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Instructions on Document Submission by Foreigners Applying for Permanent Residency

  • Date:
  • Source:Residency Section 2
  • Hit:196643
1. Legal Basis:
(1) Article 25 of the Immigration Act.
(2) Article 41 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act.
(3) Articles 12 and 15 of the Regulations Governing Visiting, Residency, and Permanent Residency of Aliens.
(4) Articles 9, 14, 16 and 18 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals.
2. Application Procedure: Submit the completed Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) application form to a local service center of the National Immigration Agency (NIA).

3. Eligibility:
(1) A foreigner who has legally and continuously resided in the State for five (5) years and for more than one hundred and eighty-three (183) days each year, or a foreign national who is the spouse or child of an R.O.C. (Taiwan) national residing in the Taiwan Area with household registration, and who has legally resided in the State for ten (10) years or more, during which period they have actually resided in the State for more than one hundred and eighty-three (183) days each year for five (5) years, and who also meets the following requirements, may apply for permanent residency:
A. Is above the age of majority.
B. Is of good character.
C. Has sufficient assets or skills to be self-supporting.
D. Is in keeping with the national interests of the State.
(2) A foreign professional who engages in professional work in the State, and who has legally and continuously resided in the State for five years, having resided for an average of more than 183 days each year, or a foreign special professional who has legally and continuously resided in the State for three years, having resided for an average of more than 183 days each year may apply for permanent residency if they meet the following requirements:
A. Is above the age of majority.
B. Has no bad character, and has no criminal case recorded on a police criminal record certificate.
C. Has sufficient assets or skills to be self-supporting.
D. Is in keeping with the national interests of the State.
(3) Periods of residence in the State for the following reasons shall not be counted:
A. Attending school, and extending stay in the State under the provisions of Article 22-1 of the Regulations Governing Visiting, Residency, and Permanent Residency of Aliens.
B. Approved by the central competent authority for labor to engage in work in the State as listed in Article 46 Paragraph 1 Subparagraphs 8 to 10 of the Employment Service Act, and extending stay in the State under the provisions of Article 31 Paragraph 4 Subparagraph 6 of the Immigration Act.
C. Permitted to reside as a dependent relative of a person referred to in the two preceding items.
(4) A foreigner who had legally resided in the State for twenty (20) years or over before May 31, 2002, during which period they had resided in the State for over one hundred and eighty-three (183) days each year for ten (10) years, and who meets the requirements as specified in Items 1 to 4 of Subparagraph 1, may apply for permanent residency.
(5) After a foreigner’s application for permanent residency in the State as an investment immigrant (Plum Blossom Card) is approved, their spouse and minor children may also apply for permanent residency.
(6) Where a foreign senior professional applies for permanent residency under the provisions of Article 25 Paragraph 3 Subparagraph 2 of the Immigration Act, their spouse, minor children, and children over the age of majority who are unable to live independently due to physical or mental disability, may apply for permanent residency with said person.
(7) After a foreign professional hired to conduct professional work has been approved for permanent residency, their spouse, minor children, and children over the age of majority who are unable to live independently due to physical or mental disability, having resided in the State legally and continuously for five years,being present for an average of more than 183 days each year, having no bad character, having no criminal case recorded on a police criminal record certificate, and in keeping with the national interests of the State, may apply for permanent residency.
(8) After a foreign special professional hired to conduct professional work has been approved for permanent residency, their spouse, minor children, and children over the age of majority who are unable to live independently due to physical or mental disability, having resided in the State legally and continuously for three years, being present for an average of more than 183 days each year, having no bad character, having no criminal case recorded on a police criminal record certificate, and in keeping with the national interests of the State, may apply for permanent residency.

4. Required Documents:
(1) A completed APRC Application Form.
(2) One color photograph (the same specifications as required for an R.O.C. (Taiwan) ID card).
(3)  Original and one photocopy of new and old passports (the original will be returned immediately after verification).
(4)  Original and one photocopy of Alien Resident Certificate (the original will be returned immediately after verification).
(5)  A satisfactory health examination certificate: the health examination must follow the Items Required for Health Certificate (Form B) announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for current use by listed domestic main medical institutions and their newly added health examination hospitals (pdf file) (xls file).
(6)  Proof of financial assets or special skills and talents. But this is not required for applicants under Subparagraphs 5 to 8 of the preceding Article.
(7)  Criminal record certificates for the most recent five years issued by the police of the applicant’s home country and by the R.O.C. (Taiwan). But this is not required for applicants under Subparagraphs 5 and 6 of the preceding Article.
(8) Applicants born in the Mainland Area and having been granted the status as the people of the Mainland Area thereof, in addition to submitting documents to meet the requirements prescribed in Article 7 Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Enforcement Rules for the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, shall also submit one of the following certifications:
A. Original certification of non-establishment of Mainland household registration verified by the Straits Exchange Foundation.
B. Original notarial certification of cancellation of Mainland household registration verified by the Straits Exchange Foundation.
C. Documentary proof sufficient to prove renunciation of status as the people of the Mainland Area, verified by an R.O.C. (Taiwan) embassy or overseas mission.
D. Other documentary proof sufficient to prove renunciation of status as the people of the Mainland Area.
(9) There may be other specific evidence you are required to submit with your application and they may vary depending on the immigrant category you are filing under. Documents produced outside Taiwan must be authenticated by an R.O.C. (Taiwan) overseas mission, and if produced in Taiwan by a foreign embassy, consulate or authorized entity must be relegalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
A. Joining family:
(a) Proof of family relationship (including marriage certificate or birth certificate and identity documents of the person with whom they have the family relationship).
(b) For children over the age of majority, relevant documentary proof of being unable to live independently due to physical or mental disability.
B. Employment:
(a)Official letter of approval for employment.
(b)Proof of taking up work within one month.
(c)Those without an employer while seeking employment and Employment Gold Card holders are exempt from submitting an official letter of approval for employment and proof of taking up work.
C. Missionary work:
(a)Guarantee issued by a religious group, containing affirmation that the position offered to the said foreign national will be a non-paid position and that their living needs will be provided for during their period of serving the religious group in Taiwan.
(b)The religious group’s registration certificate (it must have been registered for at least five years and have registered assets of five million NT dollars or above).
(c)Service certificate issued by the religious group within the last one month.
D. Investment:
(a)Letter of approval from the Investment Commission, MOEA, and proof of investment within the most recent three months.
(b)Company registration (or change of registration) form (amount of investment must be at least 200,000 US dollars).E. Responsible officer of company:
(a)Letter of approval from the MOEA.
(b)Foreign company registration (or change of registration) form or foreign company office establishment registration (or change of registration) form.
F. Business startup entrepreneur:
(a)Letter of approval from the Investment Commission, MOEA
(b)Proof of actual operation within the most recent year.

5. Processing Time:
14 days (excluding the time it takes to send an application between the special municipality and county/city service centers and the NIA, for submitting supporting documentation, for interviews, or for requesting relevant agencies to examine documents).

6. Fee: NT$10,000.

7. Note:
(1) Application for permanent residency under Article 3 Subparagraph 1, Subparagraph 2, Subparagraph 4, Subparagraph 7 and Subparagraph 8 shall be made within two years after fulfilling the required period of residence exceeding 183 days each year (at the time of submitting the application, the applicant should still hold a valid ARC, and the financial proof being submitted shall be subject to the financial proof related requirements of the most recent year in which he/she meets the requirements for permanent residence application).
(2) Proof of financial assets or special skills and talents:
A. An applicant applies for permanent residency as the spouse of a Taiwan National, and an applicant who applies for residency under the category of the Article 31 paragraph 4 Subparagraph 1 to 5 of the Act, may submit application with one of the following documents which will be subject to consideration of the NIA in the exercise of discretion:
(a)Details of income, tax payment, financial assets and real assets in Taiwan.
(b)A statement issued by an employer to certify employment, or the applicant’s own statement in writing detailing their work content and income.
(c)Qualification certificate of/equivalent to Professional and Technical Personnel Examinations or Class B/above Qualifying Examinations issued by the R.O.C. (Taiwan) government's competent authority.
(d) Other supporting documents that may show they have adequate means of financial support.
B. An applicant for permanent residency in circumstances other than as referred to in the preceding subparagraph shall submit one of the following documents:
(a)To an applicant who meet the requirements of the income, who may submit application with one of the following documents which will be subject to consideration of the NIA in the exercise of discretion:
I. The requirements of the income refer to, during the previous 12 months or from January to December of previous calendar year preceding the date of submitting application, applicant’s average monthly wage is greater than 2 times of wage published by the Ministry of Labor. The term 2 times is calculated as below: to those submit with Withholding Tax Statement crossing year, it is compared to the minimum wage of the most recent year published by the Ministry of Labor; to those submit Withholding Tax Statement of previous calendar year, it is compared to the minimum wage of the previous year published by the Ministry of Labor.
i. Alien Individual Income Tax Return (those filing online should complete the procedure to upload their filing and get the National Taxation Bureau’s electronic stamp of approval).
ii. Comprehensive Income Tax Information List.
iii. Salary income withholding tax statement issued by employer.
II. Evidence that the applicant has financial assets and real assets with a total value of five million NT dollars (NT$5,000,000) or more.
III. Qualification certificate of/equivalent to Professional and Technical Personnel Examinations or Class B/above Qualifying Examinations issued by the R.O.C. (Taiwan) government's competent authority.
IV. Having other approval from the NIA.
C. An applicant for permanent residency under Article 16 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals is exempt from the requirement for proof of financial ability.
(3) The original of an R.O.C. (Taiwan) police criminal record certificate for the most recent five years (valid within three months of issue).
(4) The original of a police criminal record certificate for the most recent five years issued by the applicant’s country of origin (valid within one year of the date of issue, including the Chinese translation), and with completion of one of the following procedures:
A. Where the original of the foreign-language police criminal record certificate issued in the country concerned and the Chinese translation thereof have been authenticated by an R.O.C. (Taiwan) overseas mission (when necessary, they may be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for reauthentication).
B. Where only the original of the foreign-language police criminal record certificate issued in the country concerned is authenticated by an R.O.C. (Taiwan) overseas mission (when necessary, it may be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for reauthentication), in which case the Chinese translation must also be notarized by a court or a notary public in Taiwan.
C. Where the foreign-language police criminal record certificate is issued (or authenticated) by the embassy/consulate or representative office in the R.O.C. (Taiwan) of the country concerned, in which case the original must be reauthenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and its Chinese translation must be notarized by a court or a notary public in Taiwan.
(5) The police criminal record shall be a national, not locally record. For example, the police record of a U.S. citizen must be issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
(6) A foreigner who has legally and continuously resided in the R.O.C. (Taiwan), and who has not left the country for more than three months at a time, may be exempted from submitting a satisfactory health examination certificate and a police criminal record certificate issued by their country of origin.
(7) Letter of authorization: An applicant may authorize another person to submit application by providing a letter of authorization. For an applicant located in a foreign territory, Hong Kong or Macau, the letter of authorization must be authenticated by an overseas mission of the R.O.C. (Taiwan).
(8) The authentication of foreign documents that matches the provisions of Article 15-1 of the Document Legalization Act for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Missions shall be handled in accordance therewith.
(9) A foreigner who concurrently holds R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationality may not apply for permanent residency.
(10) An APRC will be revoked if the holder fails to reside in the R.O.C. (Taiwan) for at least 183 days each year starting from the year following the issuance of the APRC. However, this does not apply to those who have gained approval from the competent authority or those to whom the provisions of Article 19 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals apply. (The calculation of a “year” for this purpose shall commence from January 1 of the following year after the APRC is issued.) A person who still qualifies to reside in Taiwan after the revocation of their APRC may apply for residency within thirty days after the APRC is revoked.
(11) In the case of application under immigrant investor programs and foreign senior professionals who obtain permanent residency (Plum Blossom Card) in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 Paragraph 3 Subparagraph 2 of the Immigration Act, their spouse, minor children, and children over the age of majority who are unable to live independently due to physical or mental disability, may apply with them for permanent residency, and their application shall be handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of these Instructions except for the requirements pertaining to specified period of residence, police criminal record certificates from the R.O.C. (Taiwan) and their country of origin, and proof of financial resources.
(12) Where a foreigner’s permanent residence permit is revoked or cancelled in accordance with the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals or Article 33 of the Immigration Act, the permanent residence permits of said person’s spouse, minor children, and children over the age of majority who are unable to live independently due to physical or mental disability, shall be revoked or cancelled together therewith.
(13) Where a foreigner changes their foreign nationality during a period of permanent residency, they shall present the passport of their changed nationality for subsequent entry inspection, and upon submitting sufficient documentary proof of being the same person, can apply for processing the changed nationality, the fee for which is NT$1,000. 
(14) A foreign professional or foreign special professional who, under the provisions of Article 14 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, may utilize a shortened period of continuous residence on account of having obtained a master’s degree or higher from an institution of higher education in the State, shall submit application with Chinese original of the diploma. The diploma will be returned to the applicant after verification, and a photocopy retained.
(15) A foreign professional or foreign special professional’s child over the age of majority who is unable to live independently due to physical or mental disability shall submit a diagnostic certificate stating that said person is paralyzed, unable to care for himself/herself, or is in a condition that requires full assistance from another, or has been assessed by a physician as having a score of 30 points or less on the Barthel Index.   

Related File(s)

  • application form doc pdf
  • Instructions on Document Submission by Foreigners Applying for Permanent Residency pdf
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