April 2026
Taiwan Ministry of the Interior Amends Restrictions on Employment Gold Card Applications
On December 31, 2025, the Ministry of the Interior announced amendments to the Regulations Governing Employment Gold Card Permit for Foreign Specialist Professionals ("Regulations"), expressly setting out the eligibility criteria for applying for an Employment Gold Card.
The Employment Gold Card is issued by the National Immigration Agency ("NIA") of the Ministry of the Interior and serves as a four-in-one permit combining a work permit, resident visa, alien resident certificate, and re-entry permit (Article 9, Paragraph 1 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, the “Act”). During the validity period of the Employment Gold Card, the holder may engage in professional work in Taiwan, travel in and out of Taiwan freely, and change employers without restriction. Upon submission of an application, the NIA will review it in accordance with the Regulations. The eligibility criteria and restrictions for applying for an Employment Gold Card are set out below.
1. Eligibility Criteria
Only those who qualify as "foreign special professionals" are eligible to apply for an Employment Gold Card. A "foreign special professional" refers to a foreign national who possesses special expertise in the fields of science & technology, digital economy, economy, education, culture & the arts, sports, finance, law, architectural design, national defense, environmental protection, biotechnology, or other fields, or who has been recognized by the competent authority as possessing special expertise (Article 4, Subparagraph 2, and Article 9, Paragraph 1 of the Act).
In practice, the competent authority of each professional field establishes its own criteria for recognizing special expertise based on the needs of industry development. For example, on January 2, 2026, the Ministry of Economic Affairs issued official letter No. 11420983700 to establish the criteria for "foreign special professionals with special expertise in the biotechnology field." A foreign national who meets any one of the following conditions qualifies as a foreign special professional in the biotechnology field:
(1) Currently or previously worked in the biotechnology industry or field in another country or in Taiwan, with a most recent monthly salary of at least NTD 160,000.
(2) Holds a doctoral degree or above from a relevant department of a domestic or foreign university in molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, genomics, or proteomics, or in genetic engineering, protein engineering, cell engineering, or tissue engineering, and has received an international invention and innovation award or has at least four years of relevant work experience.
(3) Holds a professional or cross-disciplinary integration position in the biotechnology industry with at least eight years of relevant work experience.
(4) Has been recognized by the central competent authority as possessing professional capabilities or cross-border experience urgently needed in Taiwan, with the potential to contribute to Taiwan's biotechnology industry.
2. Restrictions on Applications
The amendments to the Regulations clarify the circumstances under which the NIA shall deny an Employment Gold Card application, and expressly identify the categories of persons to whom an Employment Gold Card may not be issued. Notably, diplomatic personnel and their family members are now explicitly excluded from eligibility, which is a restriction newly introduced by these amendments. The amendments to Article 5 of the Regulations are summarized as follows:
(1) It is now expressly provided that if an applicant has any statutory adverse record within the three years prior to the date of application, including having engaged in work in Taiwan without authorization, the NIA shall deny the application.
(2) It is now expressly provided that the NIA shall deny an Employment Gold Card application in the following circumstances:
I. The applicant has illegally entered Taiwan or falls under any of the circumstances set out in Article 12, Paragraph 1 of the Statute Governing Issuance of R.O.C. Visas in Foreign Passports;
II. The applicant has engaged in activities in Taiwan inconsistent with the purpose of their visa or falls under any of the circumstances set out in Article 13, Paragraph 1 of the Statute Governing Issuance of R.O.C. Visas in Foreign Passports; or
III. The applicant is a foreign national or an official employed by a foreign embassy or consulate, foreign institution, or international organization in Taiwan, or a family member of such a national or official.
(3) It is now expressly provided that the NIA shall deny an Employment Gold Card application to residents of Hong Kong and Macau under the following circumstances:
I. The applicant has entered or previously entered Taiwan without authorization, or falls under any of the circumstances set out in Article 22, Paragraph 1 of the Regulations Governing Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entering the Taiwan Area and Setting up Residence or Registered Permanent Residence in R.O.C; or
II. The documents submitted by the applicant are invalid, or the applicant falls under any of the circumstances set out in Article 28, Paragraph 1 of the Regulations Governing Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entering the Taiwan Area and Setting up Residence or Registered Permanent Residence in R.O.C.
3. Conclusion
The amendments to Article 5 of the Regulations address the previously ambiguous content and legal basis of the restrictions on Employment Gold Card applications, providing greater clarity for employers managing the employment of foreign nationals and making the process of planning professional work in Taiwan more predictable for foreign nationals. For comprehensive legal advice on Employment Gold Card applications or work permits in Taiwan, please do not hesitate to contact our firm for further assistance.
The Employment Gold Card is issued by the National Immigration Agency ("NIA") of the Ministry of the Interior and serves as a four-in-one permit combining a work permit, resident visa, alien resident certificate, and re-entry permit (Article 9, Paragraph 1 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, the “Act”). During the validity period of the Employment Gold Card, the holder may engage in professional work in Taiwan, travel in and out of Taiwan freely, and change employers without restriction. Upon submission of an application, the NIA will review it in accordance with the Regulations. The eligibility criteria and restrictions for applying for an Employment Gold Card are set out below.
1. Eligibility Criteria
Only those who qualify as "foreign special professionals" are eligible to apply for an Employment Gold Card. A "foreign special professional" refers to a foreign national who possesses special expertise in the fields of science & technology, digital economy, economy, education, culture & the arts, sports, finance, law, architectural design, national defense, environmental protection, biotechnology, or other fields, or who has been recognized by the competent authority as possessing special expertise (Article 4, Subparagraph 2, and Article 9, Paragraph 1 of the Act).
In practice, the competent authority of each professional field establishes its own criteria for recognizing special expertise based on the needs of industry development. For example, on January 2, 2026, the Ministry of Economic Affairs issued official letter No. 11420983700 to establish the criteria for "foreign special professionals with special expertise in the biotechnology field." A foreign national who meets any one of the following conditions qualifies as a foreign special professional in the biotechnology field:
(1) Currently or previously worked in the biotechnology industry or field in another country or in Taiwan, with a most recent monthly salary of at least NTD 160,000.
(2) Holds a doctoral degree or above from a relevant department of a domestic or foreign university in molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, genomics, or proteomics, or in genetic engineering, protein engineering, cell engineering, or tissue engineering, and has received an international invention and innovation award or has at least four years of relevant work experience.
(3) Holds a professional or cross-disciplinary integration position in the biotechnology industry with at least eight years of relevant work experience.
(4) Has been recognized by the central competent authority as possessing professional capabilities or cross-border experience urgently needed in Taiwan, with the potential to contribute to Taiwan's biotechnology industry.
2. Restrictions on Applications
The amendments to the Regulations clarify the circumstances under which the NIA shall deny an Employment Gold Card application, and expressly identify the categories of persons to whom an Employment Gold Card may not be issued. Notably, diplomatic personnel and their family members are now explicitly excluded from eligibility, which is a restriction newly introduced by these amendments. The amendments to Article 5 of the Regulations are summarized as follows:
(1) It is now expressly provided that if an applicant has any statutory adverse record within the three years prior to the date of application, including having engaged in work in Taiwan without authorization, the NIA shall deny the application.
(2) It is now expressly provided that the NIA shall deny an Employment Gold Card application in the following circumstances:
I. The applicant has illegally entered Taiwan or falls under any of the circumstances set out in Article 12, Paragraph 1 of the Statute Governing Issuance of R.O.C. Visas in Foreign Passports;
II. The applicant has engaged in activities in Taiwan inconsistent with the purpose of their visa or falls under any of the circumstances set out in Article 13, Paragraph 1 of the Statute Governing Issuance of R.O.C. Visas in Foreign Passports; or
III. The applicant is a foreign national or an official employed by a foreign embassy or consulate, foreign institution, or international organization in Taiwan, or a family member of such a national or official.
(3) It is now expressly provided that the NIA shall deny an Employment Gold Card application to residents of Hong Kong and Macau under the following circumstances:
I. The applicant has entered or previously entered Taiwan without authorization, or falls under any of the circumstances set out in Article 22, Paragraph 1 of the Regulations Governing Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entering the Taiwan Area and Setting up Residence or Registered Permanent Residence in R.O.C; or
II. The documents submitted by the applicant are invalid, or the applicant falls under any of the circumstances set out in Article 28, Paragraph 1 of the Regulations Governing Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entering the Taiwan Area and Setting up Residence or Registered Permanent Residence in R.O.C.
3. Conclusion
The amendments to Article 5 of the Regulations address the previously ambiguous content and legal basis of the restrictions on Employment Gold Card applications, providing greater clarity for employers managing the employment of foreign nationals and making the process of planning professional work in Taiwan more predictable for foreign nationals. For comprehensive legal advice on Employment Gold Card applications or work permits in Taiwan, please do not hesitate to contact our firm for further assistance.
