Temporary Residence Permits In Taiwan: Explained

Taking a short sojourn or eyeing a longer stay in Taiwan?

A temporary residence permit might be your ticket.

Dive in as we unveil the essentials of this must-have pass to your temporary Taiwanese haven.

What Is A Residence Permit In Taiwan

Taiwan has certain requirements to obtain a temporary stay permit also known as a visitor visa. A residence visa provides a rather long stay in Taiwan.

Obtaining a visa for entering Taiwan depends on the nationality of the applicant and his/her purpose of visit.

Taiwan has visa-exempt agreements with several countries that are a member of the EU and EFTA states. The US, Australia, Japan, and many others may not need to apply for a visitor visa to enter Taiwan.

Nationals of these countries have visa-free entry for temporary or short stays of up to 90 days. However, countries like mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and some others are not given visa exemptions.

The residence visa/permit for Taiwan is a single-entry visa only and it is valid for up to 3 months or 90 days.

However, after entering Taiwan on a residence visa/permit the applicant must apply for an alien resident certificate (ARC). This allows the applicant to have a re-entry permit which allows a long stay in Taiwan.

Types Of Temporary Residence Permits In Taiwan

Taiwan offers several types of temporary residence permits to foreign applicants. Applicants who wish to live or work in Taiwan can apply for either a visitor visa or a residence visa.

Visitor Visa

The visitor visa for Taiwan is for the purpose of visits mainly such as social or business visits, to attend any conference or event, or any such purpose that does not require a residence permit or any paid employment.

This visa can provide single or multiple entry visits depending on the requirement of the visitor. The duration of stay period of this visa type is 3 to 5 years.

Residence Visa/Permit

The residence visa type provides a stay for more than 90 days. This visa type is usually for specific purposes such as work or study, etc. This visa type is further divided into types as follows.

Employment-Based Resident Visa (ARC)

This visa type is also known as an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). The visa is for paid employment purposes and allows the applicant to live and work in Taiwan until the duration of their employment contract.

For this visa, a job letter or a job offer from a Taiwanese employer or company is necessary. The employer assists the applicant with the visa matters. For this, a work permit is also required and is arranged by the employer.

Investment-Based Resident Visa/ Entrepreneur Visa

This visa type is for applicants who want to invest in a company, or start their own business, or any other start-up in Taiwan. The applicant may need a significant amount to invest or start a business in Taiwan.

This visa type is by the Taiwan government to better their economy by attracting foreign business or entrepreneurs or start-up founders. This visa helps them establish and operate their business in Taiwan.

Student Visa

Taiwan provides this visa type to foreigners who want to pursue higher education in Taiwan. Foreign students apply for this visa for academic purposes. Proof of enrollment is needed for this visa.

After getting admission to a university or any educational institute in Taiwan, the student might apply for this visa. The student must get admission to the institute first and that institute assists the student with visa and other requirements.

Dependent Visa

Dependent visa or family re-unification visa is for applicants who want to join their family, already residing in Taiwan.

This visa type is mainly for spouses, children, or dependent family members who want to join their family member in Taiwan who is either working or studying in Taiwan.

Special Professional Work Permit

This visa type is granted by Taiwan to professionals or experts in their fields. The applicant must have a special skill and expertise for this visa type.

This visa helps the applicants to work in Taiwan for a limited period of time without applying for an employment-based resident visa.

Visas For Specific Purposes

Taiwan offers temporary residence visas/permits to applicants who apply for specific purposes such as for humanitarian cause or any cultural exchange matter.

Taiwan Working Holidays Visa

This visa type is specifically for young students or fresh graduates from 18 to 30 years of age who have registered for the working holiday scheme with Taiwan.

This visa type helps the youngsters to gain work experience in Taiwan with a stay of up to 1 year.

Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa

This visa type is specifically for digital nomads who wish to work in Taiwan, remotely.

How To Apply For Residence Permits In Taiwan

The residence permits for Taiwan are applied for by submitting the required documents and fees to the National immigration agency (NIA) in Taiwan or the overseas Taiwanese embassies or consulates in the home country of the applicant.

It is crucial that the applicant apply for residence permits as a Taiwanese diplomatic mission in their area. The process to apply for residence permits is to fill out the application form with correct and accurate information.

All the required documents must be attached to the application form. Then the form is submitted along with the fees at the diplomatic mission or consulate/embassy of Taiwan. Then, the visa processing time starts.

After that visa is granted and the applicant can enter Taiwan.

Documents Required For Residence Permits In Taiwan

There are certain documents that are required to apply for residence permits in Taiwan. The documents can vary slightly for each visa type. The following are the documents that are needed to apply.

A passport with a validity of at least 6 months from the intended date of departure.
A complete visa application form containing the correct and authentic information of the applicant.
The applicant may need 2 or more passport-sized pictures with a white or a blue background.
Relevant documents must be attached and provided depending on the purpose of the visit which can be study, business, work, etc. For different visas, different documents are needed.

Tourist Visa: for a tourist visa documents such as flight itinerary, hotel reservations, proof of sufficient funds, etc. are required.
Student Visa: for a student visa an acceptance letter from the university the applicant got admitted to, is required along with proof of financial support etc.
Business Visa: For a business visa an invitation letter or letter of employment from a Taiwanese employer or the company the applicant applied to is needed, along with other documents such as a business registration document and the letter stating the purpose of the visit from the employer is also needed.
Work Visa: For a work visa a letter of employment from the employer and a work permit that is issued by the Taiwanese Ministry of Labor is required.

The applicant must provide proof of his/her financial stability. This is to show that he is capable of supporting his stay in Taiwan. This includes bank statements, financial documents, and a sponsor’s letter.
The applicant must provide a medical certificate that proves him physically and mentally stable.
Some visa types also require health insurance document that provides health insurance coverage for the stay in Taiwan.
The applicant must provide his police certificate to prove he/she does not take part in any criminal activities.
The applicant must provide a detailed travel itinerary such as flight bookings and travel plans in Taiwan etc.
The applicant must also submit the visa fee. The fee can vary depending on the nationality of the applicant or the type of visa they are applying for.

The applicant must also check for the other documents that are required for the visa type they are applying for. They must check for it on the official website of Taiwan or get information from the embassy/consulate of Taiwan.

Fee Requirements For Residence Permits In Taiwan

The fee requirements for the residence permit in Taiwan vary for various nationalities and the visa type the applicant is applying for.

Generally, the visa fee for applying in Taiwan is as follows:

The fee for a Single-Entry Resident Visa is NT$ 2,200.
The fee for a Multiple-Entry Resident Visa is NT$ 4,400.

Processing Time For Residence Permits In Taiwan

The processing time for a residence visa or permit varies for different countries. However, the processing time is usually between 2 to 10 working days.

Stay Duration Of Residence Permits In Taiwan

The single-entry Taiwan residence visa provides a stay of 3 months or 90 days. The multiple-entry visa for Taiwan provides a stay for up to 5 years.

The resident visa/permit allows a single-entry stay of 3 months which can be extended by applying for an alien resident certificate in Taiwan.

Extension Of Stay Of Residence Permits In Taiwan

The stay in Taiwan can be extended only if the visa mentions that an extension is possible for that visa type. If the extension is possible the applicant must apply for the extension at the National Immigration Office of Taiwan (NIA) before the expiry of the previous visa.

An extension of at least 3 months is granted from the date of expiry of the previous visa. The application for an extension of visa must be made 30 days before the expiry of the last visa.

Conclusion

Taiwan’s allure is undeniable, and with the right permit in hand, your stay can be smooth sailing. Now armed with the knowledge of temporary residence permits, Taiwan feels a tad closer to home.

Stay Secured!

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