Application-Qualification

In order to qualify for an Employment Gold Card, your skills must be related to one of ten fields: Science and Technology, Economics, Education, Culture and Art, Sport, Finance, Law, Architecture, National Defense, or Digital. You must select which ministry is most relevant, and in most cases, also select a specific qualification in that particular area for your application.

Feel free to use our Gold Card Qualification Check to check your qualification.

Application is done online.

Once you have determined how you are qualified, gather the required documents:

1. Digital copy of your passport
2. Digital copy of your passport photo
3. Digital copies of all documents needed to support your application
4. Your previous Taiwanese visa and residence permit (if any)

For more info Application Process

If any of these below are true, your application will not be accepted:

1. An R.O.C. National who has a Taiwanese household registration, and is currently residing in Taiwan.
2. Entered Taiwan with an R.O.C passport. Note: When applying for residency, or an extension of stay or residency, those who entered Taiwan with a foreign passport must first register their moving-out registration with the Household Registration Office.
3. The application of males who have not completed compulsory military service of conscription age or near conscription age if they fall into one of the following situations:* Having neither an Overseas Compatriot Identity Certificate for the purpose of military service nor an Overseas Compatriot Identity Endorsement on his R.O.C. passport.

• Being an overseas draftee who has resided in Taiwan Area for one year or more.
• Having been subjected to conscription in accordance with the law and is being restricted from leaving the country.

1. Mainland Chinese citizens
2. Individuals with Hong Kong/Macau and Taiwan Dual Citizenship
3. Individuals who entered Taiwan with an R.O.C. passport
4. R.O.C. Nationals living in Taiwan with a household registration
5. R.O.C. Nationals who entered Taiwan with a foreign passport and have not yet applied for Household De-Registration
6. Men who have not fulfilled their military service obligations or are close to service age who fall under any of the following categories:

• Does not hold an Overseas Compatriot Identity Certificate for Military Service Purpose
• Does not hold an R.O.C. passport with the endorsement of the Overseas Chinese residence status
• Has Overseas Compatriot with Military Service Identity and has lived in Taiwan for one year
• Is subject to conscription and restrictions to exit according to the Act of Military Service System

Yes, you can apply from anywhere, even within Taiwan. If you have an ARC or are on a Tourist Visa, you can still apply. The Gold Card will just replace your ARC/Tourist Visa.

If you are planning on applying under this regulation, you should provide:

• Your Certificate of Employments
• Award records
• Press releases (such as news or in other media)
• Articles you have published related to Taiwan
• Recommendation letter, including the reference’s position and contact information Other significant contributions to Taiwan

Please confirm whether you currently hold or have previously held a position as a chair professor, professor, or associate professor in a university, or as a researcher or associate researcher in a research institution, and within the last three years have important academic contributions or important specialist works or have published internationally recognized research. Please note that experience as an assistant professor or assistant researcher does not meet the eligibility criteria specified for Regulation 6; only associate professors, associate researchers, and above qualify.

You must have a recent monthly salary of at least NT$160,000 and have previously held or currently hold a position in a technology industry or field, either in a company, research and development institute, or academic institution. However, it is advised to consider applying under a different field in the following situations:

1. If your expertise is in software application and software technology (e.g. Software engineer for various companies). This follows the Ministry of Digital Affairs’ announcement in May 2023 of additional provisions for the eligibility of “Foreign Special Professionals with Specialized Knowledge/Skills in the Digital Field”, and the passage of the Organization Act of the Administration for Digital Industries, which established the administration as the competent authority for the development of the digital economy and placed it in charge of the following matters: planning and drafting policies, laws, and regulations for digital economy related industries; providing guidance and incentives for interdisciplinary digital innovation of artificial intelligence, big data, platform economy, or other digital economy related industries; providing guidance and incentives for system integration and vertical application; providing guidance and incentives for software products and digital services; providing guidance and incentives for digital content and data economy; promoting and implementing international exchanges and cooperation of digital economy related industries; cultivating talents for digital economy related industries; and other matters pertaining to the development of digital economy related industries. Therefore, if your work experience aligns with the above-mentioned digital economy related matters, it is recommended to apply under Regulation 2 within the digital field, for review by the Ministry of Digital Affairs.
2. If you have held the position of operations, technical or marketing executive in a high-tech R&D hub, operations headquarters or transnational corporation established in Taiwan, please apply under Regulation 1 or Regulation 2 within the Field of Economy, for review by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

1. You must prove that you have unique skills, outstanding R&D design performance, or substantial innovative achievement in a cutting-edge or forward-looking area of technology.
2. Your proof of expertise documents should include a well-organized portfolio of information showcasing your personal achievements and contributions of your service, emphasizing your individual accomplishments rather than focusing on the company in which you have worked for. Demonstration of any competition awards, notable achievements, renowned systems, significant projects, publications, or patents are all be encouraged.

There is no “general” application category. You must select a single ministry to assess your skills.

You do not need to have a high salary. Some fields have a criteria where applicants with a salary greater than NT$160,000 qualify, however, this is only one criteria. To date, other than the dedicated salary criteria, no other criteria has financial requirements.

According to Regulation 13, the documents you provide regarding your expertise or experience must demonstrate your potential contribution to Taiwan’s technology industry. Such documentation includes, but is not limited to, proof of domestic or foreign academic credentials, service certificates, academic research, technical skills, technology transfer, and award certificates. As stated in Regulations 2 and 3 of the eligibility requirements, your proof of expertise documents should include a well-organized portfolio of information showcasing your personal achievements and contributions of your service, emphasizing your individual accomplishments rather than focusing on the company in which you have worked for. Competition awards, notable achievements, renowned systems, significant projects, publications, or patents are all be encouraged as demonstration of an applicant’s potential to contribute to Taiwan’s technology industry. Please refrain from submitting certificates of completed hours of courses, as they are insufficient to prove one’s potential contributions to Taiwan’s science and technology industry.

To qualify, you must hold a PhD graduation certificate issued by one of the top 500 universities listed in the most recent QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education World University Rankings, or U.S. News & World Report Rankings. Please note that rankings based on specific subjects do not qualify for this regulation. Check the top 500 World University Rankings provided by the Ministry of Education.

Moreover, the degrees of Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), and Juris Doctor (J.D.) are not accepted by the Ministry of Education for this regulation.

Please review the “Authority-In-Charge for Various Industries” to check whether your industry is considered as under the Ministry of Culture’s jurisdiction.

Please check the Financial Examination Bureau’s List of Foreign Financial Supervisory Agencies.

If you can find your company in any of the above lists, then it would likely be recognized by the Financial Supervisory Commission.

Applicants under the Field of Law are required to provide the license of a ROC attorney or the permit of a ROC foreign legal affairs attorney. The application for the Foreign Legal Affairs Attorney’s Practice Permit can be found HERE

Please note that this application requires the applicant to provide the name and address of a local law firm, so you must find a firm who is willing to sponsor your application for this permit.

With respect to the exchange rate calculation basis, the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) current reviewing method is based on whether the Buying Cash Rate on the date of review or during the period of employment of the applicant has reached NTD$160,000, and the Buying Cash Rate from the Bank of Taiwan’s historical exchange rate will be used for valuation. Please check the currency rate for your salary.

If the currency you want to convert is not listed on the Bank of Taiwan’s exchange rate table, please first refer to the American Dollar (USD) exchange rate at your country’s public bank. Then, convert the amount you wish to calculate into USD. Lastly, use the USD exchange rate from the Bank of Taiwan to convert the amount into New Taiwan Dollar (NTD).

Please review the List of Industries to check whether your industry is considered as under the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ jurisdiction.

If you want to find out if you are eligible for the Taiwan Employment Gold Card, please refer to the Foreign Talent Act website’s information page. If you have related questions, please send us an e-mail to help@taiwangoldcard.tw

Regulation 4 requires a review of the applicant’s work experience and achievement awarded in sports industry, such as having been a sports coach, the performance of students who have participated in competitions, or having been an athlete who has participated in various international competitions.

Additionally, the reference letter(s) issued by a university or tertiary college in the ROC may be written by the head of the department.