Taiwan · Permanent Residence
Taiwan Permanent Residence: APRC Routes
Taiwan's Alien Permanent Resident Certificate can be reached by time, by talent or by investment. Amendments in force since January 1, 2026 shortened the wait for some high earners and for holders of Taiwanese degrees.
- 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
Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (standard route)
Under Article 25 of the Immigration Act, a foreign national may apply after five consecutive years of legal residence with more than 183 days in Taiwan each year. Applicants must be at least 18, have good conduct and no criminal record, hold enough property or skills to support themselves, and meet national interests. Time spent as a student and in certain categories of approved employment does not count. Under the 2026 rules, foreign professionals with Taiwanese degrees need four years after an associate or bachelor's degree, three after a master's and two after a doctorate. Applications are due within two years of becoming eligible. Founders on the Entrepreneur ARC generally follow this route.
- Residence needed
- 5 consecutive years, over 183 days each year
- Minimum age
- 18
- Degree deductions
- Taiwanese degree: 2–4 years required instead of 5
- Filing window
- Within 2 years of becoming eligible
- Government fee
- Varies; confirm with the National Immigration Agency
- Family
- Spouse and minor children may apply with or after you
Requirements
- Five consecutive years of legal residence, with more than 183 days in Taiwan each year.
- Age 18 or older, with good conduct and no criminal record.
- Enough property or professional skills to support yourself.
- Compliance with national interests as assessed by the NIA.
- Not holding Republic of China nationality at the same time.
How to apply
- Confirm your residence days and that each year counts toward the five-year total.
- Gather income or asset evidence, a police clearance and residence records.
- Apply to the NIA within two years of becoming eligible.
- Collect the APRC once approved.
APRC for Gold Card holders and foreign special professionals
Gold Card holders and other foreign special professionals can apply after three consecutive years of residence, averaging at least 183 days a year in Taiwan. The Gold Card Office lists further conditions: adulthood, a clean record, and either average monthly income above twice the minimum wage in the latest year or assets in Taiwan over TWD 5 million. A Taiwanese master's degree cuts the wait to two years and a doctorate to one. Under the amendments in force since January 1, 2026, global elites, such as those with domestic salary and professional income of TWD 6 million or more in the latest year, may apply after one year.
- Residence needed
- 3 years, averaging 183 days a year
- Global elites
- 1 year, e.g. income of TWD 6 million or more
- Income or assets
- 2x monthly minimum wage, or over TWD 5 million in assets
- Degree deductions
- Taiwan master's: 2 years; doctorate: 1 year
- Dependents
- Spouse and children after 3 years' residence
Requirements
- Three consecutive years of Gold Card or special professional residence, averaging 183 days a year.
- Adult age and no criminal record.
- Average monthly income above twice the minimum wage in the latest year, or Taiwan assets over TWD 5 million.
- Apply within two years of becoming eligible, or the clock restarts on extension.
How to apply
- Count residence years and days from the Gold Card start date.
- Prepare income or asset evidence and a police clearance.
- Submit the APRC application to the NIA.
- Add dependents once they meet their own residence period.
Investment immigration (Plum Blossom Card)
Taiwan grants permanent residence to investment immigrants without the 183-day annual residence rule. Article 16 of the Regulations Governing Visiting, Residency, and Permanent Residency of Aliens, last amended on December 30, 2025, sets two tests: an investment of at least TWD 15 million in a profit-seeking enterprise that creates jobs for five or more Taiwanese nationals for at least three years, or at least TWD 30 million in central government bonds held for three years. The same Plum Blossom Card process serves people with special contributions and senior professionals. The permit can be revoked if average annual presence over the latest five years falls below 183 days.
- Business option
- TWD 15 million plus 5 local jobs for 3 years
- Bond option
- TWD 30 million in central government bonds for 3 years
- Residence rule
- No 183-day yearly requirement before applying
- Government fee
- TWD 10,000 per application
- Keeping status
- Average 183 days a year over the latest 5 years
Requirements
- Invest at least TWD 15 million in a profit-seeking enterprise and create jobs for five Taiwanese nationals for three years, or
- Hold at least TWD 30 million in central government bonds for three years.
- Meet the general good-conduct requirements for permanent residence.
- Maintain an average of 183 days a year in Taiwan after approval.
How to apply
- Obtain review and approval of the investment plan.
- Make the investment and keep evidence of jobs or bond holdings.
- Apply to the NIA for the Plum Blossom Card and pay the fee.
How the 2026 amendments reshaped the APRC timeline
The National Development Council's September 2025 summary of the amendments sets out the new residence table. Foreign special professionals keep a three-year rule, a Taiwanese master's degree now reduces it to two years and a doctorate to one. A new global elite tier allows applications after one year, or immediately for those who also hold a Taiwanese master's or doctorate. For ordinary foreign professionals the base rule stays at five years, with deductions of one to three years for Taiwanese degrees from associate level upward.
Permanent residence also opens social protections. Under the amended Act, foreign professionals with permanent residence can join employment insurance, which covers unemployment benefits and parental leave subsidies. Permanent residents who are over 65 or have a disability and have lived in Taiwan for ten years can apply for certain long-term care services. Founders who intend to stay should therefore compare the cost of maintaining day counts against these benefits early.
Questions and answers
Does Entrepreneur Visa residence count toward Taiwan's APRC?
Entrepreneur ARC time is legal residence and generally counts toward the standard five-year rule, provided you spend more than 183 days in Taiwan each year. Founders who later qualify for a Gold Card may reach the three-year track instead, so checking Gold Card criteria early can shorten the path.
Who counts as a global elite under the 2026 rules?
The National Development Council describes global elites as foreign special professionals meeting specific criteria, with an annual income above TWD 6 million given as an example. The Gold Card Office states that domestic salary and professional income of TWD 6 million or more in the latest year allows an APRC application after one year.
Can I lose a Taiwan APRC after receiving it?
Yes. NIA guidance for Plum Blossom Card holders states that the permit can be revoked if average annual residence over the most recent five years falls below 183 days, with some exceptions. Holders who travel heavily should track days carefully and check which exceptions might apply.
Official sources
- Immigration Act (Laws and Regulations Database)law.moj.gov.tw
- Regulations Governing Visiting, Residency, and Permanent Residency of Alienslaw.moj.gov.tw
- Guidelines for Foreigners Applying for Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (Plum Blossom Card)www.immigration.gov.tw
- APRC FAQ (Taiwan Gold Card)goldcard.nat.gov.tw
- Revisions to Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (NDC press release)storage.talent.nat.gov.tw
- The newly revised Act will officially take effect on January 1, 2026 (NDC)foreigntalentact.ndc.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