Since July 2014, overseas Chinese and foreign graduates seeking employment in Taiwan have had an alternative application route beyond the traditional criteria of salary and work experience. Under the New Scoring Criteria, graduates from Taiwanese institutions who attain at least 70 points, as verified by the Ministry of Labor, are eligible for employment through this system. This article serves as a comprehensive guide, outlining the necessary documents, evaluation guidelines of the New Scoring Criteria, and key details for work permit applications.
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Applying for a Work Permit
| Required Documents | New Employment | Extension of Employment | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Original receipt of review fee | V | V | 1. NT$ 500 per application 2. Submission may be waived after completing or entering payment receipt information. However, when necessary, the competent authority reserves the right to request submission from employers based on individual cases. (According to Ministry of Labor Announcement 1110523178A on November 25, 2022) |
| 2 | Application form | V | V | |
| 3 | List of contracted foreigners | V | V | |
| 4 | Evaluation form and affiliated documents | V | V | See below “2. Criteria for Point-based System and required documents.” Individuals who have previously been granted a work permit through the point system may submit only the evaluation form if no additional points need to be reviewed. |
| 5 | Photocopies of passports or ARC | V | V | Must be valid at the starting date of employment. |
| 6 | Photocopies of diplomas with a Bachelor’s degree or higher | V | ||
| 7 | Photocopy of the employment contract | V | V | The contract should include the name and nationality of the employed foreign national, job title, job description (that accurately reflects the actual scope of work), salary, duration of employment, and the signatures of both parties. |
| 8 | Photocopy of the national ID card, passport, or ARC of the person in charge of the applying unit, or of the architect, accountant, or lawyer (employer). | V | Must be valid at the time of application. | |
| 9 | Photocopy of the registration certificate of the applying unit or the establishment registration certificate. | V | Employers categorized as natural persons are exempt from providing documentation. | |
| 10 | Photocopy of the special permit or approval for the applying entity | V | Only applicants from category A are required to provide this document. Please refer to this article for a list of all job positions: | |
| 11 | Photocopy of the applying entity’s revenue certificate | V | V | Only applicants from category A are required to provide this document. Please refer to this article for a list of all job positions: |
| 12 | Photocopy of the foreign employee’s most recent annual salary withholding statement (including the original withholding certificate) | V | Submission may be waived. However, when necessary, the competent authority reserves the right to request submission from employers based on individual cases. (According to Ministry of Labor Announcement 1110523178A on November 25, 2022) | |
| 13 | Photocopy of the original employment permit | V | Submission may be waived after filling out the employment permit reference number. (According to Ministry of Labor Announcement 1110523178A on November 25, 2022) | |
| 14 | Photocopy of the legal representative’s passport if the employed foreign national is a minor | V |
A. Required documents when applying for reissuance of employment permit
- Application form:
Select “reissuance” and fill in the employment permit reference number. - Affidavit stating reasons for reissuance:
State the employment permit reference number, name of the foreign national, passport number, information of the affiliated work, and reasons for reissuance.
B. Required documents for termination of employment relationship
- Application form
- Copy of employment permit (submission may be waived after filling out the employment permit reference number)
- Copy of ARC
- Documents proving termination of employment relationship
Criteria for New Scoring Criteria and Required Documents
| Items | Criteria | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | Doctorate | 30 | – Provide a copy of the diploma for a bachelor’s degree or higher. – For an associate degree, please provide a copy of the diploma from a college or university in one of the following disciplines: Life Sciences, Environmental Studies, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Information and Communication Technology, Engineering, Manufacturing and Processing, Architecture and Construction Engineering, Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Veterinary Science, Medical and Health Sciences, Social Welfare, or Health and Occupational Health Services. |
| Masters | 20 | ||
| Bachelors | 10 | ||
| Associate (Manufacturing, Agriculture, Long-term Care, E-commerce) | 5 | ||
| Average Monthly Salary in Contract | ≥ NT$47,971 | 40 | Photocopy of the labor contract signed by the employer and the employee should include the following: monthly salary in TWD, names of both parties, job title, job description, and employment duration. |
| NT$40,000-47,970 | 30 | ||
| NT$35,000-39,999 | 20 | ||
| NT$31,520-34,999 | 10 | ||
| Work or Internship Experience | Over 2 years of work experience | 20 | – A copy of the proof of full-time work experience, either domestically or internationally, for overseas Chinese or foreign students. – Internship experience must be obtained during the study period in Taiwan and processed according to the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Education and the Overseas Community Affairs Council. |
| 1-2 years of work experience or over 1 year of internship experience while studying in Taiwan | 10 | ||
| Job Skills | Individuals possessing specialized skills and abilities required by the enterprise for the position. | 20 | |
| Chinese Ability | TOCFL Fluent | 30 | 1. Photocopy proof of Chinese proficiency at the intermediate level (or higher) 2. Overseas students who have previously studied Chinese and possess one of the following documents of proof: – Transcript of Chinese class in Taiwan Fluent: Score higher than 80 Advanced: Score between 70-79 *I ntermediate: Score between 60-69 3. Proof of hours spent learning Chinese – Fluent: Spent more than 960 hours learning in Taiwan, or more than 1,920 hours learning in other places. – Advanced: Spent more than 480 hours learning in Taiwan, or more than 960 hours learning in other places. – Intermediate: Spent more than 360 hours learning in Taiwan, or more than 720 hours learning in other places. |
| TOCFL Advanced | 25 | ||
| TOCFL Intermediate | 20 | ||
| Foreign Language and International Experience | Proficiency in 2 or more foreign languages other than Chinese | 20 | Explanation of Foreign Language Proficiency Documents: A copy of the overseas Chinese or foreign student’s passport. If certification of proficiency in more than two foreign languages is required, the following documents must be provided: – A copy of the foreign language proficiency certification. – A certificate proving completion of over 360 hours of foreign language study. Examples include: – Foreign Language Proficiency Test (FLPT), – TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, GEPT, – Cambridge English Qualifications, – Linguaskill Business, Linguaskill General, – British Council International English Proficiency, – Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), – DELF (French), – Goethe-Institut German Proficiency Test, – TestDaF (German), – Russian language tests organized by Chinese Culture University or National Chengchi University. |
| Proficiency in a foreign language other than Chinese, or have spent 6 or more consecutive years living overseas | 10 | ||
| Alignment with government policy | Company cooperation in an industrial development program | 20 | A copy of the certification documents issued by the central competent authority demonstrating the employer’s compliance with relevant government policies, such as: – Qualification as an outstanding or potential mid-sized enterprise. – Recognition as a company with an operational headquarters in Taiwan (operational headquarters certification). – Recognition as a company with a research and development center in Taiwan (approval letter from the executing agency). – Recognition as an innovative start-up enterprise under the Entrepreneur Elite Program. – Certification or documentation issued by the central competent authority for compliance with industry development policies. – Photocopy of a diploma for special programs, such as the New Southbound Industry-Academia Collaboration Program, Indonesian 2+i Industry-Academia Cooperation Program, Industry-Academia Collaboration for Overseas Chinese Students, and Overseas Youth Technical Training Program (two-year associate degree program). |
| Graduate is from a G2G or Special Government-Policy Aligned Class | 20 | ||
| Scholarship or Performance | Received government scholarships during the study period or performed in the top 30% academically | 20 | – Photocopies of documents such as an official announcement or public list of winners issued by government agencies or school officials. – According to the reference table of Article 5-1 of “ Qualifications and Criteria Standards for Foreigners Undertaking the Jobs Specified Under Subparagraph 1 to 6 of Paragraph 1 of Article 46 of the Employment Service Act ,” overseas Chinese and foreign students who accumulate a minimum of 70 points are eligible. Qualified individuals within the designated permissible quota will be issued employment permits by the Ministry of Labor. |
| Received school scholarships during the period of study or performed in the top 50% academically with a minimum GPA of 3 | 5 |
How to Apply?
When an applicant’s accumulated points reach 70, they can apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor. Once approved, the employer can legally hire the foreign or overseas Chinese student.
📌 For detailed application procedures: Work Permit Points System Application Website – Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor
