# Employing foreigner in a restaurant **URL:** \ **Category:** Legal - Work\ **Created:** [July 22, 2025, 8:15am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432 "2025-07-22T08:15:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kingkkcs](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Kingkkcs](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Kingkkcs)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 8:15am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/1 "2025-07-22T08:15:18Z")
Hello. I currenrly have Arc which is tied to my work permit in Manufacturing. I resign and looking for another job. A friend of mine who is a restaurant owner in Taipei want to hire me maybe as a receptionist, he is willing to apply me for a work permit. I cannot do kitchen jobs because I am not a chef. Is there anyone know what will be needing so the Ministry of Labor will give me work permit ---
**Author:** ![amitkattal](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/amitkattal/32/179602_2.png) [@amitkattal](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/amitkattal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 9:33am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/2 "2025-07-22T09:33:03Z")
What they need is your friend to apply for your permit with reason to why he wanna hire you. It’s not hard ---
**Author:** ![Kingkkcs](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Kingkkcs](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Kingkkcs)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 9:52am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/3 "2025-07-22T09:52:55Z")
Taiwan has a strict rule on hiring a foreigner in a hospitality industry ---
**Author:** ![BiggusDickus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/biggusdickus/32/90381_2.png) [@BiggusDickus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/BiggusDickus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 10:16am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/4 "2025-07-22T10:16:15Z")
> [@Kingkkcs](#): > > Hello. I currenrly have Arc which is tied to my work permit in Manufacturing. I resign and looking for another job. A friend of mine who is a restaurant owner in Taipei want to hire me maybe as a receptionist, he is willing to apply me for a work permit. I cannot do kitchen jobs because I am not a chef. Is there anyone know what will be needing so the Ministry of Labor will give me work permit I don’t see how you can get a work permit, unless you currently have open work rights. If you could provide evidence of being a chef that might work, but you can’t. The MOL know that if you are employed as a receptionist you will cook. It’s worth giving it a shot and applying, IMO. There is a serious labour shortage so perhaps the MOL will turn a blind eye. ---
**Author:** ![ppp](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/9de0a6/32.png) [@ppp](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/ppp)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 10:33am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/5 "2025-07-22T10:33:36Z")
many vietnam ppl in food court working. it honest work. some already married taiwanese. some are student… some dnt tell me anything… ---
**Author:** ![amitkattal](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/amitkattal/32/179602_2.png) [@amitkattal](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/amitkattal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 10:52am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/6 "2025-07-22T10:52:18Z")
It’s not. Plenty of foreigners work in restaurants as waiters full time ---
**Author:** ![BiggusDickus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/biggusdickus/32/90381_2.png) [@BiggusDickus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/BiggusDickus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 11:00am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/7 "2025-07-22T11:00:57Z")
> [@amitkattal](#): > > It’s not. Plenty of foreigners work in restaurants as waiters full time Tell the OP what the requirements are, then. Work experience and language skills are starters. ---
**Author:** ![Kingkkcs](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Kingkkcs](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Kingkkcs)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 11:12am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/8 "2025-07-22T11:12:07Z")
Because they have APRC and some are illegal immigrant. Some marry Taiwanese ---
**Author:** ![BiggusDickus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/biggusdickus/32/90381_2.png) [@BiggusDickus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/BiggusDickus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 11:14am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/9 "2025-07-22T11:14:16Z")
> [@Kingkkcs](#): > > Because they have APRC and some are illegal immigrant. Some marry Taiwanese As I said earlier I don’t think you’ll get it, but give the application a go. ---
**Author:** ![amitkattal](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/amitkattal/32/179602_2.png) [@amitkattal](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/amitkattal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 12:04pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/10 "2025-07-22T12:04:22Z")
I have seen indian waiters with zero mandarin working full time in indian restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Brianjones](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@Brianjones](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Brianjones)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 1:09pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/11 "2025-07-22T13:09:20Z")
They may have applied for work permits as chefs, who knows. Others are students maybe ? There is a new scheme for hospitality owners to hire foreigners as ‘interns’ who have studied here briefly. Not sure how quick or easy it will be to use for restaurant owners > **[Foreign internships for hospitality jobs expanded - Taipei Times](https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2025/07/15/2003840304)** > > Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan ---
**Author:** ![amitkattal](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/amitkattal/32/179602_2.png) [@amitkattal](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/amitkattal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 1:44pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/12 "2025-07-22T13:44:43Z")
> [@Brianjones](#): > > They may have applied for work permits as chefs, who knows. Yes so thats what i was saying that its upto the friend who will apply for the permit. He can make up any job to hire OP in his restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Brianjones](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@Brianjones](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Brianjones)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 1:46pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/13 "2025-07-22T13:46:57Z")
Yes but the guy will have to have some qualifications to show for that job and maybe work experience. India getting a chefs license and credentials is probably very easy. ---
**Author:** ![BiggusDickus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/biggusdickus/32/90381_2.png) [@BiggusDickus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/BiggusDickus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/14 "2025-07-22T14:43:11Z")
> [@amitkattal](#): > > I have seen indian waiters with zero mandarin working full time in indian restaurants. Those are the requirements then? ---
**Author:** ![BiggusDickus](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/biggusdickus/32/90381_2.png) [@BiggusDickus](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/BiggusDickus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/15 "2025-07-22T14:49:43Z")
> [@amitkattal](#): > > > [@Brianjones](#): > > > > They may have applied for work permits as chefs, who knows. > > Yes so thats what i was saying that its upto the friend who will apply for the permit. He can make up any job to hire OP in his restaurant. The OP is asking about what is required to have a work visa as a receptionist in a restaurant. I think his employer can probably get one for him. However, none of us , other than me, are telling him what he legally needs. ---
**Author:** ![springonion](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/springonion/32/209244_2.png) [@springonion](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/springonion)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 6:40am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/16 "2025-07-23T06:40:08Z")
> [@Kingkkcs](#): > > A friend of mine who is a restaurant owner in Taipei want to hire me maybe as a receptionist, he is willing to apply me for a work permit. I cannot do kitchen jobs because I am not a chef. Is there anyone know what will be needing so the Ministry of Labor will give me work permit To apply for a white collar work permit, you must show/prove to the Govt. what unique/special skills or abilities you possess that **no other average** Taiwanese have [e.g **Language skills** (English or any other language besides Chinese), **cooking skills** (can cook special dishes of other countries like Indian dishes or Italian dishes that no Taiwanese can cook)] & why the prospective Employer should hire you and not a Taiwanese? In my opinion, unless your friend’s restaurant has a client base which consists of 90%+ foreigners who regularly visits his restaurant and thus, will need a receptionist who is fluent in English or any other foreign language, the Govt. will deem this position can be filled by a regular Taiwanese and will reject your application. This is done to protect the jobs of locals. > [@Kingkkcs](#): > > Taiwan has a strict rule on hiring a foreigner in a hospitality industry This is true as most positions in the hospitality industry are filled by Taiwanese or by Blue Collar workers. Only top positions like General Managers or CEO’s of Hotels or Chefs can hope to get a White Collar work permit in this industry. > [@ppp](#): > > many vietnam ppl in food court working. it honest work. > > some already married taiwanese. some are student > [@amitkattal](#): > > Plenty of foreigners work in restaurants as waiters full time Almost all Vietnamese women are married to locals and have applied for Citizenship and hold ID cards. Foreigners who work in restaurants usually hold a student work permit and they cannot work more than 20 hours a week. The waiters you see working full time are usually doing it illegally and rarely get caught unless someone reports them to the authorities. > [@amitkattal](#): > > I have seen indian waiters with zero mandarin working full time in indian restaurants. It’s because they are doing it illegally. Ask me how I know. Or those “waiters” are probably hired as chefs or managers (with a high salary) but they are doing the work of waiters for a much lower salary. ---
**Author:** ![Zllig](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/d07c76/32.png) [@Zllig](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Zllig)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 6:44am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/17 "2025-07-23T06:44:21Z")
In my experience you’re out of luck. Even if the restaurant owner applied for a chef permit, you still need to provide proof that you are an “exceptional” chef or whatever. I ran into this issue a few years ago when my friend tried to apply for a work permit so I could run his bar. Wasn’t possible despite my experience. Of course, that changed pretty quickly afterwards and bartender is now on the list of jobs that can be granted a work permit (Whatever I have PR now anyway). I believe another issue is pay. Pretty sure the minimum wage for an overseas worker is ~48k. Is your friend really going to give you ~48k to be a receptionist? ---
**Author:** ![Brianjones](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@Brianjones](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Brianjones)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 6:58am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/18 "2025-07-23T06:58:43Z")
> [@springonion](#): > > Almost all Vietnamese women are married to locals and have applied for Citizenship and hold ID cards. Foreigners who work in restaurants usually hold a student work permit and they cannot work more than 20 hours a week. The waiters you see working full time are usually doing it illegally and rarely get caught unless someone reports them to the authorities. In many if not most countries worldwide many of the staff in restaurants are working semi legally or illegally e.g. Working off the books, not declaring all income, not getting work permit for that job, working extra hours than permitted. Really common. ---
**Author:** ![bingobango](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/bingobango/32/227979_2.png) [@bingobango](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/bingobango)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 10:02am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/employing-foreigner-in-a-restaurant/252432/19 "2025-07-23T10:02:36Z")
> [@springonion](#): > > It’s because they are doing it illegally. Ask me how I know How do you know? lol