The Cabinet on Thursday approved draft amendments to the Immigration Act proposed by the Ministry of Interior. The amendments will help uphold societal order and national security, and also ensure that Taiwan is able to attract high-quality talent, enhance human rights protections for immigrants and tighten up the management of people flows into the country. The proposed changes will now be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation.
Premier Su Tseng-chang said the amendments will help attract high-quality talent to Taiwan by easing residency restrictions for foreign professionals and their spouses and children; expand penalties for immigration-related crimes and bolster law enforcement capabilities in response to the public and national security concerns caused by a growing number of foreigners overstaying their residency; relax provisions regarding residency for foreign spouses raising minor children, guaranteeing married immigrants' right to family reunification; and simplify the administrative procedure for foreigners holding a temporary visa who apply for residency after entering Taiwan.