APRC - Plum Blossom Card

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.

Guy

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.

Hope this helps,
Guy

Oops, my eyes must have glazed over. The headline made it sound like a done deal.

Oh, that thing. Right.

Oh well, it looks like I’ll have to jump through all the old hoops after all. Thanks for the responses!

You’re welcome!

Guy

I am still confused about the 183 days!

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 So the original post (from afterspivak) was maybe outdated?

“持證人自發證後第二年起,每年居住未達一百八十三日者,將註銷永久居留證。但經主管機關同意者或為外國專業人才延攬及僱用法所稱之外國專業人才,不在此限(有關「年」之計算,自永久居留證發證後翌年起之一月一日開始計算);另經註銷外僑居留證,仍具有居留資格者,得於註銷後三十日內申請居留“

it was an old information. Immigration rules have been changed frequently in these years.

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.

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28 posts were split to a new topic: Advantages & disadvantages of naturalization

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.

On Jan 24 there is also this article: https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20190124004066-260407

Process (old style?):
https://articles.taiwanease.com/en/2017/07/09/turning-taiwanese-a-step-by-step-guide-to-acquiring-taiwanese-citizenship/

I don’t know about the process but I wish you well. If you can, please keep us posted as you learn more.

Guy

Here are some English-language articles on the newly streamlined path to citizenship for Plum Blossom APRC holders, first from CNA:

A few more details were added to the Taipei Times version:

Guy

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?

Thank you.

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!

Guy

Article 15 of Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals

OK. So we have these terms used in the Act:

Terms used in this Act are defined as follows:

  1. “Foreign professional” means a foreign national engaging in professional work in the State.
  2. “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.
  3. “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”?

Guy

As best I can tell: Foreign Senior Professionals.

Is it possible to change from a normal APRC to a Plum Blossom?

I have not heard of anyone doing so.

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.

Guy

Why on earth would you want to do that?

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.