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Employment Gold Card: FAQs about Spouses and Children (Part 1)

Employment Gold Card: FAQs about Spouses and Children (Image / Source: Freepik)
Employment Gold Card: FAQs about Spouses and Children (Image / Source: Freepik)

Q: I have applied for an Employment Gold Card. How can my foreign spouse and children apply for residency in Taiwan?
A: Your spouse and children can enter Taiwan visa-free or apply for a Dependent Visitor Visa or Dependent Resident Visa (for spouses and children) at Taiwan's overseas offices. Once they enter Taiwan, they can apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) at any service station of the National Immigration Agency (NIA) in Taiwan. The following documents are required:

  • Applicant’s passport (original and copy).
  • Proof of family relationship certified by Taiwan’s overseas office (not required for those entering with a Resident Visa).
  • A recent color photo (passport size, taken within the past six months).
  • Employment Gold Card of the sponsor (original and copy).
  • Processing fee: NT$1,000 annually for the ARC; an additional NT$2,200 for applicants entering with a visa-free entry or Visitor Visa.
  • Application form.
  • Authorization letter if the applicant cannot apply in person.
  • If the applicant was born in Mainland China and previously held Chinese citizenship, additional documents per Taiwan's Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area are required, such as proof of deregistration from Chinese household registration.
  • Proof of current residence in Taiwan.

Related Links:

  1. Dependent Visitor Visa: https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-335-161-7ab90-1.html
  2. Spouse Resident Visa: https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-338-183-05f05-1.html
  3. Child Resident Visa: https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-338-184-54aca-1.html
  4. Alien Resident Certificate (ARC): https://reurl.cc/5DV2rz
  5. Authorization Letter Template: https://reurl.cc/qno1my

Q: I have applied for an Employment Gold Card. How can my same-sex spouse apply for residency in Taiwan?
A: Your same-sex spouse can enter Taiwan visa-free or with a visa, and then apply for dependent residency at the NIA. According to Article 46 of the Act Governing the Choice of Law in Civil Matters Involving Foreign Elements, marriage validity is determined by the national laws of each party. If one party is from a country recognizing same-sex marriage while the other is not, residency via dependency is not possible. Refer to the list of countries recognizing same-sex marriage for more information.

Required Documents for Same-Sex Spouse Residency:

  • Applicant’s passport (original and copy).
  • Passport page with the entry stamp (for visa-free entry).
  • Sponsor’s Employment Gold Card (original and copy).
  • Marriage certificate (original and copy, translated into Chinese and certified by Taiwan’s overseas office).
  • A recent color photo (2-inch white background).
  • Foreign Residence Application Form.
  • Authorization letter if applying via proxy.

Fees:

ARC fee: NT$1,000 per year.
Additional NT$2,200 for visa-free entry.

Note: The applicant must remain in Taiwan during the process, which takes approximately 10 working days.

- Related residence information: [https://reurl.cc/eGnmEx](https://reurl.cc/eGnmEx) 
- Relevant legal provisions: [https://reurl.cc/xpoEGL](https://reurl.cc/xpoEGL) 
- Countries recognizing same-sex marriage: [https://reurl.cc/74n3yD](https://reurl.cc/74n3yD) Foreign Professional Talent Application Platform (Dependent Relatives) Online Application (Image / Source: Foreign Professional Talent Application Platform Website)

Q: I have extended my Employment Gold Card. How can my foreign spouse and children extend their residency?
A: Residency extensions for spouses and children can be applied for before their current ARC expires. Two options are available:

Apply for residency extension at an NIA service station or online via the Foreign Talent Application Platform. Once the Gold Card extension is complete, extend the ARC for spouses and children for 1-3 years, paying the corresponding fees.

If the Gold Card holder works in Taiwan, the employer can apply for a work permit, after which the NIA will issue a standard ARC. The spouse’s and children’s ARCs can then be extended. Once the Gold Card extension is completed, the original ARC will be canceled automatically, with no further adjustments needed for dependent ARCs.

Required Documents for Dependent Residency Extension:

  • Alien Resident Certificate.
  • Passport (original).
  • Proof of residency purpose (e.g., proof of dependency).
  • A recent color photo (passport ID format).
  • Processing fee (depends on the duration).
  • Proof of current residence (e.g., lease or homeowner agreement).
  • Authorization letter if applying via proxy.

Related Links:

Foreign Talent Application Platform: https://reurl.cc/eGnm9K Authorization Letter Template: https://reurl.cc/qno1my
Residency Extension Guide: https://reurl.cc/eGnmExRelevant Laws: https://reurl.cc/M69kAk

Q: How can my mainland Chinese spouse and children apply for a temporary stay in Taiwan?
A: Spouses and children of Gold Card holders from mainland China can apply for family reunification. However, according to the "Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area," family reunification only grants a temporary stay permit and cannot be converted into a residence permit. For application procedures, please refer to the "Guidelines for Mainland China Residents Applying for Entry to Taiwan for Family Reunification" issued by the National Immigration Agency or contact the Immigration Agency’s Mainland Affairs Section at +886(2)-23889393, extension 2692. 

Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area: https://reurl.cc/46q3yD
Guidelines for Mainland China Residents Applying for Entry to Taiwan for Family Reunification: https://reurl.cc/d19xVy

Q: My child was born in Taiwan. How can I apply for their residency?
A: If either parent holds an ARC or Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC), you can apply for an ARC for your newborn within 30 days of birth. Required documents include:

  • Birth certificate of the newborn.
  • One 2-inch color photo.
  • ARC of one parent (or APRC).
  • Processing fee.

After obtaining a passport for the child, register the passport number with the NIA. Once the child receives an ARC, they can apply for National Health Insurance. Contact Taiwan's National Health Insurance Administration at 0800-030-598 for further details.

Related Links:

National Health Insurance for Foreign-Born Newborns: https://reurl.cc/oVpx9q

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