| Business Residency Permit Requirements |
Citizens from other APEC economies must obtain a visa to take up temporary residence for business in Taiwan. |
| Categories of Permits |
Foreigners who intend to be employed, make investment, or supply services on the contractual basis in Taiwan should apply for a permit or work permit.
Foreigners who intend to stay for a period of less than six months may apply for a visitor visa and those who intend to stay for more than six months shall apply for a resident visa. After arrival in Taiwan, the resident visa holders shall apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)
Foreign nationals who are employed by an enterprise may apply to change their visitor visas into resident visas in Taiwan directly if they can present an official letter of approval of employment issued by Taiwan authorities concerned. (The above regulations do not apply to foreign laborers or those who enter Taiwan on a landing visa or via visa exemption.) |
| Arrangements for Intra Company Transfers and Specialists |
Taiwan sets a 7-30 days standard processing time for the intra-corporate transfer of senior managers and executives and specialists seeking short periods of stay.
An intra-corporate transferee as a board director, a general manager, a branch manager or a department head appointed by the board with the authority to sign for the employing entity may enter and stay in Taiwan for a 3-year initial period that may be renewed for one year period indefinitely.
A natural person employed by business entities in Taiwan may enter and stay for a period of 3 years which may be extended.
A specialist means a natural person within an organization who possesses knowledge at an advanced level of expertise and who possesses proprietary knowledge of the organization's services, research equipment, techniques, or management. (Specialists may include, but are not limited to, members of licensed professions.) |
| Documents Required |
- Passport or equivalent travel document
- Completed visa application form
- 2 photographs
- Official letters of approval of employment or investment from Taiwan authorities concerned, for example, the Council of Labor.
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| Method of Lodgement |
Applicants may file their visa application, personally or through an agent, with a Taiwan overseas mission closest to their place of residence. A personal interview is not usually required. Within 15 days after arrival in Taiwan, resident visa holders have to report to the local police headquarters closest to their place of residence and apply for an Alien Resident Certificate. |
| Processing Time |
7 working days for resident visas. |
| Length of Validity and Stay |
The resident visa is usually valid for 3 months. Permitted length of stay is determined after arrival and is specified in the Alien Resident Certificate. The normal length of stay permitted can be granted from 1 year up to 3 years. A re-entry permit will be marked in the passport as soon as the ARC is issued. In other words, the re-entry permit serves as a multiple-entry visa. The said resident visa shall be canceled once the ARC is issued. |
| Application Fee |
The fee for a resident visa is NT$2,200(US$66), and
NT$3,600(US$100) for US citizens, payable in cash. Application in Taiwan for changing a visitor visa to a resident visa, an additional handling fee of NT$800 will be charged. |
| Extension |
The resident visa cannot be extended. The Alien Resident Certificate may be renewed at the city or county police headquarters and the length of stay is determined according to the documents provided by the employer or employee. The normal length of stay can be renewed for 1 year up to 3 years. |
| Rules Relating to Accompanying Dependants |
Dependants may accompany the resident visa holder.
Documents required:
- Marriage certificate (for spouse).
- Birth certificate.(The above-mentioned documents must be authenticated by a Taiwan overseas mission.)
- The original and a copy of the Alien Resident Certificate of resident visa holders.
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| Review/Appeal Procedures |
There is no formal appeal procedure. Taiwan reserves the right to withhold the reason for the rejection of any visa application. |
