(FWA 2025/12/3)Taiwan eases rules for foreign talent following the amendment of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals in August. With most new regulations taking effect in January 2026, this guide highlights the changes for top international talent, Overseas Chinese and foreign students, and digital nomads. The new system loosens work and permanent residency rules and grants foreign nationals access to the New Labor Pension System.
We have organized 7 key points for you to quickly understand:
1. Extended Stay for “Digital Nomad Visa” Digital nomads working remotely can currently apply for a Digital Nomad Visa to come to Taiwan (for 6 months). Under the new system, if you wish to continue staying after arrival, you can apply for an extension with the National Immigration Agency. Each extension period shall not exceed six months, and you are not required to leave the country, with a maximum total stay of two years.
2. New Labor Pension System: No Permanent Residency Needed
Key Point: In the future, foreign professionals do “not” need to obtain Permanent Residency (APRC) to directly apply the New Labor Pension System.
Purpose: Employers will contribute to your pension monthly. The account follows the individual, so you don’t need to worry about changing jobs, ensuring your retirement funds in Taiwan.
3. More Flexible Threshold for “Permanent Residency” (APRC)
High-Income Talent: Foreign Special Professionals meeting conditions (e.g., annual salary of NT$6 million or more) can apply for permanent residency after just 1 year of residency.
Degree Deduction: Graduates who studied in Taiwan and obtained an Associate degree or higher can “deduct” the study duration from the continuous residency requirement when applying for permanent residency (periods cannot be combined):
Foreign Professionals (Usually requires 5 years):
Doctoral Degree: Deduct 3 years
Master’s Degree: Deduct 2 years
Bachelor’s/Associate Degree: Deduct 1 year
Foreign Special Professionals (Usually requires 3 years):
Doctoral Degree: Deduct 2 years
Master’s Degree: Deduct 1 year
4. Expanded Work Qualifications and Exemption from Permits
Top University Threshold Relaxed: Graduates from the world’s top 1,500 universities (previously top 500) coming to Taiwan for work are exempt from the 2-year work experience restriction.
No Permit During Job-Seeking: Graduates with an Associate degree or higher from Taiwan do not need to apply for a work permit during the “job-seeking period” (maximum 2 years).
5. Optimized Family Rights: Spouse Work and Parent Visitation
Spouse Work Rights: Spouses of Foreign Special Professionals and Foreign Senior Professionals can apply directly to the Ministry of Labor for a permit to work in Taiwan (without being tied to an employer).
Extended Parents Visitation: Parents of the aforementioned talent visiting Taiwan can apply for an extension without being subject to the 1-year total stay limit, provided they have medical and hospitalization insurance, facilitating family reunions in Taiwan.
6. Better Protection: Inclusion in Employment Insurance and Social Welfare
Employment Insurance: Foreign professionals with Permanent Residency are included in Employment Insurance, covering unemployment benefits, vocational training allowances, and parental leave allowances.
Social Welfare: Talent with Permanent Residency who have resided for 10 years or more, along with their dependents, can access partial disability and long-term care services comparable to citizens.
7. Expanded Professional Fields and Bilingual Teachers
New Special Expertise: “Digital,” “Environmental,” and “Biotech” are explicitly listed as Foreign Special Professional fields; “Physical Education” is revised to “Sports.”
Bilingual Education: Schools at the senior high school level and below can employ foreign talent to teach arts and activities subjects (such as Music, Sports, Coding, etc.) to assist in bilingual education.
