offset two or one years of the required residence.