Hey,
I am a Danish guy who entered Taiwan in 2020 and received a normal ARC card through my company. After 4 years liveing in Taiwan on a normal ARC I apllied and obtained a Gold Card. In short, I have been in Taiwan with a mix of normal ARC and Gold card. After staying in Taiwan for more than 5 years in total, I am considering to apply for APRC, and would like to get clarified if this mix of residency and work permit makes me eligible to apply for APRC. Thanks in advance
Why did you go for a gold card after 4 years?
You were only one year from an APRC. I think a gold card resets the clock.
I don’t remember the exact policy but I thought as long as your ARC is a professional work one, and not something such as dependent ARC, then it should still count towards your 5 years, since Gold card is still considered a professional work visa. You could call into NIA to check.
You will be able to apply for APRC, but you will be approved under Article 25 of the Immigration Act rather than under the Foreign Talent Act a foreign specialist professional since you haven’t done a full 3 years on a Gold Card or a full 5 years as a foreign professional.
What that essentially means is your APRC type won’t include benefits such as a better condition for it to not be revoked, sponsoring extended visas for parents etc.
See FAQ “Before obtaining a Gold Card, I resided in Taiwan on an ARC for a period of time. Can this be counted towards the three years needed for permanent residency?”
An update that will likely affect Gold Card to APRC applicants given that a police check isn’t required for a Gold Card application:
C.申請人最近五年每次出國在三個月內免附本國警察刑事紀錄證明，惟申請居留時或在臺居留期間未曾檢附者，於申請永久居留時，仍須檢附本國警察刑事紀錄證明。
C. For each trip abroad within the past five years that did not exceed three months, the applicant is not required to submit a police criminal record certificate from home country. However, if such a certificate was not previously submitted at the time of applying for residence or during the period of residence in Taiwan, it must still be provided when applying for permanent residence.
If you have never submitted a police check from your home country to NIA before, then you will need to submit one regardless of the not being 3 months out of Taiwan exemption rule.