II. Permanent resident foreigners:
Foreigners holding an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC):
A. May re-enter the nation with passport and APRC, without applying for reentry permit.
B. Will face APRC revocation if fail to stay in the ROC for more than 183 days in a calendar year.
III. Foreigners staying in the ROC:
Those holding visitor visas or entering the nation with visa-exemption or getting landing visas upon arrival for short-term (under 180 days) stay:
A. Should file application attached with relevant documents with police bureau before the deadline of duration of stay, if the foreigners hold extendable 60-day visitor visas but in need of an extension of stay. Each extended period must not exceed the original duration of stay of such visa while the cumulative duration of stay must not exceed 180 days from the next day of arrival in the ROC.
B. Are ineligible for extension when holding a visitor visa for 14-day stay, 30-day stay, or an unextendable 60-day stay visitor visa. But they may apply for extension of stay due to a special situation with approval for switching visa within the deadline of duration of stay of original visa at the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
C. May stay up to 30 days if entering the nation with visa-exemption, but are ineligible for extension.
D. Calculation of actual stay begins at the zero hour of the next day of arrival in the ROC.
IV. Other notices:
A. Foreigners can not work in the ROC unless employers get permission from their respective governing administration. Except for those: (Employment Services Act, Article 48)
- Serving as consultants or researchers in governments at various levels and their academic research institutions.
- Marrying nationals with household registration in the Taiwan Areas and having obtained an ARC need not apply for a work permit.
B. Income tax regulations:
- All foreigners making any income in the ROC must pay income tax on that income.
- Foreigners who have stayed in the ROC over 90 days in one tax year must apply to the district National Tax Administration to pay tax on all income earned while in the ROC, regardless of whether that income is earned from a Taiwanese-owned or foreign-owned organization.
C. Insurance regulations: Those having an Alien Resident Certificate or Alien Permanent Resident Certificate must apply to join the National Health Insurance Program after residing in the ROC for four months. However, legally employed individuals must apply on their first day of employment.
Information for visitors
I. Definition of visit and categories visitor visa:
A. Definition of “visit”: Any planned visit that does not exceed 180 days.
B. Categories of visitor visa:
- Visa-exemption.
- Duration of stay for 14, 30, 60 or 90 days.
II. Extension of visitor visa:
- Ordinary extension:
- Foreigners should apply for an extension of stay at local city (county) Police Bureau’s Foreign Affairs Divisions (Section). before the expiration of the duration of stay if needed for their extended stay. Each extension must not exceed the original duration of visit. The cumulative duration of stay must not exceed 180 days.
- Foreigners eligible for extended stay should apply for extension before the expiration of duration of stay of such visa. The applicant should report to and get permission from the police department in case the required documents on hand are incomplete. The application should be re-filed with the original police department within 15 days after acquiring complete documents. Even after reporting the case, the applicant’s duration of overstay will be retroacted to the next day of the deadline of stay if applicants fail to win approval for extension.
B. Special extension:
- Foreigners who are having stayed for 180 days, but have to extend the duration of stay due to forces majeur or other events like natural disasters will have to file application via the local police department with the National Police Agency (NPA) under the Ministry of the Interior.
- Those having entered the Republic of China with visa-exemption (stay for 14 days only) or landing visa (stay for 30 days only) are not eligible for extension. But they may apply with the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its branches for visitor visas if they are unable to leave the ROC before the deadline of duration of stay due to forces majeur or other major events.
C. Calculation of period of stay: The duration of stay starts from the next day of arrival in the ROC.
Information for Alien Residents
I. Definition of residency:
An alien intending to reside for more than 180 days and holding an Alien Resident Certificate in the ROC.
II. Certificate application:
Aliens who enter the ROC with a resident visa must apply for an Alien Resident Certificate within 15 days at the Foreign Affairs Division (Section) of the local police bureau upon arrival in the ROC. Applicants may request simultaneously for a Reentry Permit (foreign blue-collar workers and overseas Chinese students are not eligible).
III. Valid time for certificates:
Period validity for Alien Resident Certificates based on purposes is specified as follows:
Purpose of residence |
Allowed period of various residence |
Qualification description |
Joining family |
Less than 3 years |
Living with spouses or lineal family members in Taiwan . |
Accepting employment |
Less than 3 years |
- An individual who is president or branch manager of a foreign company recognized by the ROC's Company Law.
- Foreigners who are legally approved by respective governing administrations to work or practice in the ROC.
- Foreigners who are legally approved by respective governing administrations to work in schools, academic, or research institutions as teachers or instructors.
|
Making investments |
Less than 3 years |
Foreign investors or representatives of foreign-invested legal body who are legally admitted by respective governing administration. |
Doing missionary work |
Less than 1 year |
Foreign missionaries who are invited by an officially registered religious organization. |
Pursuing studies |
Less than 1 year |
- Foreign students studying at a legally registered school or university Chinese language center.
- Individuals approved by the Ministry of Education or related authorities to conduct research or receive training
|
Others |
Less than 1 year |
Other foreigners who have a need to stay and have obtained permission from the police authorities. |
Notices: |
- The validity for the Alien Resident Certificates must not exceed that of the holder's passport or Work Permit.
- Dependents' ARC expiry date should be consistent with that of their relatives in Taiwan .
- One year only for the first-time applicants of ROC citizen spouses.
|
IV. Residence extension:
If necessary, foreigners may apply for a residence extension at the local police bureau 15 days before the expiration date.
V. Updating data:
A. Registration of data: Aliens may apply for updating registration data at the Foreign Affairs Division (Section) of the local police bureau if they move out or transfer to another company from their residence or working place.
B. Change of residence purpose: Aliens who change their residence purpose must switch a new visa within 15 days at the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or one of its branches. Their valid period of residence will be re-verified at the Foreign Affairs Division (Section) of the local police bureau.
VI. Overstay:
Aliens failing to apply for an ARC extension and leave before the ARC expiry date will be considered as overstaying. Overstaying aliens will be subject to fines (amount of fines depends on the number of days overstayed) and deported or they must leave the country.
Permanent Residency
An alien is qualified for a permanent residency application if he/she:
A. Has reached the age of 20 and has legally resided in the ROC for 7 consecutive years, during which the applicant was physically present in the ROC for more than 183 days annually; or
B. Is the spouse of an ROC citizen who possesses a domicile in the territory of the ROC, has reached the age of 20, and has legally resided the ROC for more than 183 days each year for at least 5 consecutive years; or
C. Is a foreign national and the child of an ROC citizen who has registered permanent residence in the ROC, attained the age of 20, and legally resided in the ROC for more than 183 days each year for at least 5 consecutive years; or
D. Is the spouse of an ROC citizen who has registered permanent residence in the ROC, has reached the age of 20, and has legally resided in the territory of the ROC for at least 10 consecutive years, which must include more than 183 days a year for 5 years; or
E. Is a foreign national and the child of an ROC citizen who has registered permanent residence in the ROC, has reached the age of 20, and has legally resided in the territory of the ROC for at least 10 consecutive years, which must include more than 183 days a year for 5 years; or
F. Has legally resided in the ROC for more than 20 years prior to May 31, 2002, which must include more than 183 days a year for 10 years; or
G. Has made exceptional contributions to the ROC; or
H. Possesses technical knowledge or talent that is needed in the ROC.
Required documents:
A. Application form.
B. Two 1x1 inch photographs (head and shoulder with no hats).
C. Statement of Eligibility for the Required Residence Years and Physical Presence in Taiwan Areas.
D. Certificate of Entry and Exit verifying dates of continuous legal residence.
E. The calculation of the applicant’s physical presence in Taiwan areas each year backwards.
F. Originals and photocopies of the previous and current passports (the originals will be returned after verification).
G. The original and photocopy of an Alien Resident Certificate (the original will be returned after verification).
H. Satisfactory health examination report.
I. Income Tax (or Tax-exempt) Certificates for the past 3 years
J. The Certificates verifying skill, talent, or financial assets.
K. Police criminal record certificates issued by the government of the applicant’s home country and by the ROC.
L. Other related documents and certificates.
Notices:
A. Application for permanent residency must be submitted within 2 years after the applicant has legally resided in the territory of the ROC for 5 or 7 consecutive years.
B. The Certificate of Entry and Exit verifying dates of continuous legal residence, which can be obtained from the Immigration Office of the National Police Agency under the Ministry of the Interior.
C. Evidence of financial assets, skills, or special talents.
- The applicants¡¦ average monthly income for the past year must be twice that of the minimum wage set by the Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan.
- The applicant’s accumulated savings in an ROC financial institution must be 24 times that of the monthly minimum wage set by the Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan (only pertinent to applicants who are spouses of ROC nationals).
- The applicant’s accumulated real estate and liquid assets must be valued at over NT$5 million.
- Other criteria recognized by the Immigration Bureau.
D. Applicants with an original police criminal record certificate for the past 5 years issued by the applicant’s home country (must be issued within 3 months with a Chinese translated version) must choose to complete one of the following procedures.
- An original copy and a Chinese translation of the police criminal record certificate issued by the applicant’s home country must be first verified by the ROC representative offices overseas (may be reexamined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if necessary).
- Only the police criminal record certificate issued by the applicant’s home country needs to be verified by the ROC representatives overseas (may be re-examined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if necessary), the Chinese translation must be notarized by an ROC court or notary.
- If the police criminal record certificate is issued by the applicant’s home country’s embassy, consular, or representative office in the ROC, the original needs to be re-examined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese translation needs to be notarized by an ROC court of notary.
- An applicant will lose his/her permanent residence status if he/she fails to reside in the ROC for at least 183 days annually starting from the second years after the Permanent Resident Certificate is issued. However, this regulation does not apply to those who have obtained permission by related authorities.
