Your Ultimate Guide to the Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) in Taiwan

• Consistency is key: Stick with the same Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) type for the required five-year period. Mixing ARC types won't fulfill the requirement.

• The starting date matters: Your five-year count begins on the day your ARC is issued, not January 1st.

• Always carry your passport: This crucial piece of identification can be required unexpectedly during the process.

• Verify your documents: Make sure you double- and even triple-check that you have all necessary documents before leaving home.

• Taiwanese spouse exemption: Having a Taiwanese spouse does not exempt you from needing an open work permit. Even dependent ARC holders must apply for a work permit after receiving their APRC.

• The ability to declare yourself unemployed and receive related welfare benefits (because, let's face it, life happens)

• Eligibility to join the new government pension plan (because we all want to retire with some style)

• No need to renew your ARC every few years (say goodbye to paperwork—well, some of it).

• Potential benefits for purchasing phone plans, getting credit cards, or getting slightly lower interest rates for bank loans depend on the phone company or bank.

• An open work permit (no need for an employer—freedom, here we come!)

• Potential loss of tax benefits if you have a gold card or special professional visa

• Your APRC can be revoked if you're a white-collar professional or special professional and leave Taiwan without returning for five years.

• If you leave Taiwan for more than a year without staying at least 183 days and you don't file online, your APRC can be revoked.

• Committing certain crimes can lead to your APRC being revoked (so, let's keep it legal, folks!).

• If you had a dependent ARC before, your new APRC will no longer have your spouse or family member printed on it.

• Extended Leaves: If you step out of Taiwan for more than 90 days during this process, you'll need a health check and a criminal record from your home country upon return. Think of it as a souvenir for extended vacations.

• Certain ARCs: If your ARC is related to student status, marine fishing/netting work, household assistance, nursing, or if you've been part of major national projects or economic/social development initiatives, these won't count towards your APRC residency requirement. Think of them as extracurricular activities rather than course credits.

• Change in ARC Nature: Shifting gears between missionary work and professional work? Beware, as your counting game for residency restarts. It's like changing the sport in the middle of a match.

• Student visas do not count toward your five years of residency.

• A foreign national must have lived in Taiwan for five consecutive years and meet a few additional requirements.

• The five years of residency must be spent under the same type of ARC (Alien Resident Certificate).

• The five-year count begins on the first day an ARC is issued, not on January 1st.

• Double-check the working hours of offices, and always bring your passport. Make sure you have all the required documents before leaving your residence.

• Be thorough when filling out applications, such as including your middle name when applying for a criminal record certificate.

• Even people with dependent ARCs must apply for a work permit after they receive their APRC.

• Must be age 20 or older.

• Must be of decent character.

• You must have considerable property, skills, or talents that enable you to make a living on your own.

• Must be beneficial to national interests.

• Residential requirements do not apply to certain employment fields.

• Foreign nationals who possess the nationality of the R.O.C. concurrently shall not be allowed to apply for permanent residency.

• Normal Foreign Worker APRC: Tailored for international workers making Taiwan their long-term home.

• Gold Card/Special Professional APRC: Designed for recognized professionals with special contributions in key sectors.

• Spouse/Child of Taiwan, ROC National APRC: For foreign spouses or children of Taiwanese nationals.

• Dependent of a Foreign Skilled Professional APRC Holder: Meant for dependents accompanying their skilled professional family members in Taiwan.

• Investment (Plum Blossom) APRC: Extended to foreign investors contributing significantly to the Taiwanese economy.

• Missionary APRC: Granted to religious workers dedicated to spiritual guidance and humanitarian work in Taiwan.

• Residency: You either need 5 years under your belt, with 183+ days in-country each year, or 20 years total, with 10 of those including 183+ days per year. Exceptions are for specific job roles, such as fishermen or caregivers.

• Financial Stability or Skills: Prove you're not living paycheck to paycheck. Show an income double the minimum wage, property worth NT$5,000,000+, certification of impressive skills by the ROC government, or a special nod from the National Immigration Agency.

• Residency: You should have resided in Taiwan for at least three years, averaging 183 days per year. For those with a PhD from a Taiwanese university, this timeframe is shortened to two years.

• Financial Stability or Skills: You'll need to prove your financial stability or skills through:

• An average monthly income from the previous year that's double the monthly minimum wage (as of 2020, that's 47,600 NT per month).

• Chattel or real estate in Taiwan worth more than NT$5,000,000.

• A certificate issued by the ROC government showcasing your specialized skills or professionalism.

• Alternative conditions recognized by the National Immigration Agency could suffice.

• Remember, the above can be proven using a withholding tax certificate from your employer (with a company stamp), a tax payment certificate, or proof of your property or other assets in Taiwan worth more than NT$5,000,000.

• Income: You had an average monthly income in Taiwan last year that was more than double the minimum wage (i.e., over 47,600 NT per month as of 2020).

• Assets: You own property or other assets in Taiwan worth more than NT$5,000,000.

• Skills Certification: You hold a certificate issued by the ROC government verifying your specialized skills or professionalism, or showing that you've passed a technical test.

• Special Conditions: You meet any other conditions recognized by the National Immigration Agency. (One type of special condition is having a joint Taiwanese bank account holding more than NT$600,000.)

• Remember, the above can be proven using a withholding tax certificate from your employer (with a company stamp), a tax payment certificate, or proof of your property or other assets in Taiwan worth more than NT$5,000,000.

Eligibility:

• You can apply for permanent residency in one of the following circumstances:

• If the foreign skilled professional applies under the provisions of Article 25, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 2, of the Immigration Act, the spouse, minor children, and children over 20 years old who can't live independently due to a physical or mental disability can apply for permanent residency.

• If the foreign professional has been approved for permanent residence and the spouse, minor children, and children over 20 years old who can't live independently have legally resided in the Country continuously for five years, stayed in the Country for more than 183 days each year, and have behaved properly.

• The spouse and minor children of an alien with permanent residency approved based on investment immigration (Plum Blossom APRC) can also apply for permanent residency.

Documents: You'll need to provide:

• Proof of family relationships.

• If you have children over twenty years old who are unable to live independently due to a physical or mental disability, you'll need relevant supporting documents.

Remember, every journey begins with a single step (or, in this case, a few documents)!

Investment Requirements:

• Invest over NT 15 million in a profit-making Taiwanese enterprise, creating a minimum of five jobs for ROC nationals for three years.

• Or, invest over NT 30 million in Taiwanese government bonds for over three years.

Business Registration Documents:

• Provide your Business registration certificate (permit of business registration and business registration copy).

• Provide a list of your shareholders.

• Present your Company change registration card.

• Procure a letter from the Investment Commission, Ministry of Economic Affairs, issued within the last three months.

• Additional supporting documents may be requested for particular cases.

Keep in mind that every trip begins with a single step (or, in this case, a few documents)!

Residency Test

• You've been in Taiwan for 5 years and stayed more than 183 days each year.

• Or, you've been a long-term resident since before May 31, 2002, with 20 years under your belt, including over 183 days each year for at least ten years.

• Remember, your countdown starts from the day you got your ARC.

Documentation from Your Religious Organization

• A guarantee letter showing you're performing unpaid, full-time work and that the organization has your back for livelihood after securing permanent residency.

• The organization's permit from the Ministry of the Interior or registration of legal entities.

• Certificate of employment from the organization.

• Prove that you're not just praying but also working!

• Criminal Record: Show you're not a secret super-villain with police records from the past five years, both from Taiwan and your home country.

• Employment Verification: An approval letter and an employment letter are needed to show you're gainfully employed. Documents Prepare the following:

• One color photo

• Current and past passports

• Health exam

• Acceptance of employment documents

• Other ID documents

• 10,000 NT application fee.

• APRC application form

• Proxy: If paperwork is not your thing, a proxy can handle the application through a letter of authorization.

Remember, you have a 2-year window from meeting the residency requirement to apply, and all foreign documents need MOFA or Taiwan Representative Office authorization. Best of luck!

White-Collar or Special Professional:

• Just set foot in Taiwan once every five years. That's it!

For Missionaries, Dependents, Foreign Spouses, or Children:

• Apply for an exemption at the government's official website.

• Failing to do so could lead to the cancellation of your APRC. You can apply for exemptions multiple times in a row, with each application covering two years. Legalities:

• According to Article 18 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, if you leave Taiwan for more than five years without re-entering, the National Immigration Agency may revoke your permanent residence permit and cancel your APRC. Keep in mind:

• If you plan to be out for a while, it's wise to end your health insurance. Also, remember that if you stay over 90 days but less than 183 days in a year, your tax rate will jump to 18%.

• If you are a white collar professional or dependent. There is no need to give advance notice when leaving for an extended period of time.

• If you have another APRC type, you must apply for an exemption at the government website here.

• If you are a foreign professional, yes, you need to apply for an open work permit with the labor bureau after receiving your APRC. It's more of a formality, but it's necessary to comply with regulations.

• If you are the spouse/child of an ROC national: Yes, according to Article 51 of the Employment Service Act, even as an APRC holder, you still need to apply for an open work permit. The act states that anyone with permanent residence must apply for one.

• In other words, every APRC holder in Taiwan needs to apply for a work permit if they plan to work. Working without proper authority can result in fines.

• To apply for the open work permit, visit the nearest Ministry of Labor office, such as the one on Zhonghua Road Sec. 1, No 39, 10F in Taipei.

• Required documents include: application form AF-042 (provided at the office), a declaration statement (provided at the office), a copy of both sides of your APRC, two passport copies, a 1-inch photo, and 100 NT.

• If applying in person, processing time is approximately one hour. The office operates from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Alternatively, you can mail in the application, but it will take 12 working days, and payment must be made through the post office.