Care and Counseling for New Immigrants
- Date：
- Source：Immigration Counseling Section
- Hit：10181
- Updated date：2026-03-18
There are already more than 615,000 new immigrants living in Taiwan as of the end of 2025. In response to the different needs of new immigrant families, we have strengthened counseling and support policies through public-private partnerships to help them adapt to life in our country, as well as protect their rights. The government has been implementing immigrant-integration measures to help new immigrants build networks within their new communities. These efforts aim to strengthen support for new immigrant families, foster the development of their children, enhance the R.O.C. (Taiwan)’s global competitiveness and build an immigrant-friendly environment, thereby realizing the national vision of safeguarding immigrant human rights.
Progress:
1. Establishment of a Dedicated Central-Level Three-Tiered Administrative Agency for New Immigrant Affairs
To implement the Constitutional principle of protecting multiculturalism and demonstrate the government's commitment to safeguarding the rights of new immigrants, the "New Immigrants Basic Act" was promulgated by the President on August 12, 2024. This Act expands the definition of new immigrants to include not only marriage-based immigrants but also professional and skilled immigrants, and extends protections to the children of new immigrants. In accordance with the provisions of the "New Immigrants Basic Act," the Ministry of the Interior is required to establish a dedicated central-level administrative agency responsible for new immigrant affairs, including overall planning, research, consultation, coordination, promotion, and assistance in matters related to education, employment, skills training, care, and diversified services for new immigrants. The Ministry of the Interior has established a preparatory working group for the new agency, which holds regular meetings to review organizational structure, human resource planning, operational task inventory, and the selection of suitable office premises for the new agency.
The "Organization Act of National New Immigrants Development Agency, Ministry of the Interior" was promulgated on December 10, 2025, and shall come into effect within three months afterwards, according to Article 7 of the Act. To ensure the agency is established on schedule, preparatory work has been actively reviewed and advanced.
2. Formulation of the New Immigrant Care and Services Measures
In 2003, the Ministry of the Interior established the “Care and Guidance Measures for Foreign and Mainland Chinese Spouses,” which was renamed the “New Immigrant Care and Services Measures” in 2016. These measures comprise eight key areas: (1) life-adaptation counseling, (2) medical and reproductive health care, (3) protection of employment rights and interests, (4) enhancement of education and cultural development, (5) childcare and upbringing support, (6) personal safety protection, (7) strengthening of laws and regulations, and (8) promotion of public awareness. Relevant central and local government agencies implement these measures in accordance with their respective mandates and convene regular meetings to review and update the measures on a rolling basis.
3. Setting up the New Immigrants Development Fund
By integrating government and private resources, the Ministry of the Interior established the New Immigrants Development Fund in 2005 and allocates NT$300 million annually to support new immigrants and their children as they adapt to their new lives in Taiwan.
4. Establishing the Executive Yuan’s Coordination Meeting on Immigration Affairs
The Executive Yuan established a Coordination Meeting on Immigration Affairs on June 16, 2015, with the aim of coordinating immigrant integration efforts and promoting new immigrants’ rights, and building a friendly and multicultural society. The National Immigration Agency (NIA) serves as the coordinating agency for the Meeting.
5. Implementing the counseling service for life adaptation
The NIA funds 22 Municipal and County governments to support new immigrants in adapting to their new lives through various outreach activities and educational materials.
6. Setting up Counseling Service Hotline for Life Adaptation for Foreigners in Taiwan (Also known as International Community Service Hotline)（Domestic: 1990, Overseas: +886-800-00-1990）
The NIA provides a toll-free service hotline in 7 languages including Mandarin, English, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai and Cambodian. The hotline provides information on visas, residence, entry and exit, employment, taxation, health insurance, transportation, social welfare, education, medical care and personal safety.
7. Building IFI (Information for Immigrants) Network website
In order to integrate inter-ministerial resources and protect rights and interests of new immigrants, the NIA built the IFI Network website (https://ifi.immigration.gov.tw) in 7 languages (Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Burmese, and Cambodian). The NIA has also launched an official LINE account (ID:@ifitw) to offer up-to-date information on welfare benefits and the rights for new immigrants, as provided by relevant competent authorities and local governments.
Conclusion
The NIA remains committed to actively promoting the well-being of new immigrants by providing new immigrants with the support to make them feel welcome and helping them integrate into Taiwan society.