Q: Which authority should I submit my permanent residency application to?
A: Applications should be submitted to the National Immigration Agency. Please refer to the Guidelines for Permanent Residency Application Submission provided by the agency.

Q: I already hold an Employment Gold Card. What are the eligibility requirements for applying for permanent residency?
A: You must meet all of the following conditions:

★ Have held an Employment Gold Card for at least three years, and have continuously resided in Taiwan for three years under the Gold Card status, with an average annual stay of at least 183 days.
★ Be an adult.
★ Have no criminal record or misconduct.
★ Possess sufficient financial assets or professional skills.
★ Meet the national interest requirements of Taiwan.

For more details, please refer to the Guidelines for Permanent Residency Application Submission by the National Immigration Agency.

Q: Do I have to apply for permanent residency while in Taiwan?
A: No, you are not required to be in Taiwan when applying for permanent residency. However, if you are overseas, you must first have your authorization letter notarized by a Taiwanese overseas mission and have your authorized representative submit the necessary application documents on your behalf at the Immigration Service Station in Taiwan.

Once your application is approved, your Employment Gold Card will be automatically canceled. Therefore, your representative must collect your permanent resident certificate and mail it to you abroad.

For more information, please refer to the Guidelines for Permanent Residency Application Submission. 

Q: What is the difference between permanent residency applications for regular foreign professionals and special foreign professionals?
A:

• Regular foreign professionals: Must legally reside in Taiwan for five consecutive years, with an average annual stay of at least 183 days. Applications must be submitted within two years after meeting the requirement (Foreign Professionals Recruitment and Employment Act, Article 14, Paragraph 1).
• Special foreign professionals: Must legally reside in Taiwan for three consecutive years, with an average annual stay of at least 183 days. Applications must be submitted within two years after meeting the requirement (Foreign Professionals Recruitment and Employment Act, Article 16, Paragraph 1
  
  

Q: What financial proof is required for a permanent residency application?
A: Please refer to Page 2, Section 4 of the Guidelines for Permanent Residency Application Submission provided by the National Immigration Agency. You must meet one of the following financial criteria, as determined by the Ministry of the Interior&rsquos National Immigration Agency:

★ Proof of an average monthly income exceeding twice the minimum wage announced by the Ministry of Labor in the most recent year, by providing one of the following:

• Foreign National Comprehensive Income Tax Return
• Income Tax Statement with Various Income Categories
• Withholding Tax Statement issued by Employer
  
  

OR

★ Proof of domestic assets exceeding NT$5 million, such as a bank deposit certificate from a Taiwanese bank.

Note:

• "Most recent year" refers to the 12 months before the application month or the previous full calendar year before the application date.
• If withholding tax statements or income documents cover multiple years, the minimum salary calculation will follow the basic wage announced by the Ministry of Labor for the respective years.
  
  

Q: Do I need to provide a police criminal record certificate for my permanent residency application?
A: Foreign nationals who leave Taiwan for less than three months at a time during their legal continuous residence period are exempt from providing a foreign police criminal record certificate and a health check certificate. However, they must still provide an original Taiwan police criminal record certificate from within the last five years (valid for three months).

For more details, please refer to the Guidelines for Permanent Residency Application Submission.

Important Note:

If you are required to submit a foreign police criminal record certificate, it must be issued within the past five years and be valid for one year from the date of issuance. A Chinese translation must be included.

Additionally, the criminal record certificate must be a national-level document from your country of residence. For example, for U.S. citizens, the certificate must be issued by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

If you have any questions regarding the police criminal record certificate, please contact the National Immigration Agency Service Station.

Q: How long does it take to process a permanent residency application?
A: If all documents are complete, the processing time is 14 working days. If additional documents or corrections are required, the process may take approximately 30 days.Fong Jin-Rong (left) from Malaysia has been educating students in Nantou County for 44 years and was awarded a "Mackay Project" Alien Permanent Resident Certificate by the Nantou County Service Station of the National Immigration Agency. (Image / Screenshot from Radio Taiwan International website)