Many industries and households in Taiwan rely on migrant workers, but under previous laws, they had to return home after a set number of years (most jobs capped at 12 years, caregiving up to 14 years). This meant that even experienced workers had no choice but to leave. To retain skilled workers and provide migrant workers with more stable development, the government introduced the Long-term Retention of Migrant Workers in 2022. Eligible foreigners (including international students and migrant workers) can upgrade to mid-level skilled workers, no longer bound by time limits. After accumulating sufficient years of service, they can even apply for permanent residency and reunite with their families in Taiwan.
Written by 104 Foreigners
Article Guide (Click a section to jump directly)
- Why was the Long-term Retention of Migrant Workers introduced?
- Policy Highlight: Breaking the Limit, Securing the Future
- 1. No More Time Limits — Long-term Employment Possible
- 2. How to Upgrade? Employers Apply on Your Behalf
- 3. Who Can Apply? Eligible Migrant Workers
- 4. What Salary Level and Skills Are Required?
- 5. What’s the Application Process?
- 6. Level Up Again! From Mid-Level to Permanent Residency
- 7. Meet the Salary Threshold, Reunite with Your Family
- 8. Want to Keep Learning? You Can Study and Level Up
- 9. What Else Should You Know?
- Benefits for Migrant Workers: Safer Jobs, Stable Lives, Brighter Futures
Why was the Long-term Retention of Migrant Workers introduced?
For many years, Taiwan has relied on migrant workers in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, fisheries, and caregiving. Today, nearly 850,000 migrant workers live and work in Taiwan. However, due to the previous “time limit rule,” they had to leave once their maximum years of service were up — causing industries and families to lose experienced manpower.
To address labor shortages and rising care needs, the government launched this program. It allows eligible migrant workers to stay longer, upgrade to mid-level skilled workers, and eventually even apply for permanent residency.
Policy Highlight: Breaking the Limit, Securing the Future
1. No More Time Limits — Long-term Employment Possible
In the past, migrant workers faced strict employment caps and had to return home once their maximum years were reached. Now, under this program, eligible workers can renew their contracts indefinitely, with each contract lasting 3 years. This completely removes time restrictions, allowing hardworking migrant workers to stay long-term and continue building their future without being forced to cut their plans short.
2. How to Upgrade? Employers Apply on Your Behalf
As long as the eligibility criteria are met, migrant workers can be upgraded from “general migrant worker” to mid-level skilled workers. This marks an important shift in status — recognizing their work not just as labor support, but as professional skilled talent. Employers can contact the Long-term Retention of Migrant Workers Service Center for consulting services, submit your application directly through the Direct Hiring Service Center, or use an agency to handle the process. According to the latest data, around 52,000 workers have already made the successful transition.
3. Who Can Apply? Eligible Migrant Workers
To upgrade to mid-level skilled workers, a migrant worker must meet one of the following conditions:
- Worked in Taiwan continuously for 6 years or more, or worked for the same employer for at least 6 years in total.
- Worked in Taiwan for 6+ years, left the country, then returned — in this case, they must work until their total reaches 11 years and 6 months before applying.
- Already accumulated 11 years and 6 months of work in Taiwan and then left the country — in this case, one of their former employers in Taiwan may rehire them, regardless of the original industry.
★ For mid-level live-in caregivers, applications can also be made by the employer or by a relative of the care recipient within the third degree of kinship.
4. What Salary Level and Skills Are Required?
| 產業移工 Industry migrant worker | 社福移工 Caregiving migrant worker | |
| Salary Requirements | A regular monthly salary of NT$33,000 or above, or a total annual salary of NT$500,000 or above is required. (For international students: NT$30,000 for the first employment, and NT$33,000 for renewals.) | 1. Institutional caregivers: Regular monthly salary must be NT$29,000 or above. 2. Live-in caregivers: Monthly total salary must be NT$24,000 or above. |
| Technical Requirements | Meet at least one requirement: professional license, training course, or practical skills accreditation. If the regular monthly salary reaches NT$35,000, the technical requirement can be waived. | Pass the national language proficiency test and complete continuing education or additional training course. The technical requirements are waived if the regular monthly salary for institutional nursing is NT$31,000 or more, or the total monthly salary for a live-in caregiver is NT$26,000 or more |
| Salary Type | Definition |
| Regular Salary | Monthly remuneration paid to employees, including housing allowance, transportation allowance, meal allowance, utility subsidies, and monthly bonuses such as performance or attendance bonuses — but excluding overtime pay. |
| Total Salary | Refers to the total salary an employer pays to an employee each month, including regular salary (wages and monthly allowances), overtime pay, and other non-regular payments (such as year-end bonuses, holiday bonuses, employee dividends, and performance bonuses). |
5. What’s the Application Process?
Applications must be submitted by the employer, either directly or through an agency. The application is filed via the Online Application System for Foreign Nationals.
Required documents include:
- Application form
- Passport
- Recruitment’s certification
- Technical requirements
- Health check report
- Proof of no violations of labor regulations
To support applicants, the government has set up the Long-term Retention of Migrant Workers Service Center, offering multilingual services and a toll-free hotline (1955) or 03-6591996 for inquiries.
6. Level Up Again! From Mid-Level to Permanent Residency
Once a migrant worker upgrades to mid-level skilled workers, they can apply for permanent residency (PR) after working in Taiwan for 5 years — provided they meet certain conditions, such as:
- Earning a total monthly salary reaches twice the basic wage, or
- Obtaining a Class B professional skill certificate (乙級專業技能證照)
With PR approved, workers can apply for their own work permit, without relying on employers. This gives them much greater freedom in choosing jobs.
However, since the program only started in 2022, under the rule of “5 years as mid-level skilled workers before applying for PR,” the earliest eligible applicants will appear in 2027.
7. Meet the Salary Threshold, Reunite with Your Family
If your average monthly total salary reaches NT$53,000 or above, you can apply to bring your spouse and children to Taiwan for family reunification. Your spouse is also eligible to apply for a work permit, making it possible to balance both work and family life.
For related inquiries, please contact the National Immigration Agency service centers in each city or county.
8. Want to Keep Learning? You Can Study and Level Up
The government also offers a Special Program for Migrant Workers’ Continuing Education (移工在職進修專班), selecting young workers with a high school diploma or above, outstanding performance, and strong potential. This program helps them pursue studies at Taiwanese colleges and universities.
After earning an associate degree, they can directly move into mid-level skilled workers positions or even higher-level professional jobs — opening another pathway for career advancement.
9. What Else Should You Know?
Pension (Labor Retirement Fund):
After a migrant worker upgrades to mid-level skilled workers, if they are not subject to the mandatory contribution under the new pension system (e.g., foreign spouses or those with permanent residency), the employer must, in accordance with Article 56 of the Labor Standards Act, open a retirement reserve account for the employee. The employer must then contribute 2%–15% of the employee’s monthly total salary into this account every month.
For any questions, please contact your local labor authority — the Labor Affairs Bureau (or Department of Labor / Social Affairs Bureau) of the city or county government.
Benefits for Migrant Workers: Safer Jobs, Stable Lives, Brighter Futures
Peace of mind at work
No more worrying about contracts expiring and being forced to return home. You can stay long-term, make your hard-earned experience count, and focus on both work and life.
Fair pay and stronger protection
The program sets a salary threshold, ensuring your efforts are fairly rewarded. Higher pay means better security. Once upgraded to mid-level skilled workers, employers are also required to contribute to your pension fund, giving you greater peace of mind for the future.
Family togetherness
When your salary meets the standard, you can apply to bring your spouse and children to Taiwan, and your spouse can even apply for a work permit. For many migrant workers who have spent years in Taiwan, this finally makes it possible to balance both work and family.
More freedom for the future
With permanent residency, you can apply for your own work permit without depending on an employer, opening more career options and allowing for long-term planning.
Learning and upgrading opportunities
Through the government’s Continuing Education Program for Migrant Workers (移工在職進修專班), young workers can pursue further studies in Taiwan. With a degree, it becomes easier to upgrade into mid-level or even white-collar jobs, expanding life choices.
A stronger sense of belonging
By staying long-term, you no longer have to keep moving around. You can build deeper connections with colleagues and friends, become more familiar with Taiwanese society, and turn life here from a “temporary stay” into a “true home.”
