Every way into Taiwan.

Nationals of around 60 eligible countries may enter Taiwan without a visa for tourism, visiting friends or relatives, attending social events, conducting business, attending exhibitions and fact-finding or international exchange activities. Citizens of most European countries, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States receive 90 days; Malaysia, Singapore and several others receive 30 days; a small group (Brunei, Oman, Philippines, Thailand) receives 14 days under a temporary scheme. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the date of entry, and only ordinary, official or diplomatic passports qualify. The stay is generally not extendable, except for force majeure (serious illness, natural disaster) and a special rule allowing Canadian and UK passport holders to extend to a total of 180 days. White-collar professionals who obtain a qualifying work permit may convert to a work-based residence track within 30 days of arrival.

Government fee

NT$0

Max stay

90 days

For nationals not eligible for visa-free entry, or who wish to stay longer than the visa-free period, who travel to Taiwan for tourism. The visitor visa is applied for at an ROC overseas mission and is issued for short stays, typically up to 60 days (some are issued for 90-day stays). A 60-day visitor visa without a 'no extension' annotation can be extended at the National Immigration Agency for up to 180 days total. The standard fee is US$50 for a single-entry and US$100 for a multiple-entry visa when applied for abroad (NT$1,600 / NT$3,200 in Taiwan); US passport holders and certain other nationalities pay a higher reciprocity fee. Fees are non-refundable, and a consulate may refuse a visa without explanation.

Government fee

$50

Max stay

60 days

For travellers attending business meetings, contract negotiations, trade exhibitions, conferences, training, fact-finding or after-sales technical service in Taiwan, where the activity does not amount to local employment. Visitor visas are issued for short stays (commonly up to 60 or 90 days) and may be single- or multiple-entry; a 60-day visa without a 'no extension' annotation may be extended at the National Immigration Agency to a maximum of 180 days. The standard fee is US$50 single-entry / US$100 multiple-entry abroad (NT$1,600 / NT$3,200 in Taiwan), with higher reciprocity fees for US and certain other passport holders. An invitation from a Taiwanese company is normally required. The visa does not permit taking up paid local employment, which requires a work permit.

Government fee

$50

Max stay

90 days

For full-time students admitted to a degree programme (PhD, master's, bachelor's, or senior high school and below) at a Taiwanese institution. Non-full-time students cannot apply on study grounds, and an admission letter does not guarantee issuance. Applicants must show a school admission permit and financial proof covering at least 6 consecutive months of living costs (funds may come from relatives within the third degree of kinship). The resident visa fee is US$66 single-entry (NT$2,200), and in-country processing takes about 8 working days; after arrival the student obtains an ARC, typically valid 1 year and renewable for the study period. Students may take part-time work with a separate Workforce Development Agency permit, capped at 20 hours per week during semester (no cap during winter/summer vacation). Years residing purely as a student generally do not count toward permanent residence, but graduates may switch to a work permit or Gold Card.

• Work: up to 20 h/week
• Study: Full-time enrolment is the basis of the visa.

Government fee

$66

Processing time

8 days

Validity

365 days

For students enrolling at an accredited Mandarin language centre in Taiwan. The programme must involve at least 15 class hours per week, Monday to Friday. The visitor visa is issued for short stays; the fee is US$50 single-entry abroad (NT$1,600 in Taiwan). After studying Chinese for 4 months and extending enrolment by at least 3 further months, the student may apply at the National Immigration Agency to convert to a Resident Visa for Studying Mandarin Chinese and obtain an ARC. Admission alone does not guarantee visa issuance, and failure to provide requested documents within 2 weeks results in refusal with a non-refundable fee. Language-study years generally do not count toward permanent residence.

• Study: At least 15 class hours per week required.

Government fee

$50

Max stay

180 days

A residence route for foreign founders of innovative businesses in Taiwan. Eligibility is met by satisfying at least one condition reviewed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, including: securing venture-capital or National Development Fund angel investment; raising at least NT$2,000,000 through a government-approved crowdfunding platform; being hosted and recommended by a government startup park or incubator; holding a patent or equivalent expertise; winning a leading startup/design competition; or investing at least NT$1,000,000 in a qualifying Taiwanese startup while serving as its legal representative, manager or director. The visa is issued for an initial 2 years and is renewable in increments of up to 2 years (indefinitely if the business meets performance thresholds such as annual revenue of NT$3,000,000, operating expenses of NT$1,000,000, or employing 3+ full-time ROC nationals). The government fee is NT$4,200 per item abroad (NT$5,000 in Taiwan); US and certain nationalities pay a surcharge. The visa permits running the startup but a separate work permit is required to be employed by it; residence time counts toward the 5-year APRC requirement.

• Work: May operate the startup, but employment by it requires a separate work permit under the Employment Service Act.
• Study: May study while resident.
• Residency after 5 years
• Family: Spouse, minor children and disabled adult children may obtain dependent ARCs.

Government fee

NT$4,200

Processing time

30 days

Validity

730 days

Min. investment

NT$2,000,000

The standard route for employer-sponsored foreign professionals in specialised or technical roles. A Taiwanese employer first obtains a work permit from the Workforce Development Agency (Ministry of Labor); the worker then applies for a resident visa at an ROC mission and an ARC at the National Immigration Agency after arrival. The general salary floor for specialised/technical work is about NT$47,971 per month, with lower thresholds for research assistants and fresh ROC graduates. Applicants typically need a bachelor's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, a master's degree, professional certification, or 5+ years of specialised experience. The work permit is issued for up to 3 years and is renewable without limit; the work-permit fee is NT$500 and the resident visa fee is US$66 single-entry (NT$2,200). Continuous residence of 5 years (averaging more than 183 days/year) can lead to permanent residence (APRC). Spouse and minor children may join on dependent ARCs.

• Work: Authorised to work for the sponsoring employer in the permitted role; changing employer requires a new permit.
• Study: May study alongside employment.
• Residency after 5 years
• Family: Spouse and minor children obtain dependent ARCs; spouse work may need the sponsor's income to meet a threshold.

Government fee

$66

Processing time

8 days

Validity

1,095 days

Min. income / month

$47,971

A direct route to permanent residence (the Alien Permanent Resident Certificate, or 'Plum Blossom Card') for substantial investment immigrants. Applicants must invest more than NT$15,000,000 in a profitable ROC business and create employment for five or more ROC nationals for three years, or invest more than NT$30,000,000 in central government bonds held for three years. On approval the applicant is granted permanent residence with open work rights, and may sponsor a spouse and dependent children. The application fee is NT$10,000. The APRC has no expiry, but for most categories it can be revoked if the holder does not maintain an average of at least 183 days of residence per year over the most recent five years (this retention rule is relaxed for special-contribution, senior-professional and investment-immigrant categories). Applications are filed at NIA service stations in Taiwan or at an ROC overseas mission.

• Work: Permanent residents have open work rights and need no separate work permit.
• Study: Full access to study.
• Residency: This route grants permanent residence directly on approval.
• Family: May sponsor spouse and dependent children to join.

Government fee

NT$10,000

Min. investment

NT$15,000,000

For foreign investors or representatives of foreign corporations who establish or invest in a business in Taiwan with investment approved by the ROC central government authorities. Under the governing regulations the qualifying investment is generally at least US$200,000. The investment must first be approved (e.g. by the Ministry of Economic Affairs Investment Commission); the investor then applies for a resident visa, and after arrival applies for an ARC and re-entry permit at the National Immigration Agency within 30 days. The resident visa fee is US$66 single-entry / US$132 multiple-entry abroad (NT$2,200 / NT$4,400 in Taiwan). Applicants who entered visa-free, on a landing visa, or as blue-collar workers cannot switch to this category in-country. Continuous residence of 5 years (averaging more than 183 days/year) can lead to permanent residence; this route is distinct from the higher-threshold investment-immigration APRC (NT$15,000,000 with job creation).

• Work: May manage the invested business; a work permit may be required to draw a salary as an employee.
• Study: May study while resident.
• Residency after 5 years
• Family: Spouse and minor children may obtain dependent ARCs.

Government fee

$66

Processing time

8 days

Validity

1,095 days

Min. investment

$200,000

A youth-mobility scheme for nationals of partner countries who wish to holiday in Taiwan and work or study on a secondary basis. Taiwan has arrangements with countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. Age limits vary by country, generally 18-30 (up to 35 for Canada and 34 for South Korea). The initial stay is typically 180 days, extendable once by up to a further 180 days (up to 360 days total) where the bilateral arrangement allows. Applicants must show sufficient funds, health insurance and a clean criminal record; quotas and exact conditions are set per bilateral arrangement. The visa is not a route to permanent residence on its own.

• Work: Casual/incidental work permitted on a secondary basis per the bilateral arrangement.
• Study: Short courses permitted on a secondary basis.

Government fee

$50

Max stay

360 days

For dependent family members joining a foreign national who legally resides in Taiwan on an ARC (for example a work-permit, Gold Card, entrepreneur or investment resident). Eligible members are typically the spouse, unmarried minor children, and in some cases disabled adult children; lineal ascendants may instead visit on extended visitor visas. After approval the dependent obtains a dependent ARC at the National Immigration Agency (base fee around NT$1,000, plus NT$2,200 if entry was visa-exempt or on a visitor visa), with validity tied to the sponsor's ARC. In-country resident visa processing takes about 8 working days; the resident visa fee is US$66 single-entry (NT$2,200). Whether a dependent may work generally depends on the sponsor's category and, in some cases, the sponsor's income.

• Study: Dependent children may attend school.
• Residency after 5 years
• Family: Covers spouse and unmarried minor children of the resident sponsor.

Government fee

$66

Processing time

8 days

For foreign spouses of ROC (Taiwan) citizens who hold household registration. The resident visa is applied for at an ROC mission or, in Taiwan, processed in about 8 working days; after arrival the spouse applies for an ARC (issuable for 1, 2 or 3 years and renewable) and a re-entry permit at the National Immigration Agency within 30 days. A foreign spouse who receives a join-family resident visa and ARC may work in Taiwan without a separate work permit. The marriage must be registered, and a health certificate and police clearance are required. After a qualifying period of residence the spouse may apply for permanent residence (APRC), and spouses of citizens may eventually apply for naturalisation under the Nationality Act subject to its residence and other conditions.

• Work: Join-family resident visa/ARC allows work without a separate permit.
• Study: Full access to study.
• Residency after 5 years
• Family: The visa is for the spouse; minor children of the couple are addressed separately.

Government fee

$66

Processing time

8 days

A flagship 4-in-1 permit for foreign special professionals that combines an open work permit, a resident visa, an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and a re-entry permit in a single card. Applicants qualify under one of twelve fields (Architecture, Biotechnology, Culture & Arts, Digital, Economy, Education, Environment, Finance, Law, National Defense, Science & Technology, Sports). A common route is the salary qualification: an average monthly income of at least NT$160,000 in any of the last three years, evidenced by a tax statement, employer certification or an ROC employment contract. The card is issued for 1, 2 or 3 years (applicant's choice) and is extendable. No employer sponsorship is required and the holder may freely change jobs or hold part-time work. Fees are NT$3,700 / NT$4,700 / NT$5,700 for 1/2/3 years (foreign passport, or US passport applying domestically); US passport holders applying abroad pay NT$7,605 / NT$8,605 / NT$9,605. Spouse and unmarried minor children may join on dependent ARCs. Foreign special professionals may apply for permanent residence (APRC) after 3 years of continuous residence (vs 5 for ordinary foreigners), and qualifying first-time special professionals receive a 5-year 50% income-tax reduction on annual salary above NT$3,000,000.

• Work: Open work rights: no employer sponsor, free to change jobs and take part-time work.
• Study: May enrol in study while resident.
• Residency after 3 years
• Family: Spouse and unmarried minor children join on dependent ARCs; lineal ascendants may visit on extended visitor visas.

Government fee

NT$3,700

Processing time

60 days

Validity

1,095 days

Min. income / month

NT$160,000

Permanent residence for foreign nationals who have legally and continuously resided in Taiwan, averaging more than 183 days per year. Ordinary foreign nationals qualify after 5 years; foreign special professionals (including Employment Gold Card holders) qualify after 3 years. The applicant must meet a financial test of either average monthly income above twice the minimum monthly wage in the most recent year, or Taiwan assets (bank deposits, chattels or real estate) exceeding NT$5,000,000. The application fee is NT$10,000 and processing is around 14 working days (up to ~30 if further documents are requested). The APRC has no expiry but can be revoked if the holder does not maintain an average of at least 183 days of residence per year over the most recent 5 years. A 2025 amendment to the foreign-professionals Act lets eligible dependents obtain APRC after a further 3 years and allows a 1-3 year deduction from the residency requirement for graduates of Taiwanese associate-degree or higher programmes. Years residing purely as a student generally do not count toward the requirement.

• Work: Permanent residents have open work rights with no separate work permit.
• Study: Full access to study.
• Residency: This is the permanent residence status itself.
• Family: Eligible dependents may obtain APRC after a further 3 years under the 2025 amendment.

Government fee

NT$10,000

Processing time

30 days