Taiwan · Temporary Residence
Residence in Taiwan for Founders
Once in Taiwan, a founder's status rests on an Alien Resident Certificate. Entrepreneur ARC extensions depend on how the business performs, while the Gold Card works as a self-contained residence and work permit for up to three years.
- 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 Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)
The Entrepreneur ARC is the residence card issued after a founder enters on the Entrepreneur Visa. The first period lasts two years, and each extension can run for up to two more. To extend, the founder shows at least one operating result for the Taiwan business, measured over the past year or the past three years: average annual revenue of TWD 3 million, average annual operating expenses of TWD 1 million, three or more full-time Taiwanese employees, or other achievements the competent authority accepts. Extension requests go through the NIA platform within four months before expiry. If business activity has ended but the holder still needs to stay, a six-month extension, renewable once to a one-year maximum, is available.
- Initial term
- 2 years
- Extensions
- Up to 2 years each when a business test is met
- Extension fee
- TWD 1,000 for 1 year or TWD 2,000 for 2 years
- Processing time
- 22 working days for an extension
- Family
- Spouse and minor children, on 1- or 2-year residence
- Travel
- Multiple re-entries while the ARC is valid
Requirements
- Average annual revenue of at least TWD 3 million over the past year or past three years, or
- Average annual operating expenses of at least TWD 1 million over the same period, or
- Three or more full-time Taiwanese employees, or other operating achievements recognized by the competent authority.
- File through the NIA platform within four months before the residence period ends.
- Report address or business location changes within 30 days to avoid penalties.
How to apply
- Collect revenue, expense or payroll evidence for the Taiwan business.
- File the extension online with your passport and current residence details.
- Pay the fee for a one-year or two-year extension.
- Collect the renewed card after the NIA email notice.
Employment Gold Card residence
For holders, the Gold Card is itself the residence document, bundling a resident visa, ARC, open work permit and re-entry permit for one to three years. Holders may change jobs, run their own business or work freelance without a sponsor. A spouse and children can apply for dependent residence, and parents or other lineal relatives visiting on a visitor visa can be allowed stays of up to one year per entry. Eligible holders and dependents can join National Health Insurance without the usual six-month wait. Extensions are filed online and priced by period, from TWD 1,500 for one year to TWD 3,500 for three years for most foreign passport holders.
- Validity
- 1–3 years per card
- Extension fee
- TWD 1,500–3,500 for most foreign passports
- Work
- Any employer, self-employment or own company
- Family
- Dependent residence for spouse and children
- Parents
- Visitor stays of up to 1 year per entry
- Health cover
- NHI enrollment without the 6-month wait
Requirements
- Continue to meet the qualification criteria of your field when extending.
- Hold a passport valid for the new card period.
- File the extension online before the current card expires.
- Pay the extension fee for the chosen one-, two- or three-year term.
How to apply
- Open the extension form on the Gold Card platform and finish it in one session, because the form cannot be saved.
- Upload updated evidence and pay the fee.
- Collect the new card once the extension is approved.
Keeping residence valid while the startup grows
Residence in Taiwan is tied to the purpose recorded on the card. Switching from entrepreneur status to another basis, such as employment or a Gold Card, means filing a new residence application with its own fees, after which the NIA reassesses the period granted. Founders planning a long stay should also track physical presence, because permanent residence and naturalization both count days actually spent in Taiwan rather than the dates printed on an ARC, and long absences can reset the clock.
Questions and answers
What happens if my Taiwan startup misses the ARC extension thresholds?
An extension is still possible if the competent authority accepts other operating achievements that contribute to the economy. If the business has stopped but you need to remain, the NIA allows a six-month extension, renewable once, for a maximum of one extra year, covering family members already approved.
Can I switch from an Entrepreneur ARC to a Gold Card?
Yes, a founder who meets Gold Card criteria can apply, but the change of residence basis is handled as a new residence application with its own fees. Once approved, the Gold Card replaces the Entrepreneur ARC and removes the need for separate work permission.
Do Entrepreneur ARC holders need a separate work permit?
NIA guidance states that Entrepreneur ARC holders may live in Taiwan and re-enter freely, but must obtain permission to work under the Employment Service Act and related rules. Gold Card holders skip this step because the card already includes an open work permit.
Official sources
- Guidelines for Online Application for Entrepreneur Visa and Resident Visa (National Immigration Agency)www.immigration.gov.tw
- About Gold Card (Taiwan Gold Card)goldcard.nat.gov.tw
- Application Information (Taiwan Gold Card)goldcard.nat.gov.tw
- Resident Visa for Entrepreneurs (Bureau of Consular Affairs)www.boca.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