Taiwan eases entry rules to attract global talent and digital nomads
TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Taiwan’s Cabinet has approved a draft amendment aimed at loosening regulations for foreign professionals to sharpen the country’s competitiveness in the global talent race.
The proposal would allow graduates from the world’s top 200 universities within the past five years to enter Taiwan and seek employment without a job offer in hand.
However, eligible individuals must still apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor before arrival, said Hsieh Chia-yi, Director General of the National Development Council’s (NDC) Department of Human Resources Development.
Work experience rules to be relaxed
The proposed amendment also expands an existing exemption from Taiwan’s two-year work experience requirement. Currently, only graduates from the world’s top 500 universities are eligible. The new rule would extend this benefit to graduates from the top 1,000 universities globally.
The list of qualifying institutions will be determined by the Ministry of Education using internationally recognized rankings.
Longer stays for digital nomads
The Taiwan government also plans to extend the length of stay under its digital nomad visa program. Launched in early 2025, the current visa allows for a three-month stay, renewable once for a maximum of six months.
Under the amendment, remote workers will be allowed to stay in Taiwan for up to two years, making it one of the more generous digital nomad programs in Asia.
Legislative approval still needed
The changes are part of a proposed revision to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, which still requires legislative approval. If passed, the reforms would shift Taiwan’s talent strategy at a time when countries worldwide are competing to attract high-skilled workers.
Kao revealed that by 2028, the country could face a shortfall of approximately 350,000 skilled workers. To combat this, the government has set a target of attracting 200,000 highly skilled and mid-level skilled workers to Taiwan by the same year.
