The Plum Blossom card news is very recent, with planned implementation in October 2018. It seems to be some kind of proposed fast-tracked process from residency to citizenship. We’ll see how this looks once it’s implemented.
The older Taiwan News article you mentioned is from March 2017. That was reporting on an older policy move to make it possible for approved members of a professional class to attempt to gain citizenship in Taiwan without renunciation of original citizenship. There are still lots of hoops to jump through in this process, which have been discussed at length in other threads. This older policy move has nothing to do with holding a Plum Blossom card.
If you are working in the university system here, you’ll have one of those official MOE certificates with your name, photo, and rank. That’s a key part of your qualifications if you want to follow the route discussed in the Taiwan News article linked above.
According to this government website (see link: https://www.immigration.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1089376&ctNode=30066) foreign (senior) professionals with a Plum Blossom Card are excempted for that 183 days rule (see below). So the original post (from afterspivak) was maybe outdated?
I am an APRC ( Plum Blo) card holder since 2012. I have not lived in Taiwan 183 days in a year, but I did visit Taiwan sometimes to relax. I did not have any issue to date. So not a problem.
I am reading the post (see url below) to get a Taiwanese passport based on the Plum Card (APRC). Does anyone know what is the current process we have to go through? I know that Plum Card holders don’t have to renounce their ‘original’ country.
Hey Guys, Is there any update on APRC plum blossom card holders’ Spouse visa? I heard that APRC PBC card holders’ spouses are eligible to apply for APRC as well, but I do not have any valid link to verify this. Anyone?
I do not have a spouse, so I have not inquired about this.
Since there are currently so few of us in Taiwan, I think the best plan of action would be to make an appointment with the Plum Blossom specialist at your local NIA office (or the office to which you applied). When you find out what’s the current situation, let us know!
“Foreign professional” means a foreign national engaging in professional work in the State.
“Foreign special professional” means a foreign professional as referred to in the preceding paragraph who possesses special expertise needed by the State in science & technology, the economy, education, culture, the arts, sports and other fields, as announced by the relevant central competent authority.
“Foreign senior professional” means a senior professional needed by the State as prescribed in Article 25 Paragraph 3 Subparagraph 2 of the Immigration Act.
Are Plum Blossom holders considered to be “foreign professionals,” or “foreign special professionals,” or “foreign senior professionals”?
If you think you qualify, then make an appointment with the Plum Blossom specialist at your local NIA office. I suspect they will laugh and say you already have residence rights, so why would you do that? But you could still ask.
Major difference is that with the normal APRC you need to remain in Taiwan for at least 183 days per year, while on the APRC plum blossom you have exactly the same rights as a normal APRC plus the benefit of not being required to stay 183 days/year, and on the top of that the process for citizenship seems easier. Please correct me if I am wrong.