The Taiwanese government is planning a new card that enables highly skilled foreign professionals to apply for permanent residence within one year, reports Taiwan News, citing the National Development Council (NDC).
The Council is planning to launch the ‘global elite card’. The new visa will allow foreign professionals with an annual salary of more than TWD 6 million (US$187,612) to apply for foreign residence within one year. It will also enable them to get work permits for their spouses and permit unrestricted stays for dependent relatives.
According to Focus Taiwan, NDC deputy head Kao Shien-quey said that six years after the launch of the employment gold card, her agency was planning to issue ‘global elite’ cards to further attract highly skilled talent.
Currently, the employment gold card serves as an open work permit, allowing eligible foreign professionals — either those who earned more than TWD 160,000 (USD 5,003) per month in their previous job or who have a proven track record in designated fields — to stay and work in Taiwan for up to three years.
Under the proposal, the government also plans to issue one-year work permits to foreign graduates from top-ranking universities and “overseas Chinese students” who have recently graduated in Taiwan, allowing them to seek employment in the country, Kao said. ‘overseas’ refers to countries or regions other than China, Macao and Hong Kong.
The NDC aims to finalise the proposal and send it to the Legislature for approval soon. It is estimated that by 2028, the country will face a talent shortage of about 350,000 people. Kao said the government has set a goal to attract 200,000 highly skilled and mid-level skilled workers to Taiwan by 2028. (Source – SIA/Taiwan News)
