Job Seeker Visa In Taiwan: A Simple Guide

Ah, the elusive Taiwanese job-seeker visa! It’s like the Holy Grail for expats looking to make their mark in Taiwan—only less mythical and more bureaucratic.

If you’re wondering how to get your hands on one, you’re in the right spot.

Let’s unpack this Pandora’s box and make your job-seeking journey in Taiwan as smooth as a cup of pearl milk tea.

What Are Your Chances Of Getting A Job In Taiwan?

Taiwan has noted a change is needed from its industrial roots and has identified that it can no longer solely rely on making cheap products and selling them to the U.S. and Europe.

Instead, the government has analyzed six key industries to focus on in the coming years. These include biotechnology, tourism, and green energies.

Taiwan is the world’s 24th-largest economy and Asia’s sixth-largest. Yet, it cannot escape its current dilemma of youth unemployment.

Based on the 2012 statistics from the Director-General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics (DGBAS), youth unemployment in Taiwan is at 13 percent, compared with an average of 4.31 percent in Taiwan generally.

A story that hit the headlines in the Chinese language weekly, Business Today, printed a Taiwanese graduate’s story which highlighted the crisis of youth unemployment to the world as he had no other option than to work as a butcher at an Australian slaughterhouse.

Some Taiwanese graduates have no choice but to accept a job abroad in an unrelated and unwanted field of work until student debts have been repaid.

Residents in Taiwan have a fairly high living standard as salaries are relatively high in comparison to the cost of living.

What Types Of Jobs Are Available In Taiwan?

The local graduate workforce is highly skilled, so non-Mandarin-speaking professions are difficult to find. Job opportunities for unskilled personnel are, in general, even more limited.

The official language of communication in Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese. Taiwanese is also spoken, but Mandarin Chinese is more widely used in the workplace.

Learning Mandarin Chinese will boost your chances of finding a job, as many businesses may require fluent English with a working knowledge of Mandarin.

Multinational companies usually employ many expatriates working professional jobs in Taiwan and then posting to Taiwan.

There are different types of industries in which you can look for a job in Taiwan, which are the following:

Prominent Industries

I.T. and electronic products are the most significant industries.

At the same time, other popular industries include chemicals; biotechnology; petroleum refining; shipping; motor vehicles; iron and steel; machinery; cement; and food processing.

Other industries that may interest working professionals include financial services, insurance, and banking.

Industries for skilled workers include furniture production, tool manufacture, office supplies, toys, and domestic lighting products.

Developing Industries

Tourism is one of the main developing industries. Additional areas of expected growth include specialist technologies, telecommunications, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical products.

Industries In Decline

Many labor-intensive industries are in decline due to many companies relocating offshore to places such as mainland China.

Shortage Occupations

Sales, technical trades, engineering, and management.

Leading Companies

Anadigics Inc., China Airlines, China Steel Corporation, Hewlett Packard, HSBC, I.B.M., Sony, and Taiwan Sugar Corporation.

What Is A Job-Seeking Visa In Taiwan?

Taiwan is a highly developed market economy. Overseas professionals can apply for an employment-seeking visa for Taiwan (Republic of China) at an overseas mission if they want to work in Taiwan.

The three-month multiple-entry visa for work grants an overseas job seeker to stay in Taiwan for up to six months. It is valid for three months at first and can be extended later.

A Job seeker or work visa for Taiwan is to lure foreign talent to work in the nation for a specified period. By 2030, Taiwan’s government hopes to hire up to four hundred thousand foreign employees.

It has also acknowledged that it will be in a talent competition with other important players in the region, such as Singapore, China, and Hong Kong.

With an objective to recruit twenty thousand “special professionals” to work in particular technical fields, such as blockchain, semiconductors, renewable energy, and banking, Taiwan plans to attract foreign workers to contribute to its economy.

Eligibility Criteria For Taiwan’s Job Seeker Visa

Anyone who satisfies one of the following requirements is qualified to apply for an employment-seeking visa abroad.

Employment experience with a minimum average monthly wage or compensation of forty-seven thousand nine hundred and seventy-one New Taiwan Dollars (N.T.D.) during the previous six months.

The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs should deem the applicant otherwise eligible following discussions with the central competent authority.

They graduated within the past year from any of the top universities in the world, as identified by the Republic of China’s Ministry of Education. Applicants should not be employed if they seek a job-seeking visa for Taiwan.

What Is The Application Process For The Job Seeker Visa?

Travelers need to submit a signed and completed “R.O.C. Job Seeker Visa” application form.

They need to submit the job seeker visa application for Taiwan in any of its Overseas missions. In some cases, an interview may also be required.

Applicants can submit an application for an Employment-seeking visa at the Republic of China (Taiwan) embassy, consulate, or representative office, with the exception of nationals of a few nations.

However, applicants are advised to file applications in the nations where they live or work to speed up the evaluation process.

What Are The Required Documents For Taiwan’s Job Seeker Visa?

The following documents are required for Taiwan’s Job Seeker visa:

A passport with a validity of at least six months and a few blank pages is required. A photocopy of the passport must also be attached. Temporary and emergency passports are excluded from the list of requirements.
Applicants with work experience will need to submit proof of average monthly remuneration or salary over the past six months.
Evidence of the highest education attained by them.
A job experience certificate
Financial Proof of sufficient funds, such as one hundred thousand New Taiwan Dollars or equivalent.
Good conduct certificate.
Health Certificate.
Insurance proof with full hospitalization coverage for the entire stay in Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Other supporting documents (if required)

Processing Time For Job Seeker Visa

For the processing of the work visa of Taiwan, the diplomatic mission staff may also request an interview if they deem it necessary.

If they believe the application needs additional scrutiny, they will forward it to the Taiwanese Bureau of Consular Affairs (B.O.C.). It will advise them on their next course of action.

The processing time for Taiwan’s Job seeker visa is two to three weeks, provided all documents are submitted in time. In some cases, it may also take thirty working days.

Duration And Validity Of The Job Seeker Visa

The validity of Taiwan’s employment-seeking visa ( if it is a multiple entry visa) is three months, and it allows job seekers to stay in Taiwan for up to six months.

Rights And Restrictions Under The Job Seeker Visa

The two acts that govern the rights and restrictions on foreign workers seeking Job Seeker visas in Taiwan are:

The Act For The Recruitment And Employment Of Foreign Professionals

The Act is designed to create a welcoming atmosphere that entices foreign professionals to relocate and work in Taiwan, fostering industrial growth and transformation and boosting Taiwan’s global competitiveness.

The key measures proposed under the Act are as follows:

Easing Of Regulations Regarding Work, Visa, And Residence

The Act allows foreign professionals to apply for the “Employment Gold Card,” simplifying the job transition or job search process. It also extends the work permits from three to five years.

The Act permits foreign freelance artists ( digital nomads) to acquire work permits without employer sponsorship. Taiwanese cram schools can recruit foreign teachers with specific expertise or professional skills.

Foreign professionals seeking jobs in Taiwan can apply for employment-seeking visas. The Act abolishes the requirement for a minimum stay of 183 days per year to maintain permanent residency.

Relaxation Of Rules Related To The Stay Or Residence Of Spouses, Children, And Parents

The Act eases the conditions for minor children, disabled adult children, and spouses of permanent resident foreign professionals to apply for permanent residency.

When older foreign professionals apply for permanent residence in Taiwan, their spouses, minor children, or disabled adult children can apply at the same time.

The Act to govern employment in Taiwan also relaxes the requirements for adult children of foreign professionals to apply for work permits without needing an employer’s sponsorship.

Visitor visas for the direct descendants of foreign professionals have been extended to allow stays of up to one year at a time.

Offering Benefits Related To Retirement, Insurance, And Tax

Foreign professionals who receive approval for permanent residence are included in the Labor Pension Act’s retirement pension system.

Foreign professionals who work full-time as qualified paid teachers in a Taiwanese public school can choose between a lump-sum pension payment or a monthly pension.

The work visa Employment Act for Taiwan removes the requirement of a six-month stay in Taiwan for minor children, disabled adult children, and spouses of foreign professionals to be covered under National Health Insurance.

The Act provides that foreign professionals earning over three million N.T.D. per year are eligible to deduct half their salary for tax purposes for the first three years.

The Employment Service Act

Before the amendments, Article fifty-two of the Act necessitated that a foreign worker must exit the country for at least a day after a three-year employment stint in Taiwan. To return to Taiwan for further employment, the worker was also obliged to pay a labor broker’s fee.

However, the revised Act now allows employers to renew employment contracts directly. This modification helps in decreasing potential disruptions in labor supply and training costs. It has also enhanced the flexibility in workforce management.

The amended Act that governs work visa holders in Taiwan enables foreign workers to request leave from their employers to visit their home countries during their employment contract term.

Legally, the employer cannot decline this application. An employer who refuses such a request and does not amend the situation within a stipulated time frame will face a fine ranging from sixty thousand N.T.D. to three hundred thousand N.T.D.

Even their ability to recruit and employ foreign labor will be rescinded.

The Labor Standards Act and the provisions in the labor contract allow an overseas worker’s right to take leave to visit family in their native country can be classified either as their special leave for the year or as personal leave for a trip back home.

Such acts govern the rights of foreign workers in Taiwan. Today, the procedures for renewing labor contracts reduce labor absences due to previous mandates.

It facilitates more flexible workforce deployment and lowers the financial burden imposed on workers by foreign brokers.

What Is A Taiwan Gold Card?

Foreign skilled workers or experts can apply for a four-in-one employment gold card at the National Immigration Agency.

It contains a work permit for Taiwan, a resident visa, an alien resident certificate (A.R.C.), and a re-entry permit if they intend to work in Taiwan.

For one to three years, the Employment Gold Card of Taiwan remains valid. For a maximum of three years each time, holders of the Employment Gold Card who meet specific requirements may apply for an extension within four months of the card’s expiration date.

Converting A Job Seeker Visa To Work Permit In Taiwan

Even while the Taiwan work permit and work visa allow overseas workers to enter the country and work, they are only permitted to stay in Taiwan for up to ninety days with a valid resident permit.

An Alien Resident Certificate (A.R.C.), often known as a resident permit for Taiwan, is required and can be obtained from a regional service center of the Taiwanese National Immigration Agency. It can be renewed and granted for one, two, or three years.

A work visa is one of the Taiwan resident visas provided for extended stays.

There are two ways to apply for a Taiwanese work visa:

At a Taiwanese Embassy, Consulate, or similar facility abroad.
At any of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ offices (B.O.C.) in Taiwan

Common Challenges In The Application Process

Applicants’ common challenges are that they must meet all the requirements to qualify for a Taiwanese work visa. To apply for a Taiwan work visa, they must have a job offer and an employment contract with a Taiwanese company.

They should also meet the salary criteria to be considered for jobs in Taiwan. Additionally, the numbers listed on the official website to connect with government authorities to clarify doubts rarely work.

Many applicants find the immigration process challenging. It is advised to contact the Taiwanese Overseas Mission to learn more about the work visa application process for Taiwan.

Renewal And Extension Of The Job Seeker Visa

As per the stipulations of Article Eight of the Regulations on the Permission and Administration of the Employment of Foreign Workers in Taiwan,

It is mandated that the employer must apply for renewal within four months before the original employment permit expires.

It falls on the employers to manage the time required to apply and issue these employment permits to prevent any unlawful employment that might arise due to insufficient time for extending employment.

However, workers whose employment permit duration is less than six months can only apply for renewal after more than two-thirds of their employment permit period has elapsed.

Transitioning From A Job Seeker To An Employee In Taiwan

The transition from a Job seeker in Taiwan to an employee can be easy or complex depending on an individual’s background.

Prospective employees may experience culture shock as the Taiwanese have a non-confrontational work culture.

People in Taiwan do not like to argue, criticize or confront, so professionals should keep that in mind. Expats working in Taiwan have opined that overseas employees should be well-liked by their Taiwanese bosses and colleagues to advance their careers.

It is not advised to change jobs frequently as Taiwan only offers a few job opportunities. Employees should be good at their jobs and improve their Chinese language levels with time.

What To Do If The Job Seeker Visa Is Denied?

The consular officers of TECO assess each work visa application for Taiwan before approving or rejecting it. In some situations, the office reserves the authority to reject a job seeker’s visa application.

Visa application rejection grounds are entirely confidential, and TECO maintains the right to withhold them from applicants. If applicants decide to reapply, it is strongly suggested to do so after two to three months.

Applicants who demonstrate material differences from the prior application can reapply for a Taiwanese work visa.

It is strongly advised that interested applicants provide solid documentation evidence to back up their work visa reapplication.

Tips And Advice For Successful Job Seeking In Taiwan

In Taiwan, getting a job takes longer than anticipated. Individuals trying to obtain a Taiwan work visa are advised to plan their stay during this period.

They might consider interning at a Taiwanese firm, working part-time, and volunteering. The job search may be significantly hampered by challenging factors such as:

a small number of jobs in each industry of Taiwan
a large number of international applicants vying for those openings
erratic hiring procedures and timelines.

Networking is the most crucial thing anyone can do to find work in Taiwan. It holds for the initial position and future employment prospects in Taiwan, including freelancing work.

While it is possible to find employment with little networking, it is recommended that applicants take advantage of every opportunity to grow their professional network in Taiwan. Job offers and business collaborations can materialize out of the blue.

Overseas workers should keep in touch with anyone they meet at a public place who seems interested in changing careers.

Conclusion

So, you’ve made it to the end, and you’re not just job-seeking but wisdom-seeking too. Kudos! Now, armed with these tips, you’re ready to tackle the job-seeker visa process like a pro.

And hey, when you land that job, remember to celebrate—Taiwanese night market style!

Job Awaits!

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