When hiring foreign workers, international nongovernmental organizations must apply for permits from the Workforce Development Agency of the Ministry of Labor, the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior.
 
 
Step 1The employer must apply to the Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor, for foreign employee work permits. For more information, refer to the following: telephone:(02) 8995-6000; address:10F, No. 39, Sec. 1, Zhonghua Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City; “Working Expats in Taiwan” webpage of the Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor (website:Click here)
 
Submit the following documents for type A foreign worker permit applications:
  • 1. Application form
  • 2. One photocopy of applicant’s or responsible person’s R.O.C. National ID Card, passport, or Alien Resident Certificate (ARC); photocopies of company, business or factory registration, and franchise license (Note: individuals exempt from providing factory registration certificates or franchise licenses are not subject to the above provision.)
  • 3. One photocopy of each new employee’s employment contract
  • 4. A list of new employees, a photocopy of each new employee’s passport or ARC, and photocopies of each new employee’s diploma (Note: Foreign workers who meet the criteria stipulated in Subparagraphs 2, 5, and 6 of Paragraph 1 of Article 46 of the Employment Service Act are not required to provide photocopies of diplomas.)
  • 5. Application fee receipt
  • 6. Any other documents required by the central competent authority
 
Application for foreign workers to enter Taiwan
For employment covered by Paragraph 3 of Article 51 of the Employment Service Act, in addition to the documents listed in items 1, 5, and 6 above, the following must be submitted:
  • 1. Photocopies of agreements, such as contractor agreements, sales and purchase agreements, and technical cooperation agreements.
  • 2. Proof of R.O.C. and foreign legal entity registration.
  • 3. A written statement of employment.
  • 4. Applicant unit’s registration certificate or proof of filing. For franchise enterprises, photocopies of a license certificate and the R.O.C. National ID Card, passport, or ARC of the responsible person must also be provided.
  • 5. Name list, photocopies of passport or ARC, and photocopies of diplomas of contracting foreign worker. Those who started work within one year prior to date of application, and if application is for work of no more than a total of 90 days, are exempt from providing photocopies of diplomas

 

If the required documentation is issued outside Taiwan, the central competent authority may require verification of the documents by an R.O.C. embassy or mission.
 
If the employer is a civil association, in addition to submitting documents from items 1, 3, and 6 for type A foreign worker permit applications, the employer must also provide the registration certificate of the association and photocopies of the R.O.C. National ID Card, passport, or ARC of the responsible person.
 
Notes:
 
 
Step 2To work in Taiwan, foreign nationals must first apply for a visitor visa or resident visa from an R.O.C. embassy or mission. Applications may also be submitted to the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its branch offices.
 
1. Applicants outside of Taiwan
Applicants outside of Taiwan who hold a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor may apply for a visitor visa or resident visa from an R.O.C. embassy or mission. For more information, visit the website:Click here.
 
2. Applicants in Taiwan
  • (1) Applicants in Taiwan who hold a visitor visa for employment purposes that cannot be extended may apply for a resident visa from the Bureau of Consular Affairs or the Central, Southern, Eastern, or Southwestern Taiwan Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs eight business days before the visa’s expiration date.
  • (2) Applicants in Taiwan with a visa waiver and an employment permit issued by the central competent authority for the relevant sector may apply to the Bureau of Consular Affairs or the Central, Southern, Eastern, or Southwestern Taiwan Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to change their visa to an extendable visitor visa five business days before the visa’s expiration date. Applicants may then apply for an ARC from the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior.
Documents required for foreign nationals applying for a visitor or resident visa
1. Visa application form 
    Online visa applications can be made at the following website:Click here
2. Two two-inch color photographs taken within the past six months (white background required)
3. Applicant’s passport and one photocopy of the personal information page
4. Employment permit issued by the central competent authority for the relevant sector (the original will be returned after inspection) and one photocopy
5. Any other documents requested as necessary
 
Foreign nationals applying for visitor or resident visas for employment purposes
1. Information for foreign nationals applying for a visitor visa for employment purposes: 
   Chinese website:Click here
   English website:Click here
    
2. Information for foreign nationals applying for a resident visa for employment purposes:
   Chinese website:Click here
   English website:Clike here
 
Where to apply:
1. Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Telephone:(02) 2343-2888
Address:3-5F, No. 2-2, Sec. 1, Jinan Rd., Taipei City 10051 (North Building, Joint Central Government Office Building)
Website:ChineseEnglish
 
2. MOFA Central Taiwan Office
Telephone:(04) 2251-0799
Address:1F, No. 503, Sec. 2, Liming Rd., Nantun Dist., Taichung City 40873
 
3. MOFA Southwestern Taiwan Office
Telephone:(05) 225-1567
Address:2F-1, No. 184, Wufeng N. Rd., East Dist., Chiayi City 60045
 
4. MOFA Southern Taiwan Office
Telephone:(07) 715-6600
Address:3-4F, No. 6, Chengnan St., Lingya Dist., Kaohsiung City (Southern Taiwan Joint Services Center, Executive Yuan)
 
5. MOFA Eastern Taiwan Office
Telephone:(03) 833-1041
Address:6F, No. 371, Zhongshan Rd., Hualien City, Hualien County 970
 
Note:When applying for a visa, please follow the relevant regulations of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
 
Step 3Foreign workers who are issued a resident visa or an extendable visitor visa for more than 60 days without restrictions must apply for an ARC from the National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior.
 
Foreign workers entering Taiwan on a resident visa must apply for an ARC within 15 days of entry.  
 
Foreign workers entering Taiwan on an extendable visitor visa of more than 60 days without restrictions must apply to convert their visa to an ARC. 
 
Where to apply:
Various Service Centers of the National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior, Republic of China (Taiwan)
Telephone:(02) 2388-9393
Website:ChineseEnglish
 
Required documents
  • 1. Multiple-Purpose Application Form for Foreigners (PDF file download) (Word file download)
  • 2. One two-inch frontal half-length photo without hat taken within the past year
  • 3. The original copy and one photocopy of the applicant’s passport and resident visa (the original copy will be returned after inspection)
  • 4. Approval letter issued by the competent authority for the relevant sector and an employment certificate issued within the past month
  • 5. Current residence documentation (e.g., lease contract or photocopy of the property ownership certificate together with a photocopy of the front and back of the property owner’s National R.O.C. ID Card and a document stating the property owner’s approval)
 
Note:When applying for an Alien Resident Certificate, please follow the relevant regulations of the National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior.
 
 
Contact Information:
Workforce Development Agency Ministry of Labor LOGO
Workforce Development Agency Ministry of Labor
Telephone:(02) 8995-6000
Address:10F, No. 39, Sec. 1, Zhonghua Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City
“Working Expats in Taiwan” website:
Click here
Workforce Development Agency Ministry of Labor EZ Work Permit LOGO
Workforce Development Agency Ministry of Labor EZ Work Permit
Contact person:Officer Huang Hu-chun
Telephone:(02) 2380-1720
Website:
Click here
Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs LOGO
Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Telephone:(02) 2343-2888
Website:
ChineseEnglish
Service Centers of the National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior LOGO
Service Centers of the National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior
Telephone:(02) 2388-9393
Website:
ChineseEnglish