To enhance Taiwan’s global competitiveness in attracting talent and to support its industrial development, the Executive Yuan approved a draft amendment to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals on May 29, 2025. This amendment aims to provide greater flexibility in residency, employment, and social security for foreign professionals, with the goal of encouraging highly skilled talent to live and work in Taiwan. While still a draft under legislative review, the main proposed changes are outlined below for reference:
1. Relaxed Requirements for Permanent Residency Applications
Foreign professionals and foreign special professionals who have earned an associate degree or higher from a Taiwanese institution can now count part of their study period toward the residency requirement for permanent residency applications. Under the draft:
- A doctoral degree counts as two years toward the residency requirement.
- A master’s, bachelor’s, or associate degree counts as one year.
For example, a foreign special professional who obtains a PhD in Taiwan would normally need three years of legal residency to qualify for permanent residency. With this amendment, they may now apply after legally residing in Taiwan for just one year, as long as they have been present for at least 183 days during that year.
This amendment aims to encourage long-term commitment to Taiwan by expediting residency status for foreign professionals who invest in local education.
2. Extended Stay for Digital Nomads
For foreign professionals who work remotely (i.e., not employed by or providing services to any Taiwanese entity), and who meet conditions to be announced later, the stay period under the digital nomad visa will be extended from the current 180 days to up to two years.
3. Work Permit Access for Spouses
The spouses of foreign special professionals and foreign senior professionals, who have obtained dependent residency in Taiwan, will be able to apply directly for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor. This addresses the long-standing issue where dependent spouses could not work in Taiwan, even if they were employed abroad before relocating.
This amendment would significantly improve family mobility and make relocation more attractive to senior executives with working spouses.
4. Integration with the Social Security System
The draft introduces several key changes under the Social Security System for foreign professionals in Taiwan:
- Foreign professionals and foreign special professionals will no longer need permanent residency status to participate in the Labor Pension System under the Labor Pension Act.
- Foreign professionals (including senior and special professionals) who obtain permanent residency and are employed in Taiwan will now be eligible to receive employment insurance benefits for the first time.
5. Exemptions from Work Permit Requirements (Newly Added)
Two new categories of foreign nationals will be exempt from applying for a work permit:
- Foreign nationals who are also ROC nationals but do not have household registration in Taiwan.
- Recent graduates (with associate degrees or higher) from Taiwanese institutions, when working during their extended residency period after graduation.
6. Eased Employment Qualifications
The draft amendment also relaxes qualifications for professional employment in Taiwan:
- Graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher from one of the world’s top 1,000 universities will no longer be required to have prior work experience to engage in specialized or technical work in Taiwan.
- Graduates from one of the world’s top 200 universities, as designated by the Ministry of Education within the past five years, may directly apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor.
This change would enhance Taiwan’s appeal to elite young professionals and supports companies looking to recruit globally without bureaucratic hurdles.
Final Notes
This draft amendment was approved by the Executive Yuan on May 29, 2025, but still awaits legislative review by the Legislative Yuan and promulgation by the President before becoming law. If passed, it is expected to significantly enhance Taiwan’s appeal as a destination for international talent.
Update on the Legislative ProcessThe draft was passed by the Legislative Yuan in August 2025, officially promulgated by the Executive Yuan on September 24, 2025, and came into effect on January 1, 2026. For further details, please refer to our updated content: