Taiwan work visa (resident visa for white-collar workers)

Employers apply to the competent central government authority for a work permit for the foreign employee. At the time of the resident visa application the work permit must show more than six months of employment remaining. Blue-collar workers who are already in Taiwan cannot use this route.

Submit the barcoded online application form, signed, with two colour photos (45 x 35 mm, white background), a passport valid for at least six months with a copy of the bio-page, and the original and a copy of the work permit. Further documents are decided case by case; applicants applying inside Taiwan add copies of their visitor visa and entry stamp. Originals are returned after review.

Applicants outside Taiwan apply at a Taiwan mission. Holders of non-extendable visitor visas for employment, investment, business or tourism may apply inside Taiwan, at BOCA or its Central, Southwestern, Southern or Eastern Taiwan offices, eight working days before their stay ends; processing takes eight working days, and missing documents must be supplied within seven days. Under the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, those who receive a work permit for more than six months (other than for contract fulfilment) apply for residence directly at the NIA.

Resident visas are valid for three months. Within 30 days of the day after arrival (or of the issue date, if the visa was granted inside Taiwan) you must apply at an NIA service centre for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and re-entry permit; your permitted stay is the validity of the ARC. Foreigners doing contract work for more than six months who entered visa-free must apply to BOCA for a visitor and a resident visa at the same time before applying for the ARC.

BOCA can refuse without explanation and keeps the fee. If your permitted stay expires while an in-country application is pending and the application is then refused, you alone bear responsibility for any overstay penalty.