You can call them but they only speak Chinese
It really does feel like they donât actually want to attract foreign workers with some of the things they do. Like thereâs a few influential people in government that want foreigners and get laws passed, but then the people who actually work in government donât want you here.
2 Likes
Actually gold card office can speak English, but the back office NIA person reviewing gold card doesnât from my experience calling in. So you could check with gold card office to see if they have suggestions.
5 Likes
Would you want foreigners in your country who canât even speak your language, and show no desire to learn it?
2 Likes
Thanks. The customer service number +886 (02)2796-7162 on the bottom of the page is the number to call?
Yes, it is, although when I called I got out through to normal immigration who didnât know anything about the gold card application process, so be prepared for that.
1 Like
This is the contact on the bottom of the GC application email I received 3 years ago:
âYou applied for ăEmployment Gold Cardă âŚ
If you have any questions about the application procedure or about living and working in Taiwan,
please visit the website Contact Taiwan(https://www.contacttaiwan.tw), or you can call +886-2-2311-2031, or sand an email to recruit@moea.gov.tw, we will serve you immediately.â
For example to call from the US you can call 011 886 2 23112031
I donât remember if this is the number for NIA, but you can call Taipei NIA and ask them to transfer you
1 Like
Thereâs a Gold Card helpdesk email posted a few months ago in this thread which speaks English and usually responds the same day.
3 Likes
I completed my passport inspection at an overseas TECO 3 days ago. Today the status has changed to IC Card in Process. I own a company overseas in the States with a branch office in SEA. Iâm planning to go to Taiwan in about 4 weeks to pick up my GC, once my tasks are wrapped up at our companyâs SEA branch office. Is there a window of time when we need to pick up our GC or is 4 weeks totally fine?
No. That is the service number for the NIA platform. It was being maintained by Chunghwa Telecom the last time I checked. They only speak Chinese, and more importantly, know nothing about the application.
There should be a number inside the platform in the message/update you received. It will have the name of the case officer (Ms. Lin, Ms. Lai etc). Some of them do speak at least some English.
The Gold Card Office Help desk will help you understand what they want and communicate with them if needed. This is their job and they are quite good at it.
I personally find their online chat extremely helpful. Scroll down on this page. Itâs on the right.
3 Likes
Thanks for all the replies!
Maybe the system has changed or it could be that different info is available at different steps in the process. I go to âCase Status Checkâ menu and type in my application ID. Then I see a âViewâ button and a âSupplementary Documents/Correctionsâ button next to my application row. I click the latter. My application shows up with an additional message on the top of the page in red fonts saying I need to provide some files. I donât see a case officer name or contact info there. Just a simple message.
Yes, their email is very responsive and provide helpful answers. I usually ask general questions (not specific to my application) there.
Good to know. 
Give them your case number and ask them specific questions so that they can do their job.
1 Like
I see what you wrote, but keep in mind English is one of the two official languages of Taiwan. Thatâs a decree of the Taiwan government:
Second, globally mobile workers need a visa somewhere first before knowing what language they need to learn. Like if Taiwan issues me a work visa, Iâll learn Taiwanâs variation of traditional Chinese. If Taiwan doesnât issue my GC and I move to Japan instead, Iâll learn Japanese. If I move to the Philippines instead Iâll learn Tagalog.
Thereâs desire to learn the local language, but I need to know what country will issue me a work visa before I know what language I need to learn. Taiwan didnât make English an official language by accident; they did it to attract workers from English speaking countries in specific.
3 Likes
That one is a goal to make locals bilingual to boost employment opportunities and attract international companies by 2030, but isnât saying English is an official language (nor planning to be by 2030).
3 Likes
Your impression is understandable but (I think) not correct.
There are most definitely people high up who have the vision for attracting foreign workers and have gotten the laws passed.
The low and mid-level civil servants who actually review the applicants and take the calls however lack that vision and are stifled by the system they work in. Their No. 1 priority is not to make mistakes that would reduce their bonus or slow down any possible promotion. There is no incentive to approving more Gold Card applications and a big downside to being the one who approved the gold card holder that ends up committing some awful crime. Moreover, while some of these caseworkers do speak English, many do not. The governmentâs âoperating systemâ is in Chinese. Itâs just not reasonable to expect these civil servants to speak English. These people are OK with you being here but not at the cost of their bonus or promotion. They are also usually quite mystified by why the applicants cannot follow directions and provide the requested documents. The entitled attitude of some applicants also sours them sometimes.
Yes, there are many people in Taiwan who speak excellent English but they cannot do this kind of job that requires decision-making. By law, the caseworkers must be civil servants who have passed the very difficult civil service exams and are highly unlikely to have lived overseas etc.
The Gold Card Office functions as an interface with the civil servant caseworkers. The people who work there speak excellent English and have a highly detailed knowledge of current Gold Card procedures. The problem has been recognized. There is a solution. Use it.
3 Likes
I would bet good money that you will not learn Chinese if you are granted a Gold Card. Few people do, and you seem unlikely to be one of them based on your attitude. I would be very happy if you prove me wrong.
1 Like
Hmm..I just saw one recently. You could post a screenshot including the Chinese with sensitive details blacked out or pm me.
Just printed off my residence authoriation form and heading to Tawian in a few weeks to begin this new chapter. My only question remaining is in regards to the address they are requesting for either my residence in Taiwan or rather a hotel. Is this address going to be the address printed on my gold card? If so, should I try to line up my apartment and give them that address so I donât have a hotel address tied to me for 3 years. haha thanks all
1 Like
If your application was overseas then the residential address was optional on the application form. Your Gold Card address will be blank initially when you collect it, then once you get an address you update it online within 30 days for free. You can update it as many times as you like.
1 Like
Perfect, thanks for the clarification.
1 Like