0921 Guidelines for Online Application for the Employment Gold Card and Related Extension or Registration Changes for Foreign Specialist Professionals and Specialist Professionals from Hong Kong and Macau

• Date： 2026-04-21
• Source：Residency Section 2
• Hit：755
• Updated date：2026-04-21

1. Legal Basis:
These Guidelines are established pursuant to Article 4, 9, 17, and 30 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) and the Regulations Governing Employment Gold Card Permit for Foreign Specialist Professionals (hereinafter referred to as “the Regulations”).
2. Eligible Applicants:
(1) Foreign nationals or residents of Hong Kong or Macau who, pursuant to Article 9 of the Act, apply to engage in professional work in Taiwan shall be determined by the central competent authority of the industry concerned. Applicants must fall within one of the twelve major professional fields or possess special expertise in other fields, or must be recognized as possessing special expertise by the competent authority in consultation with the central competent authority of the industry concerned. The fields are listed as follows (for recognition standards for the twelve professional fields by the central competent authority of the industry concerned, please refer to the website of the National Development Council: https://foreigntalentact.ndc.gov.tw)
a. Science and Technology (National Science and Technology Council).
b. Digital Technology (Ministry of Digital Affairs).
c. Economic Affairs (Ministry of Economic Affairs).
d. Education (Ministry of Education).
e. Culture and Arts (Ministry of Culture).
f. Sports (Ministry of Sports).
g. Finance (Financial Supervisory Commission).
h. Law (Ministry of Justice).
i. Architectural Design (Ministry of the Interior).
j. National Defense (Ministry of National Defense).
k. Environment (Ministry of Environment).
l. Biotechnology (Ministry of Economic Affairs).
m. Special expertise in other fields, or persons recognized as possessing special expertise by the competent authority in consultation with the central competent authority of the industry concerned (National Development Council).
(2) Spouses, minor children under the age of eighteen (18), and children aged eighteen (18) or older unable to live independently due to physical or mental disabilities (hereinafter referred to as "dependent family members") of the applicants described in the preceding paragraph may apply for residency or a change of the purpose of residency under any of the following circumstances:
a. Those entering the Republic of China (R.O.C. (Taiwan), hereinafter referred to as “the State”) via visa exemption or holding a duration of stay of sixty (60) days or more, and without restrictions prohibiting extension or other limitations endorsed by the visa-issuing authority:
b. Holding a valid Alien Resident Certificate (ARC).
3. Required Documents:
(1) Application for an Employment Gold Card by a Specialist Professional
a. Passport (must have a validity period of at least six (6) months).
b. One (1) color photograph taken within the past six (6) months (two-inch, front-facing, bareheaded, color photo; same specifications as the R.O.C. (Taiwan) National Identification Card photograph).
c. Qualification recognition documents for foreign specialist professionals as announced by the central competent authority of the industry concerned.
d. Other required documents for applications for a resident visa, work permit, Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), and re-entry permit.
e. Specialist professionals from Hong Kong or Macau are exempt from submitting a guarantor letter, police criminal record certificate, and health examination certificate. However, they shall submit the “Hong Kong or Macau Resident Confirmation Document” and the “Residence Declaration Form for Hong Kong and Macau Residents.”
(2) Application for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) by Dependent Family Members:
a. Those holding valid resident visas with valid passports or travel documents, upon approval of entry by the National Immigration Agency (hereinafter referred to as "the NIA"), or those holding ARCs applying to change their residence status:
(i) Passport (must have a validity period of at least six (6) months) and resident visa.
(ii) One (1) color photograph taken within the past two (2) years (two-inch, front-facing, bareheaded, color photo; same specifications as the R.O.C. (Taiwan) National Identification Card photograph).
(iii) Proof of relationship: such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, ARCs, resident visas indicating family relationships, etc.
(iv) Applicants who are children aged eighteen (18) or older unable to live independently due to physical or mental disabilities: Attach a diagnosis certificate that can sufficiently prove their condition, such as paralysis, inability to care for oneself, or the need for complete assistance in daily life. Alternatively, a Barthel Index score assessed by a physician should be thirty (30) points or below.
b. Those entering the State via visa exemption or holding a duration of stay of sixty (60) days or more, and without restrictions prohibiting extension or other limitations endorsed by the visa-issuing authority:
(i) Passport (must have a validity period of at least six (6) months) and visitor visa. Applicants with visa-exempt entry are not required to submit a visa.
(ii) One (1) color photograph taken within the past two (2) years (two-inch, front-facing, bareheaded, color photo; same specifications as the R.O.C. (Taiwan) National Identification Card photograph).
(iii) Proof of relationship: such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, ARCs, etc. However, if the relationship with the family member, spouse's name, and ARC number has already been indicated in the visa annotation field according to the visa code table, it is considered verified by the overseas missions and proof of identity documents for the family member are not required (For visa-exempt entry or visas with annotation "P" [tourism, visit, family visit], if the relationship with the family member, spouse's name, and ARC number are not indicated, proof of relationship verified by the overseas missions is still required).
(iv) Applicants who are children aged eighteen (18) or older unable to live independently due to physical or mental disabilities: Attach a diagnosis certificate. The document should sufficiently prove their condition, such as paralysis, inability to care for oneself, or the need for complete assistance in daily life. Alternatively, a Barthel Index score assessed by a physician should be thirty (30) points or below.
(v) Health examination certificate issued within the last three (3) months:
(A) Applicants from visa-exempt countries (excluding those from visa-exempt trial countries) are exempt from this requirement.
(B) Children aged six (6) or below may submit a "vaccination certificate" instead.
(C) Health examination certificates must be processed according to the items specified for health examination for residence or permanent residence of foreigners announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (refer to the Ministry of Health and Welfare website).
(D) Health examination certificates obtained overseas must be verified by the overseas missions. If the examination items are incomplete, individuals must supplement the unexamined items domestically.
(vi) Criminal Record Certificate:
(A) Applicants who are children aged eighteen (18) or older of an Employment Gold Card holder and are unable to live independently due to physical or mental disabilities are exempt from submitting this document.
(B) Applicants who are spouses of an Employment Gold Card holder, whose marriage existed prior to entry into the State and who apply for residency as dependent family members, are exempt from submitting this document.
(C) The applicant's home country criminal record certificate issued within one (1) year, and it must not exceed the validity period stated on the certificate. The term "criminal record certificate" refers to a nationwide record from the applicant's country of origin. For example, if the applicant is a U.S. citizen, the criminal record certificate must be issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). If the applicant is a Vietnamese citizen, the criminal record certificate should be the Vietnamese "Bản Kê Khai Tư Pháp số 2" (Judicial Record No. 2).
(D) The criminal record certificate must include records from the last five (5) years.
(E) Applicants who were previously granted residency in the State and reapply for residency cases by entering with a visitor visa within three (3) months of leaving the State are not required to submit a criminal record certificate from their home country.
(3) Application by Employment Gold Card Holders for Extension of the Employment Gold Card or for Residency under Other (Job-Seeking) Purposes, and Application by Dependent Family Members for Extension of Residency:
a. Application by an Employment Gold Card Holder for Extension of the Employment Gold Card:
(i) Passport (must have a validity period of at least six (6) months).
(ii) Employment Gold Card.
(iii) One (1) color photograph taken within the past six (6) months (two-inch, front-facing, bareheaded, color photo; same specifications as the R.O.C. (Taiwan) National Identification Card photograph).
(iv) Qualification recognition documents for foreign specialist professionals as announced by the central competent authority of the industry concerned.
b. Application by an Employment Gold Card Holder for Residency under Other (Job-Seeking) Purposes, and Application by Dependent Family Members for Extension of Residency:
(i) Passport (must have a validity period of at least six (6) months).
(ii) One (1) color photograph taken within the past two (2) years (two-inch, front-facing, bareheaded, color photo; same specifications as the R.O.C. (Taiwan) National Identification Card photograph).
(iii) Employment Gold Card or Alien Resident Certificate (ARC).
(iv) For individuals born in mainland China and originally holding mainland Chinese citizenship, in addition to providing supporting documents according to Article 7 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, proving residence overseas for more than four (4) years (such as passport entry and exit records and a certificate of entry and exit issued by the competent authority at the place of residence), the applicant shall also submit documentary proof that he or she has not established household registration in mainland China and has not been issued a mainland China passport. Proof that the applicant has not established household registration in mainland China includes the following:
(A) The original certificate verified by the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) proving that the individual is not registered in mainland China.
(B) The original certificate of cancellation of mainland China household registration verified by the SEF.
(C) Other supporting documents demonstrating the loss of status as a mainland China resident (such as entry and exit inspection stamps for mainland China appearing in a foreign passport, visas or residence permits for mainland China appearing in a foreign passport, Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macau Residents, employment permits for foreign nationals issued in mainland China authenticated by the SEF, adoption certificates authenticated by a foreign court, or other documents sufficient to demonstrate that household registration has not been established in mainland China). However, where deemed necessary by the competent authority, the applicant may be required to submit one of the certificates specified in Subitems (A) or (B) above.
(v) Required Documents for Registration of Changes to Personal Information: Passport, Employment Gold Card or Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), and documentary proof of the change (relevant supporting documents shall be submitted according to the nature of the change, such as an updated passport. In cases of loss or reissuance due to loss, a sworn declaration or police report shall be submitted).
Documents produced overseas must be authenticated by the overseas missions; those produced domestically by foreign embassies or their authorized representative agencies in the State or authenticated, certified, or verified by them must be further authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Documents produced in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau shall be authenticated by institutions established or designated by the Executive Yuan, or by private organizations commissioned by the Executive Yuan. If the documents are in a foreign language, the NIA may request the applicant to provide a Chinese translation verified by the overseas missions or notarized by a domestic notary public. However, this does not apply if there are other regulations specified by the respective reviewing agencies.
4. Application Procedure and Certificate Collection:
(1) Employment Gold Card:
a. When the applicant, employer, or entrusted agency first logs into the NIA’s "Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform" (hereinafter referred to as “the Platform”, website: https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/four-in-one/entry/), please log in using an account or digital certificate.
b. The Employment Gold Card is available in three (3) durations: one (1) year, two (2) years, or three (3) years. Applicants should upload the relevant documents on the Platform and select the desired duration of the Employment Gold Card ("one year," "two years," or "three years"). For the renewal of the Employment Gold Card, applicants can also choose the duration of "one year," "two years," or "three years." The applicable fee for the selected duration ("within the State" or "outside the State") can be paid through various methods such as international credit card, domestic credit card, online ATM, virtual accounts, the e-Bill national payment network, and at the four major convenience stores. Once the payment is completed, the fee will not be refunded regardless of whether the application is approved.
c. After the application has been reviewed and deemed eligible by the Ministry of Labor, the applicant must, within six months, print the "Passport Verification Notice" from the Platform. Along with the original passport (with a validity period of at least six (6) months), the applicant must proceed to the relevant ROC overseas missions for passport verification. However, applicants who have already entered the State are exempt from passport verification. Specialist professionals from Hong Kong or Macau applying for the Employment Gold Card are not required to apply for a resident visa through the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(2) Application for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) for Other (Job-Seeking) Purposes and for Dependent Family Members:
a. When the applicant, authorized representative or agent first logs into the Foreign Professionals Application System, please log in using an account or digital certificate.
b. After completing the online application and uploading relevant documents, applicants shall make the payment within ten (10) working days from the approval date, using various methods such as international credit card, domestic credit card, online ATM, virtual accounts, the e-Bill nationwide payment network, and at the four major convenience stores.
(3) Method of Collection:
a. Employment Gold Card:
(A) Application within the territory of the State: The applicant shall personally download the "Payment Electronic Receipt" from the “Download” page of the Platform. With the original receipt and original passport in hand, the applicant shall proceed to the designated service station of the NIA to collect the Employment Gold Card.
(B) Application outside the territory of the State: The applicant shall print the “Approval Certificate for the R.O.C. (Taiwan) Employment Gold Card (Outside the State)” from the “Download” page of the Platform. After entering the State using this certificate, the applicant shall, within thirty (30) days, submit proof of residence in Taiwan and apply at the NIA service station designated by the applicant to exchange it for the Employment Gold Card.
b. Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) for Other (Job-Seeking) Purposes and for Dependent Family Members: Applicants shall download and print the payment receipt from the online system and present it at the service stations of NIA in various municipalities and counties three (3) working days later to collect the ARC (if the applicant previously held an Employment Gold Card or a valid ARC, the original card must be surrendered upon collection.).
5. Fees:
(1) Employment Gold Card:
a. Application outside the State:
(A) Where the applicant is subject to the special processing fee as defined in Subparagraph 4 of Paragraph 1 of Article 4 of the Standards for Visa Fees for Foreign Passports (hereinafter referred to as “the subject of the special processing fee”), the special processing fee shall be charged in addition to the following fees: Validity of one (1) year: NTD 1,500 per application; Validity of two (2) years: NTD 2,500 per application; Validity of three (3) years: NTD 3,500 per application.
(B) Applicants other than those specified in the preceding item: Validity of one (1) year: NTD 3,700 per application; Validity of two (2) years: NTD 4,700 per application; Validity of three (3) years: NTD 5,700 per application.
b. Applications submitted after entering the State with visa-exempt entry or a visitor visa: Validity of one (1) year: NTD 3,700 per application; Validity of two (2) years: NTD 4,700 per application; Validity of three (3) years: NTD 5,700 per application.
c. Foreign nationals in possession of valid Alien Resident Certificates (ARCs) or equivalent documents with the same function as an ARC who apply for conversion: Validity of one (1) year: NTD 1,500 per application; Validity of two (2) years: NTD 2,500 per application; Validity of three (3) years: NTD 3,500 per application..
d. Hong Kong or Macau Residents: Validity of one (1) to three (3) years: NTD 3,100 per application (including a NTD 500 work permit licensing fee charged by the Ministry of Labor).
e. Fees for extension of the Employment Gold Card:
Foreign nationals — Extension for one (1) year: NTD 1,500 per application; two (2) years: NTD 2,500 per application; three (3) years: NTD 3,500 per application. Residents of Hong Kong or Macau — Extension for one (1) to three (3) years: NTD 800 per application.
(2) Dependent family members: NTD 1,000 per item for each year of validity of the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). However, for applicants entering the State via visa-exempt entry or holding a visitor visa, an additional fee of NTD 2,200 is charged.
(3) Alien Resident Certificate for Other (Job-Seeking) Purposes:
a. Foreign nationals: The fee for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) shall be NTD 1,000 per application per year of validity.
b. Residents of Hong Kong or Macau: The fee for an extension certificate shall be NTD 300 per application.
(4) Replacement of the Employment Gold Card or ARC: Where an Employment Gold Card or Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) is damaged, destroyed, lost, or where changes to personal information occur, the applicant shall apply for a replacement through the Platform within thirty (30) days from the date the event occurs. The replacement fee shall be NTD 500 (a new card must be issued). However, if the replacement is due to changes such as residential address or passport number, the replacement may be issued without charging a fee. For residents of Hong Kong or Macau, where the Employment Gold Card is damaged, destroyed, lost, or replaced due to changes in personal information, the replacement fee shall be NTD 2,600 per application.
6. Review Process Duration:
(1) Employment Gold Card:
a. Thirty (30) working days (counted from the date the online application process is completed, excluding weekends and national holidays). The waiting period for passport submission under Paragraph 3 of Article 2 of the Regulations, the correction period as referred to in Article 4, and other delays caused by force majeure shall be excluded from the calculation.
b. Where the applicant has failed to submit his/her passport for verification in accordance with the notice issued under Paragraph 3 of Article 2 of the Regulations, his/her application shall be rejected.
c. If the application materials are inconsistent, incomplete, or if the required fees have not been paid in accordance with the regulations, the NIA shall notify the applicant to make corrections within thirty (30) days. Where the supplementary documents must be obtained from overseas regions, mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, the correction period shall be six (6) months. If the applicant fails to rectify or incompletely rectify within the stipulated period, their application shall be rejected.
(2) Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) for Other (Job-Seeking) Purposes and for Dependent Family Members: Ten (10) working days (excluding the time required for corrections or for consultation with relevant authorities). Applicants with incomplete or insufficient documents must rectify the issue within fifteen (15) days from the day of notification. For those who need to apply from overseas, mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, the rectification period is extended to three (3) months. Failure to rectify or incomplete rectification by the deadline will result in the rejection of the application. After rectification, the processing time will be recalculated, starting from the date of resubmission, with a duration of ten (10) working days.
7. Notes:
(1) The uploaded photo of the applicant must be a color image with excess whitespace cropped out. The file format must be jpg or jpeg, the face should occupy approximately two-thirds of the image area, and the photograph must be identifiable as the same person shown in the passport.
(2) All required documents shall be uploaded to the Platform as color image files. Each file must not exceed 512 KB, and the acceptable formats are jpg, jpeg, png, or bmp. The image must be upright and clearly legible, and the file name should correspond to the type of document.
(3) Where a foreign specialist professional or a specialist professional from Hong Kong or Macau is recommended by the central competent authority of the industry concerned to apply for the Employment Gold Card, the application documents specified in Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph 1 of Point 3 may be submitted in paper form.
(4) Persons holding dual nationality with the R.O.C. (Taiwan):
a. Any R.O.C. (Taiwan) national with household registration in the Taiwan Area, who has entered the State with a foreign passport and is applying for an Employment Gold Card, residency or an extension of residency, shall first apply to a household registration office for household de-registration.
b. For applicants described in the preceding subparagraph, men approaching conscription age or of conscription age who have not yet fulfilled their military service obligations shall not be eligible to apply for an Employment Gold Card, residency, or extension of residency under any of the following circumstances:
(i) The applicant does not possess a military service-related Overseas Compatriot Identity Certificate.
(ii) An overseas compatriot male has resided in the Taiwan Area for 183 days or more (i.e., continuous residence of 183 days), or has accumulated residence of 183 days or more within any calendar year (January 1 to December 31).
(iii) They are subject to conscription processing in accordance with the law and are restricted from leaving the State.
(5) The validity period of the Employment Gold Card shall be issued based on the validity period selected by the applicant on the Platform, and shall be approved after review. The validity period shall commence on the day following the date of issuance. During the validity period, foreign specialist professionals may use the Employment Gold Card to work, reside in Taiwan, and make multiple entries into the State with a valid passport.
(6) Employment Gold Card holders may apply for extension within four (4) months before the expiration of the card by submitting the supporting documents specified in Paragraph 3 of Point 3 through the Platform. Each extension may be granted for one (1) to three (3) years.
(7) Prior to the expiration of the validity period of the Employment Gold Card, if an extension of the Employment Gold Card has not been obtained but there is a need for residency, the individual and their dependent family members who were previously granted residency permission, in accordance with Article 17 of the Act, may apply to the NIA service center for an extension of residency through the Platform. Upon approval, an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) will be issued. The validity period of the ARC shall be extended for six (6) months from the day following the expiration of the validity period of the Employment Gold Card. Upon expiration of the extended period, if necessary, one additional extension may be applied for, with the total extended residency period not exceeding one (1) year. During the extended period of residency, individuals are not permitted to work in the State unless they hold an employment permit issued by the Ministry of Labor, except where otherwise specified by law.
(8) Applicants with a visitor visa valid for 180 days and marked with "No Extension" may apply for conversion to residency according to the regulations for those entering with a visitor visa, as stipulated in Point 3. Those entering the State through trial visa-exemption, visa on arrival, Online Application for R.O.C. (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate, APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders, working holiday visa holders (unless otherwise provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), or visas bearing annotations prohibiting conversion to a resident visa or application for an ARC in Taiwan, shall not be eligible to apply.
(9) Applicants for the Employment Gold Card who are stateless persons, holders of courtesy visas, or foreign nationals, officials, or their dependents employed by diplomatic missions, foreign institutions, or international organizations in the State shall not be eligible to apply.
(10) Dependent family members entering the State with a resident visa and permitted entry upon inspection must apply for an ARC within thirty (30) days from the day following their entry into the State. Those who fail to apply as required shall be subject to a fine according to the law.
(11) Dependent family members entering the State via visa-exemption or visitor visas must submit their online application at least fifteen (15) days before the expiration of their stay and must pay close attention to the duration of stay. If the remaining stay is less than fifteen (15) days, applicants must apply in person at the service stations of the NIA in various municipalities or counties.
(12) Applicants who are unable to obtain an ARC before the expiration of the permitted stay, or cannot complete the change of the purpose of residency and obtain a new ARC before the expiration of the original residency period shall depart the State before the expiration date.
(13) Foreign nationals who change their address or place of employment during their residency period shall prepare the necessary documents and complete the change registration within thirty (30) days from the date of the change. Failure to comply with this requirement shall result in a fine imposed in accordance with the law.
(14) Applications for extension of the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) shall be submitted within three (3) months prior to the expiration of the residency period. If the applicant overstays their residency period for less than thirty (30) days and the original reason for residency still exists, they may reapply for residency after paying the prescribed fine. However, if the overstay exceeds thirty (30) days, apart from being fined, the applicant shall depart the State after paying the fine.
(15) Where an applicant fails to submit the passport for verification in accordance with Subparagraph (c) of Paragraph 1 of Point 4, and the application is not approved, the application fee shall not be refunded.
(16) Where an Employment Gold Card has been issued and the holder subsequently changes nationality, the holder shall apply for a new Employment Gold Card.