Taiwan Unveils Attractive New Incentives for Global Talent and Digital Nomads

Boosting its appeal, Taiwan aims to attract high-earning professionals and extend the welcome to digital nomads with streamlined residency and longer-stay visas.

Taipei, Taiwan - April 10, 2024 – The National Development Council (NDC) of Taiwan is proposing significant changes to its immigration policies, designed to attract high-level foreign professionals and extend the welcome to digital nomads. These initiatives aim to solidify Taiwan's position as a desirable destination for global talent and bolster its economic competitiveness.

The proposed amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals are currently undergoing public review and are slated to be sent to the Cabinet in early May following a 30-day commenting period.

A key element of the proposal is the creation of a "global elite" category. This new category would allow foreign professionals earning over NT$6 million (approximately US$182,674) annually to apply for permanent residence after just one year of residency in Taiwan. This represents a significant streamlining of the process, as holders of the existing employment gold card must currently wait three years before applying for permanent residence.

In addition, the government is looking to extend the duration of its "digital nomad visitor visa," which was launched earlier this year. This extension would increase the maximum stay from the current six months to a generous two years, making Taiwan an even more attractive location for remote workers.

The draft amendments also introduce a new visa category specifically targeting graduates of the world's top 200-ranked universities. This program, modeled after the United Kingdom's High Potential Individual (HPI) visa, would allow these graduates to reside in Taiwan without the immediate need to secure a fixed employer, providing them with greater flexibility to pursue individual contracts or freelance opportunities. The NDC notes that existing visitor visas for employment-seeking purposes lack the necessary incentives to attract this talent.

The draft proposal, following the public comment period, will then proceed to the Executive Yuan for approval and subsequently require passage by the Legislature before becoming law.