As per title (since I couldn’t find where we were discussing the changes to the legislation)
[quote]The Executive Yuan has approved a visa program aimed at attracting highly qualified foreign personnel to come to Taiwan for [color=#0000FF]academic exchanges, employment or investment[/color], a government economic planner said Friday. “Under the program, three [color=#0000FF]special cards – an academic and commercial travel card, an employment pass and a ‘plum blossom’ permanent residency card [/color]-- will be issued from next year to attract outstanding foreign professionals,” said San Gee, vice chairman of the Cabinet-level Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD).
According to San, the CEPD-proposed special visa program emulates the United States' green card, the European Union's blue card, South Korea's IT card, gold card and science card in loosening restrictions on the entry of highly qualified foreign personnel to make them more willing to come to Taiwan to share professional expertise or invest in local industries. "Under the program, procedures for persons of international repute and senior professionals to apply for entry and residency will be simplified in line with the global trend of attracting outstanding talent," San added.
He further explained that international heavyweights in their fields who want to enter Taiwan for purposes other than work will be issued "academic and commercial travel cards" valid for up to three years, with no limit on the number of visits and eligible to stay for a maximum of 30 days on each visit.
Highly qualified foreign personnel intending to take a job in Taiwan will be issued a "four-in-one" card known as an "employment pass, " which incorporates a visa, work permit, alien resident's certificate and re-entry permit, San said.
For those intending to immigrate to Taiwan based on their professional expertise or investment, "plum blossom" permanent residency cards will be issued, San said.
The Ministry of the Interior will flesh out detailed regulations covering application procedures, required documents and qualifications, the CEPD official added.
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From CNA