Taiwan Employment Gold Card

Created under the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals and issued since 2018, the Gold Card is a four-in-one document: a work permit that allows you to look for a job, work for any employer, take part-time work and change jobs freely; a resident visa; an ARC; and a re-entry permit for unlimited exits and re-entries. It is administered with the Taiwan Employment Gold Card Office of the National Development Council.

Applicants qualify in one field only: science and technology, economy, education, culture and arts, sport, finance, law, architecture, national defence, digital, biotechnology or environment, with special cases recognised by the NDC. Each field has its own criteria set by the relevant ministry. In the economy field, one criterion is a current or previous position with a most recent monthly salary of at least NT$160,000, proven by an annual tax statement issued within three years or an employer certificate.

For holders of foreign passports other than US passports, the card costs NT$3,700 (one year), NT$4,700 (two years) or NT$5,700 (three years). US passport holders applying abroad pay NT$7,605 to NT$9,605. ARC holders applying in Taiwan, and Gold Card extensions, cost NT$1,500 to NT$3,500. Payment is by international credit card or several local methods; fees are not refunded whatever the outcome.

Create an account on the NIA's Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform, choose the card validity, upload a colour passport copy, a photo and the supporting documents for your field (with English or Chinese translations), and pay online. The NIA, the Ministry of Labor and the relevant ministry review the file. Overseas applicants are then asked to bring their original passport and Passport Submission Notice to a Taiwan mission for inspection, which takes about seven working days, followed by one to two weeks of NIA review.

A complete application takes about 30 days; if documents are requested, expect 50 to 60 days, and the whole process can exceed 60 business days. Missing information must be supplied within 30 days, or six months for documents only available abroad. Since 28 July 2021 cards are collected only in Taiwan: overseas applicants print the colour approval (resident authorization) certificate, enter Taiwan with it before the card expires and collect the card at the chosen NIA service centre within 30 days of entry.

Spouses and children can apply for dependent residence, and lineal ascendants of the cardholder and spouse can receive multiple-entry visitor visas with stays of up to one year. First-time workers in Taiwan who meet the conditions can claim a 50 percent tax exemption on salary above NT$3 million a year for five years. Employed or self-employed cardholders and their dependants can join the National Health Insurance without the usual six-month wait. Permanent residency is possible after three years.