(FWA 2025/03/19) According to regulations by Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, enterprises and legal entities applying for foreign students to intern in Taiwan are limited to a single period of six months. However, the Hotel industry, with its similar nature, has different regulations. Recently, some businesses have appealed to the National Development Council (NDC) regarding this discrepancy. The NDC stated that it has forwarded the opinions to the Ministry of Economic Affairs for evaluation and is currently in the process of consolidating opinions.
To facilitate foreign students above the junior college level in applying for internships in Taiwan during their studies, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has established the “Guidelines Governing the Application of Foreign Students to the ROC in the Capacity of Interns in Enterprises and Organizations.” Article 8 of these guidelines stipulates that the permitted internship period for enterprises and legal entities applying for foreign students to intern in Taiwan shall not exceed six months at a time; those who need to continue their internship upon expiration may apply for a one-time extension. However, the “Points for Applying for Foreign Students to Intern in the Republic of China by the Tourist Hotel Industry and the Hotel Industry” formulated by the Tourism Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications stipulates that the permitted internship period shall not exceed one-half of the duration of the foreign junior college or university the student is enrolled in, which can be up to two years, creating a discrepancy between the two sets of regulations.
Officials revealed that different competent authorities have established different regulations regarding the duration of international internships based on different industry types. Furthermore, the applicant’s status for coming to Taiwan must be that of a currently enrolled student. If half of their study time is spent interning abroad, it would also raise concerns. However, the NDC has forwarded the industry’s opinions to the Ministry of Economic Affairs to understand whether there are subsequent plans for amendment or extension. If other industries have such needs, they will also provide assistance.
根據經濟部相關規定，企業及法人申請外籍學生來台灣實習，一次以六個月為限，但性質類似的旅宿業則有不同規範，日前有業者向國家發展委員會陳情反映。國發會表示已將意見轉達給經濟部做評估，目前還在意見整合中。
為了有利外國籍大專以上人才於求學階段申請來台實習，經濟部訂有「企業及法人申請外國籍學生來中華民國實習要點」，其中第8點規定，企業及法人申請外國籍學生來台實習許可期間，最長為6個月；期滿有繼續實習需要者，得申請展延一次。不過交通部觀光署所訂的「觀光旅館業及旅館業申請外國籍學生來中華民國實習要點」，所規範的實習許可期間，不得超過其就讀外國大專院校學制之二分之一，也就是最長可到2年，兩者有所落差。
官員透露，各主管機關依不同業別型態，對國際實習生期限訂有不同規範，且申請來台的身份必須為在學狀態，若半數時間都在國外實習，也會引發疑慮，不過國發會已將業者意見轉給經濟部，並瞭解後續是否有修正、延長的規劃，若其他行業有需求也會來協助。
