Hoping this question has not been previously asked…
I was granted a 60 day Non-extendable Visitor Visa recently. Setting aside not being happy with the “no extension” part… Will I be able to change the Visitor Visa into a Work Permit after finding a suitable job in Taiwan?
The last thing I want to do is work in some other country. I simply like Taiwan that much.
[quote=“adventuretraveler”]Hoping this question has not been previously asked…
I was granted a 60 day Non-extendable Visitor Visa recently. Setting aside not being happy with the “no extension” part…Will I be able to change the Visitor Visa into a Work Permit after finding a suitable job in Taiwan?
The last thing I want to do is work in another country. I simply like Taiwan that much.[/quote]
yes…but your syntax is wrong…you get a work permit and then get the visa reissued…
Once you have a work permit you will get an Alien Residence Certificate (ARC) and a re-entry permit in your passport. You can then leave and enter Taiwan without an ROC visa by showing your passport and ARC at Taiwan immigration (international air or sea port). You can retain the ARC as long as you work for the same employer.
In the process of changing from visitor to working resident, you will almost certainly have to leave Taiwan one time. You can go anywhere where there is a Taiwan representative office - Hong Kong is where most people go.
Is there any way around doing a visa run, as you say? Like let’s say I get to Taiwan and find a job w/ARC. I 1) have to wait for the ARC to be approved (2 weeks?) and then 2) make the visa run.
Has it always been this way, or is this a new development? I have been wanting to go to Taiwan forever, so I lurked on here a long time ago, but stuff just kept coming up so I haven’t gotten around to leaving until now.
Oh and one more thing: Do I have to make the visa run as soon as I get my ARC? Or can I wait until my visitor visa is about to expire? I don’t want to spend the funds for a visa run before I receive my first paycheck or two.
In 2002 I came back from China got a 1 month “non-extendable” visa in Hong Kong. Arrived back in Taiwan applied for work permit had residency visa issued and didn’t have to leave the country again.
Just my experience. Things may have changed.
This time I’ve come in without a visa (i.e. 30 day visa waiver) and am asssuming won’t be abl to do it this way again.