Hello everyone, I’m hoping someone can help clarify this situation.
As of January 1, a new rule allows Gold Card holders to apply for an APRC after one year of residence in Taiwan, provided they meet the NTD 6 million annual income requirement. I’ve lived in Taiwan for a little over two years, so the residency requirement is met.
I own two companies in the United States and do not have an employer or registered company in Taiwan. My income is earned overseas, but I do pay taxes in Taiwan on that income.
From what I understand, under the new rules the NTD 6 million income must either:
Be earned in Taiwan, or
Be proven through a Taiwan tax return after filing (typically in May).
I contacted Kaohsiung NIA (SC1), and they told me the income needs to be earned in Taiwan, and they were unsure how overseas income applies in this case. I’m mostly satisfied with that response, but still a bit uncertain.
I’ve seen some people mention that they applied for an APRC using overseas salary pay stubs or other documentation, which is why I’m confused.
My question is:
If I already meet the income requirement and paid Taiwan taxes on that income last year, do I still need to wait until I file my next tax return in May before applying? Or is there another accepted way to prove eligibility using overseas income?
If anyone has direct experience with this or recent guidance, I’d really appreciate hearing about it. Thank you!
In the final stages of my Gold Card application process. After submitting my passport for inspection to the local TECO, the MOFA has now decided that I need to provide a Taiwanese phone number within 30 days.
AFAIK this isn’t normally a requirement for a first application. More importantly, it’s practically impossible to get unless you’re already in Taiwan.
I’ve sent an email to the Gold Card Office, but wonder if anyone else has had to deal with this particular issue?
Exactly what was sent to you? Is this in writing? If so, copy and paste what was sent to you as the wording matters. The rule I know of is as follows:
You must register your address within 30 days of entry into Taiwan. Maybe they also want you to register your phone number within 30 days of entry into Taiwan also?
Please note that the online application platform requires applicants to provide their mobile phone number in Taiwan (starting with 09XXX) and residential address.
The message in the online application platform is: 未填在台聯絡手機號碼.
The local TECO clarified by phone that the Taiwanese phone number field has a red asterisk on their end, so they had no choice but to reject my application with that message.
To be clear: I’m not in Taiwan yet, and I believe I should not go there until NIA prepares the approval/collection letter, which should be right after the local TECO approves my application.
Normally they wouldn’t straight out reject it but rather click an option to return it to the applicant for supplemental documentation. Rejection means would need to reapply over again.
Yeah as you would be stamped in as visa-exempt rather than a resident and likely need to go get things updated on NIAs computer system once issued the card. Also the airlines might want to see a ticket out of Taiwan if don’t have the resident document.
Apologies if this has been covered in this thread already but I’m trying to determine the likelihood of my wife being approved for a gold card under the economics category. She does marketing (as an individual contributor, not director or executive etc) for Apple and makes more than 160K NT/month. Any ideas? Thanks
That depends on whether they’d accept her in any of the fields. Marketing in general doesn’t seem to be that easy as there doesn’t seem to be a “marketing path” in any field as far as I remember.
However, Apple being a well-known tech company, I could imagine that there is a possibility that they accept her under Digital or Economy.
She would need to carefully check the requirements for those fields - and then make sure to make her position sound like a good fit to the field she chooses to apply.
But maybe some else can comment with some practical experience…
I’ve read the requirements. They’re vague as hell.
“Must meet ONE of the following conditions:
1. Previously or currently holding a position at an economic company or in an economic field in a foreign state or in the ROC with a most recent monthly salary of at least NT$160,000.”
Hi everyone,
I’m a foreign-licensed corporate lawyer (VC/M&A / commercial transactions) planning a long-term move to Taiwan and, eventually, APRC.
I know this is a pretty niche situation, so I’m hoping someone here has seen this in practice.
My dilemma: the years that would qualify me for a Gold Card are all from work as a lawyer at a law firm, which is why I’m assuming any application other than under the jurisdiction of the MOJ would realistically be rejected (or routed to it).
Questions:
In practice (post-2023 / 2024), if your qualifying work history is as a lawyer at a law firm, is applying under Economy basically a dead end? Or have people still succeeded under Economy in this situation? I understand the limitations on providing legal advice from Taiwan in practice, but I’d like to understand the prospect of attaining the Gold Card itself under this route.
For the Law/MOJ route: how is it actually done in real life (MOJ Foreign Legal Affairs Attorney permit → local bar membership → Gold Card)? What timeline and documents should I realistically expect?
The “sponsor / local firm name & address” issue: I’ve read that the MOJ permit process requires a local firm name/address.
If you don’t already have a Taiwanese firm lined up, can you proceed as a sole proprietor / foreign legal affairs office using your own address?
If yes: are there additional requirements (e.g., specific permits/registrations) to establish the proprietorship before/while applying? I’m concerned about not being able to set up a proprietorship due to not having a stay permit (kind of a chicken and egg paradox, I guess).
If no: what does the ‘sponsoring/host’ firm actually take on in practice, and how do people typically go about finding one?
Any post-2024 (or late-2023+) success stories from foreign lawyers getting a Gold Card via either route (Economy or Law/MOJ)? Even a short outline would help.
Thanks so much in advance - I’m trying to know if this is just a pipe dream, or if there exists an angle that would actually let me move.
8184 Gold Cards are currently valid, of which 12 (twelve) are for law - the lowest of any category offered. So no, you probably can’t get approved as a lawyer unless your company is doing the transfer and there’s something super duper special about you.
HOWEVER, it doesn’t sound impossible to me if you’re flexible and creative. Shoot an email over to the Gold Card helpdesk describing your situation and listing what your income was in the last 3 tax years as well as your all your various work duties in those years.
Taiwan approves thousands of people with nebulous job descriptions under the economic or digital categories. You say you do mergers and acquisitions. Hype up that part of your resume, or maybe focus on any technology related part of your job. Getting the GC is kind of the easy part. Actually being successful in business here is a whole different story. If you have a lot of personal savings and overseas income it can still be worth it though.
At the very least do not give up without shooting the GC helpdesk an email. It took me 4 months and multiple resubmissions with help and tips from the helpdesk to get approved under the digital category a couple years ago, but I was persistent and ultimately did get approved.
Are you planning to start a company and do business in Taiwan? Because if so, you have other paths at your disposal besides the gold card. GC would probably be easiest and does come with some benefits, but for your long term goal of APRC, you can get there perhaps with very little change in plan even if the gold card doesn’t work out.
Thank you very much. I don’t know anything about the other paths, but I will try looking into them. If you think any particular path may be relevant, I’d be happy if you could point me at the right direction slightly.
You’ll want to reach out to a CPA. I do have a recommendation if you want it. I think there’s been another one also shared on here often.
Iirc, it’s about $1M TWD in startup capital required to then self-sponsor your work permit as the director of the company. And then there are probably some minimal benchmarks your business must maintain to then allow you to be eligible for APRC after 5 years.
If the CPA you mentioned is an English speaker and comfortable working with foreigneers (especially those who are currently still out of Taiwan) - I would be delighted to receive the recommendation.