For the purpose of protecting Taiwanese nationals’ right to work, non-Taiwanese workers’ employment must never jeopardize nationals’ opportunities in employment, employment terms, economic development, or social stability. Accordingly, unless otherwise specified in the Employment Service Act, no foreign worker may work in Taiwan without the employer having first applied for and obtained a permit. No one may illegally let foreign workers stay to engage in work, nor is it legally for anyone to refer a foreign worker to work for any third party.
Types of work permit
There are many types of work permits, but we focus on two types which are most common to most companies:
- Specialized or technical work.
- Director/manager/executive of a business supported / set up by overseas investment.
Requirements
Threshold of CEO work permit is lower but limited to one person for a company:
| CEO of a business supported or set up by overseas investment | Specialized or technical work | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota | 1 person | Not limited |
| Requirements for the employer |
| Capital: TWD 5 million |
| Requirements for the employee | Registered as the CEO |
|
| Requirements for monthly salary | None | TWD 47,971 |
| Effective Period | Up to 3 years | Up to 3 years |
Procedures
Three government agencies are involved:
| NO | Procedure | Authority | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apply for work permit | Ministry of Labor | 1~2 weeks |
| 2 | Apply for work visa | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 1~2 weeks |
| 3 | Apply for Alien Resident Certificate ("ARC") | Immigration Agency | 1~2 weeks |