Taiwan Employment Gold Card
One to three years of residence and open work rights for qualifying specialist professionals, without employer sponsorship.
Employment Gold Card
The Gold Card combines a resident visa, open work permit, Alien Resident Certificate and multiple re-entry permit. Applicants qualify in one of twelve professional fields. This record models the widely used salary pathway, currently based on an average monthly salary of at least TWD 160,000, but recognised achievements and field-specific credentials can qualify people who do not meet that salary. It is a materially stronger status than the nomad visa because it supports residence administration, local work and dependent residence.
At a glance
Initial stay
1,095 days
Per entry, before extension
Entries
Multiple
Application fee
Free
Processing
60–100 days
Apply
Online
Valid for
36 months
3 years
Income required
1,920,000 TWD/yr
Equivalent to TWD 160,000 average monthly salary for the salary route; many field-specific alternatives exist.
Who can apply
Open to most passports, with 1 excluded.
Excluded passports (1)
Requirements
- TWD 160,000 average monthly salary on the salary pathwayRequiredFor the salary qualification, provide a tax statement from one of the last three years showing average monthly salary of at least TWD 160,000. Other field-specific qualification routes exist.
- Passport valid for at least six monthsRequiredA colour passport copy with at least six months of validity is required.
- Qualification in one of twelve professional fieldsInfoChoose one published criterion in architecture, biotechnology, culture and arts, digital, economy, education, environment, finance, law, national defence, science and technology, or sports, and match the evidence precisely.
Documents to prepare
- Passport copy and photo
- CV
- Employment certificate
- Tax statement or field-specific evidence
- Previous Taiwan visa or permit if applicable
How to apply
Last verified 2026-08-14
Choose one field and criterion
~7 daysUse the official qualification pages and build evidence around a single best-fitting criterion.
Apply online
~60 daysSubmit through the Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform and respond quickly to supplementary-document requests.
Complete passport inspection and collect
~14 daysFollow the portal instructions, enter Taiwan if applying abroad and collect the physical Gold Card from the selected NIA service centre.
Extending the stay
Extendable
Yes
Where
In country
Choose one, two or three years initially. Apply for an extension within the official pre-expiry window if you continue to meet a qualifying criterion.
Tax and health
Tax
Gold Card residence can create Taiwanese tax residence. A conditional 50% exemption on qualifying salary income above TWD 3 million may apply for eligible first-time foreign specialist professionals; professional advice is essential.
Insurance
Not required. No universal private-insurance threshold in the Gold Card qualification itself. Confirm when National Health Insurance begins for your circumstances.
Healthcare
National Health Insurance eligibility depends on employment and residence history. Maintain private cover until enrolment is confirmed.
Immigration and tax rules change without notice and depend on your nationality and circumstances. Confirm with the official source below or a qualified adviser before acting on anything here.
Good to know
- Apply under the criterion with the cleanest documentary evidence, not the most prestigious field
- Allow more than 60 business days
- A one-to-three-year Gold Card is better than the nomad visa if you need a bank account, local employment or dependent residence
- Meeting the salary number does not replace the supporting employment and tax documents
- Qualification rules differ sharply by professional field
- Some in-country visa categories cannot convert directly
Official source
high confidenceOther ways into Taiwan