If a foreign national or an overseas Chinese student is employed to work in Taiwan, what documents do corporate employers need to prepare? What is the application process, and what regulations should be noted? This article provides a simple summary of the ‘Foreign Workers Work Permit Process,’ including the necessary materials and common questions.
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- What is a ‘work permit’ for foreign nationals?
- How to apply for a work permit for foreigners?
- Common Questions on Applying for a Foreign National Work Permit
Applying for a ‘ work permit for foreign nationals ‘ is often the first hurdle that comes to mind. What exactly is a ‘work permit’? What materials need to be prepared, what is the related process, and which unit should the application be submitted to? We have referenced the relevant information and compiled these processes and common questions for you.
What is a ‘work permit’ for foreign nationals?
If a foreign national wants to work within Taiwan, they must have a legal ‘work permit’ to be able to work. With a work permit, they can then apply for a residence visa.
Therefore, in order for employers to hire a foreign national, they must apply for a permit from the central competent authority, unless special regulations apply. Before the Ministry of Labor has reviewed and issued the employment permit for the application, the foreign national cannot work for the employer.
The maximum period for each employment permit application for foreign professionals is 3 years. An application for extension can be submitted before the employment period expires, and there is no limit to the number of extensions. For those who qualify as specific foreign professionals, the maximum period for each employment permit application is 5 years.
How to apply for a work permit for foreigners?
If a foreign national wants to work in Taiwan, in most cases, the employer must hire them and sign an employment contract while preparing the relevant documents to apply for a “Work Permit for Foreign Professionals” (which can be handled by an agency). Additionally, certain identities and occupations allow foreign nationals to independently apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor without going through an employer.
Alternatively, foreign nationals can directly apply for an Employment Gold Card from the Ministry of the Interior, which will jointly review work qualifications with the Ministry of Labor. Once approved, the foreign national can independently engage in professional work.
1. Required Documents for Foreign Nationals’ Work Permit
According to the “Foreigners Working in Taiwan Service Website” of the Workforce Development Agency, foreign professionals, special expertise holders, current overseas Chinese students staying in Taiwan, and overseas Chinese students working part-time during their studies may apply. Employers wishing to hire foreign nationals to work in Taiwan must prepare the following materials and documents:
- Corporate certificate and operator’s personal certificate.
- Original receipt of the review fee.
- Application form.
- Roster of employed foreign nationals.
- Copy of the passport or Alien Resident Certificate of the employed foreign nationals.
- Copy or duplicate of the employment contract.
- Copy of the national ID, passport, or Alien Resident Certificate of the person in charge of the applying organization.
- Copy of the organization’s registration or business registration certificate.
- For extension cases, an additional copy of the previous employment permit letter is required.
General Foreign Professionals’ Work Categories Currently Open for Application in Taiwan:
- Specialized or technical work.
- Managers of businesses approved by the government for investment or establishment by overseas Chinese or foreign nationals.
- School teachers.
- Full-time foreign language teachers in cram schools.
- Sports coaches and athletes.
- Artistic and performing arts work.
- Contract fulfillment personnel.
Below is the information related to application qualifications, required documents, application forms, etc., as explained by ” EZ Work Taiwan ” of the Workforce Development Agency. You are welcome to click directly to view or download the necessary documents.
2.Application Process for Foreign Nationals’ Work Permit
According to Article 7 of the Regulations on the Permission and Administration of the Employment of Foreign Workers, employers must use the Online Application system to apply for employment Category 1 and Category 4 for foreign nationals.
If all documents are complete and both the employer and the foreign national meet the specified qualifications and conditions, the application will be processed within 7 working days from the date of receipt by the Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency.
For detailed application procedures, please refer to the relevant documents on the ” Foreigners Working in Taiwan
Common Questions on Applying for a Foreign National Work Permit
Q: What conditions must a company meet to employ foreign nationals?
If a company wants to employ foreign nationals for specialized or technical work, both the company and the foreign national must meet certain conditions. The specific requirements include having a proper employment contract, relevant business and personal documentation, and meeting the qualifications set by the Ministry of Labor.
For detailed conditions and procedures, refer to the Foreigners Working in Taiwan Service Website.
| For Companies Established Less Than One Year | For Companies Established More Than One Year |
| Capital: Over 5 million NTD | No capital restriction |
| Revenue: Over 10 million NTD | Revenue: Average over 10 million NTD in the last three years |
| Import/export performance: Over 1 million USD | Import/export performance: Average over 1 million USD in the last three years |
| Agency fees: Over 400,000 USD | Agency fees: Average over 400,000 USD in the last three years |
| Hold a master’s degree or higher from a relevant domestic or foreign university |
| Hold a bachelor’s degree from a relevant domestic or foreign university and have over two years of related work experience. |
| Obtain a professional and technical personnel certification or have professional qualifications. |
| Have more than five years of relevant experience through professional training or self-study and demonstrate outstanding achievements. |
| Have worked for a multinational enterprise for more than one year and been assigned to Taiwan. |
| Hold a bachelor’s degree from a relevant domestic or foreign university and have over two years of related work experience. |
Q: Which foreign nationals can apply for a “work permit” directly from the Ministry of Labor?
The following foreign nationals can apply for a permit directly from the central competent authority without going through an employer:
- Approved refugees residing in Taiwan.
- Those approved to live with their immediate relatives who have household registration in Taiwan (e.g., a child with Taiwanese parents and American citizenship who wants to work in Taiwan).
- Individuals who have obtained permanent residency.
Q: Which foreign nationals do not need to apply for a “work permit”?
1. Situations where a work permit is not required:
- Foreigners hired as consultants or researchers by government agencies or academic institutions. (Employment Services Act, Article 48, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1)
- Foreigners married to Taiwanese citizens with approved residency. (Employment Services Act, Article 48, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2)
- Foreigners invited for lectures or research at recognized universities. (Employment Services Act, Article 48, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 3)
- Nationals of the Republic of China without household registration in Taiwan. (Employment Services Act, Article 79)
- Mainland Chinese spouses with approved family or long-term residency. (Cross-Strait Relations Act, Article 17-1)
2. Working holiday (youth exchange) visas are considered work permits:
Non-work purpose international agreements allowing foreigners to work, including the number of persons and duration of stay. (Regulations on the Permission and Administration of the Employment of Foreign Workers, Article 4)
3. Short-term stays (under 30 days):
- Contract work.
- Specialized technical work for emergency issues.
- Invited professionals for lectures or business technical guidance.
- Invited for non-profit artistic performances or sports activities. (Regulations on the Permission and Administration of the Employment of Foreign Workers, Article 5, Paragraph 1)
4. Stays under 90 days for academic or business travel:
Approved by the immigration authority (National Immigration Agency) with an academic and business travel card for lectures and technical guidance. (Regulations on the Permission and Administration of the Employment of Foreign Workers, Article 5, Paragraph 2)
Q: How long does it usually take to apply for a “work permit”?
Online Application:
Employers must use the “Foreign Professional Work Permit Application Website” for online submissions.
If all documents are complete and both the employer and the foreign national meet the specified qualifications and conditions, the application will be processed within 7 working days from the date of receipt by the Ministry of Labor.
Paper Application:
Allowed only in cases of natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, typhoons) or system unavailability, as recognized by the central competent authority.
If all documents are complete and both the employer and the foreign national meet the specified qualifications and conditions, the application will be processed within 12 working days from the date of receipt by the Ministry of Labor.
Q: If some parts of the submitted documents are not in Chinese, should they be translated into Chinese? Is full translation necessary or is partial translation sufficient?
According to the Ministry of Labor, documents in foreign languages can be partially translated.
The translation must include essential qualifications-related content as stipulated by regulations (e.g., employer’s name, foreign employee’s name, job description, job title, employment period, salary).
It should also include the document issuer or signer’s name, title, and signature date.
Partial translations must not contradict the original document. Applicants may translate documents themselves without additional verification.
Q: Do “Overseas Chinese students who graduated in Taiwan” need a work permit?
Overseas Chinese students who wish to stay in Taiwan for work after graduation are subject to a new points-based system. Since July 3, 2014, the Ministry of Labor has implemented this system to prioritize these students due to their familiarity with local culture and language. The system assesses candidates based on eight criteria, including education, work experience, salary, special skills, language ability, and alignment with government industry policies. Accumulating over 70 points qualifies them for work without a separate permit.
For detailed information, please refer to the ” Overseas Chinese or Foreign Student Graduated in the R.O.C. to Work in Taiwan ” page on the Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency’s website.
- Relevant Legal Provisions:
- Employment Service Law
- Qualifications and Criteria Standards for foreigners undertaking the jobs specified under Article 46.1.1 to 46.1.6 of the Employment Service Act
- Regulations on the Permission and Administration of the Employment of Foreign Workers
- Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals
- The Qualifications and Criteria Standards of the Employment of Foreign Professionals Engaging in Professional Knowledge or Skills for Short-term Supplementary Learning Centers
- Regulations on the Work Permit and Administration of the Foreign Professionals Engaging in Arts and Performing Arts
