To boost Taiwan's appeal to global talent and support the advancement of key national policies—including the Five Trusted Industry Sectors (semiconductors, artificial intelligence, military, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications) and net-zero transition—changes must be implemented to attract international professionals who can help drive industrial transformation and upgrading and strengthen Taiwanese businesses' global presence. To this end, on May 29, 2025, the Executive Yuan approved draft amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals. Targeting top international talent, foreign and overseas compatriot students, second-generation overseas Taiwanese and digital nomads, the amendments further relax regulations pertaining to employment, short-term stay, residency and access to social protections. The goal is to create a more internationally competitive legal framework that enhances Taiwan's talent recruitment legislation and positions the nation as a hub for global talent.
Key changes
■ Relaxed employment requirements: Exempt graduates of the world's top 1,000 universities (expanded from the top 500) from the two-year work experience requirement for employment in Taiwan. Allow graduates from the top 200 universities to apply for open work permits. Exempt foreign and overseas compatriot graduates of Taiwanese universities or colleges from the requirement to obtain a work permit when seeking employment. Enable spouses of foreign specialist and foreign senior professionals to work freely while residing in Taiwan as dependents.
■ Increased duration of stay for digital nomad visa holders: Increase the maximum duration of stay under the digital nomad visa from six months to two years to attract more digital nomads as a means of enhancing Taiwan's global connectivity.
■ Eased eligibility criteria for permanent residency: Allow foreign specialist professionals who meet specific criteria—such as having an annual income of at least NT$6 million (approximately US$200,000)—to apply for permanent residency after just one year of residency in Taiwan. For foreign and overseas compatriot students who have obtained an associate degree or higher in Taiwan, reduce the required period of continuous residency for permanent residency by one to two years.
■ Strengthened labor and social protections: Expand access to the new labor pension system to include foreign professionals without permanent residency, further incentivizing their participation in Taiwan's workforce. Provide permanent residents with access to employment insurance, and extend specific disability and long-term care services to permanent residents with at least 10 years of residency in Taiwan, in order to strengthen social protections.