The National Development Council has noted that the amended Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals took effect on January 1, 2026.
Easier pathways from study to work
Under the new revision, overseas Chinese or international students with an associate degree or higher from Taiwanese universities can stay and work in Taiwan during a two-year post-graduation extension period without needing to apply for a work permit.
The revised rules allow graduates from the top 200 universities worldwide to apply for individual work permits an engage in professional work.
In addition, the two-year work experience requirement for foreign nationals working in “specialized or technical fields” is now waived for graduates of the top 1500 universities worldwide. (Previously this exemption was only available to graduates of the top 500 universities.)
Fast-track to permanent residence
Under the previous rules, those who graduated in Taiwan with a master’s degree or higher could deduct one to two years from the continuous residency requirement when applying for permanent residence. The revision expands this to include overseas Chinese graduates with an associate degree or higher from a Taiwanese university, allowing deductions of one to three years.
Moreover, previous rules required foreign special professionals to reside in Taiwan for three years in order to apply for permanent residence. This is far less attractive compared to Japan’s J-Skip, which allows for permanent residence applications after just one year. The new revision eases restrictions by allowing certain foreign special professionals (global elites, such as those with annual income of over TWD 6 million) to apply for permanent residence after one year.
Extension of digital nomad visa
The revision has extended the maximum stay under the digital nomad visa from six months to two years.
Stronger social security coverage.
The revision allows foreign professionals with permanent residence to enroll in employment insurance, which includes unemployment benefits, living expense allowance during vocational training and parental leave subsidies.
The revision also allows foreign professionals without permanent residence to join the new labor pension system, enabling the accumulation of pension contributions even when changing jobs.
The revision introduces provisions for foreign professionals who have obtained permanent residence and have lived in Taiwan for over ten years. Those who have been assessed as physically mentally disabled will be eligible for certain disability care services such as home care, day care, and respite services; those with permanent residence who are over 65 or disabled and have resided in Taiwan for 10 years can apply for services such as home-based care, day care centers, and transportation assistance if they have been evaluated and meet certain criteria.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.