Taiwan · Startup Visa
Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa for Startup Founders
Taiwan's Entrepreneur Visa lets foreign founders live on the island for two years while they build a company. The Ministry of Economic Affairs screens credentials first, and no company has to exist before the application.
- Startup route
- Entrepreneur Visa
- Minimum capital
- No fixed minimum; one of several MOEA criteria
- Permanent residence
- 5 years; 3 for Gold Card holders
- Citizenship
- 5 consecutive years, over 183 days each
Entrepreneur Visa
Taiwan has offered the Entrepreneur Visa since 2015 to founders who want to start or grow an innovative business there. The Department of Investment Review of the Ministry of Economic Affairs checks eligibility under the Review Directions of Entrepreneur Visa Qualification for Foreign Nationals. An applicant qualifies by meeting one of several criteria, such as investment from a venture capital firm or the National Development Fund, at least TWD 2 million raised on a government-approved fundraising platform, a recommendation from an approved startup park or incubator, an invention or design patent, or an award in a recognized startup or design competition. Individuals and small founding teams may apply. After approval, the founder receives a resident visa and an Alien Resident Certificate valid for two years.
- Validity
- 2 years at first; extensions of up to 2 years each
- Processing time
- 30 working days, excluding passport verification
- Government fee
- TWD 4,200 from abroad; TWD 5,000 in Taiwan (most nationalities)
- Family
- Spouse and children under 18 can apply as dependents
- Company needed first
- No; the business can be set up after arrival
- Leads to
- APRC after 5 years of qualifying residence
Requirements
- Meet one MOEA criterion, such as venture capital or National Development Fund investment, or at least TWD 2 million raised on an approved fundraising platform.
- Other qualifying criteria include recommendation by an approved startup park or incubator, an invention or design patent, or a recognized startup or design award.
- Hold a passport valid for at least six months.
- Team applicants add a letter of intent signed by the entrepreneurial team.
- People currently staying in Taiwan as blue-collar workers cannot apply.
How to apply
- Register on the NIA Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform, upload scanned qualification evidence and pay the fee online.
- Wait for the MOEA qualification review; the NIA notifies the result by email.
- Within six months of approval, present your passport at a Taiwan overseas mission or the Bureau of Consular Affairs for the resident visa.
- After entry, upload the visa page within 30 days and collect the Alien Resident Certificate at the chosen NIA service center.
Employment Gold Card
Founders with a strong professional record often consider the Employment Gold Card instead of, or after, the Entrepreneur Visa. It combines a resident visa, Alien Resident Certificate, open work permit and re-entry permit in one card, so the holder can launch a company, freelance or change employers without a sponsor. Eligibility is assessed in one professional field, such as digital, economy, finance, science and technology or biotechnology, against published criteria like senior salary levels, awards or specialist expertise. Cards run for one, two or three years and can be extended. Gold Card residence counts toward permanent residence after three years, and qualifying first-time workers in Taiwan may claim a 50% exemption on salary income above TWD 3 million for five years.
- Validity
- 1, 2 or 3 years, chosen when applying
- Processing time
- Can exceed 60 business days with complete documents
- Government fee
- TWD 3,700–5,700 for most passports; more for US applicants abroad
- Work rights
- Open work permit; no employer sponsor needed
- Family
- Spouse and children may apply for dependent residence
- Leads to
- APRC after 3 years of Gold Card residence
Requirements
- Qualify under the published criteria of one professional field, such as digital, economy, finance, or science and technology.
- Apply under only one field in each application.
- Provide documentary proof matching the chosen criterion, such as salary records, awards or professional credentials.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee for the selected validity period.
How to apply
- Run the Gold Card Qualification Check to see which field and criterion may apply.
- Submit the online application with supporting evidence and pay the fee.
- Wait for the qualification review by the competent ministry and the NIA assessment.
- Collect the card in Taiwan or abroad after passport inspection.
Choosing between the Entrepreneur Visa and the Gold Card
The two routes suit founders at different stages. The Entrepreneur Visa looks at the venture: outside funding, a place in an approved incubator, protected intellectual property or a competition prize. The Gold Card looks at the person's record, such as past salary, awards or recognized expertise, and does not ask whether a business exists yet. A founder who qualifies for both may find the Gold Card more flexible, because it already includes an open work permit, while NIA guidance says Entrepreneur ARC holders must still obtain work permission under the Employment Service Act.
The routes also differ once residence begins. Entrepreneur ARC extensions depend on measurable business results in Taiwan, including revenue, operating spending or local hiring, so founders benefit from keeping clean accounts and payroll records from the first month. Gold Card holders face no business test at renewal and reach a three-year permanent residence track, compared with five years for most other foreign residents. Both routes allow a spouse and minor children to join the main applicant.
What changed in Taiwan in 2025 and 2026
Amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals passed the Legislative Yuan on August 29, 2025, and the National Development Council announced that the revised Act took effect on January 1, 2026. The changes leave the Entrepreneur Visa criteria in place but matter to founders planning a long stay. Certain foreign special professionals described as global elites, such as people earning over TWD 6 million a year, can now seek permanent residence after one year, and graduates of Taiwanese universities can deduct more time from residence requirements.
Questions and answers
Do I need to register a company before applying for Taiwan's Entrepreneur Visa?
No. The Entrepreneur Visa lets a founder qualify on credentials such as funding, an incubator recommendation, a patent or an award before any company exists. Renewal is different: to extend residence, the Taiwan business must show results such as revenue, operating expenses or full-time local employees.
Can my family come with me on the Entrepreneur Visa?
Yes. A spouse, children under 18 and adult children who cannot live independently because of a disability can apply for residence as foreign family members through the same NIA platform. They choose a one-year or two-year residence period, and their fees are lower than those of the principal applicant.
How long does Taiwan take to process an Entrepreneur Visa?
The NIA lists 30 working days for the combined Entrepreneur Visa and resident visa application. That figure excludes passport verification, correction requests and other delays. After MOEA approval, applicants have six months to present their passport at a Taiwan mission or the Bureau of Consular Affairs, or the application is rejected.
Is the Gold Card a better fit than the Entrepreneur Visa for founders?
It depends on the profile. The Gold Card rewards an individual's achievements and includes an open work permit, so it suits experienced professionals. The Entrepreneur Visa rewards evidence about the venture, such as investment or incubation, and can suit earlier-stage founders who do not meet Gold Card salary or award criteria.
Official sources
- Guidelines for Online Application for Entrepreneur Visa and Resident Visa (National Immigration Agency)www.immigration.gov.tw
- Resident Visa for Entrepreneurs (Bureau of Consular Affairs)www.boca.gov.tw
- Review Directions of Entrepreneur Visa Qualification for Foreign Nationals (MOEA)law.moea.gov.tw
- Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa (Taiwan Gold Card)goldcard.nat.gov.tw
- Application Information (Taiwan Gold Card)goldcard.nat.gov.tw
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in Taiwan.
Startup visa
Entrepreneur Visa after an MOEA qualification review; 2-year residence
02Temporary residence
Entrepreneur ARC renewed for up to 2 years when the business performs
03Permanent residence
APRC after 5 years of 183-day residence; 3 years on a Gold Card
04Citizenship
Naturalization after 5 years; original nationality usually renounced