The most recent relevant post I found was here: Visitors Visa - So Confused (can you get a work permit on a visa-free entry?) - #65 by Hardcopy
but my guess is it’s different now compared to COVID times. I’ve been looking at how this situation works so I thought I’d share here to have more up-to-date information.
My current research is below - BOCA link:
Relevant quote:
White-collar professionals who enter Taiwan via visa exemption and have obtained a work permit […] granted for a period over 6 months, shall apply for their residency directly to the National Immigration Agency according to the “Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals.”
NIA page which mentions this conversion:
Everything seems the same as a normal ARC application, except for this part:
The Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) is charged at NTD 1,000 per item per year of validity. However, for applicants entering the ROC via visa-exempt entry or holding a visitor visa, an additional fee of NTD 2,200 is charged.
So if I’m understanding correctly, one could
- Enter Taiwan on 90-day visa-exempt
- Find a job & apply for a work permit
- ?Get a health check & criminal background check? The NIA page above isn’t easy to read (e.g. “Applicants under Subparagraph 4 of Item 2 of the first point above are exempt”), and online I found lots of conflicting information - some websites say those are needed for the work permit, some for the ARC, some don’t mention them at all.
- Use the work permit to apply to convert directly to an ARC at the NIA, no need to go to BOCA. Unfortunately a 3-year ARC will cost a whopping $5,500 with the extra fees.
I am unclear on:
- When can you start working? Immediately after work permit approval, or receiving the work permit, or applying for an ARC, or receiving an ARC? I had a call with BOCA where they said immediately upon approval, but I can’t find confirmation online.
- What are the timing restrictions? I remember my first resident visa said I had to apply for an ARC within 15 days, I’m unclear if there’s a similar time limit to apply for an ARC conversion after receiving a work permit in this case. The wording on the BOCA site above is unclear, but my personal reading of it is that as long as you’re able to get everything handled without overstaying your visa, you’re good.