Foreign nationals, Hong Kong, Macau, or Mainland Chinese residents residing in Taiwan who possess a "residency certificate" (including Taiwan Area Resident Certificate, Entry/Exit Permit for the Taiwan Area, Alien Resident Certificate, Alien Permanent Resident Certificate, and other documents recognized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as proof of long-term residency) must enroll in National Health Insurance upon meeting any of the following qualifications:
Employees must enroll starting from the employment date
Anyone employed in Taiwan with a valid residency certificate must enroll in National Health Insurance from their first day of work, with no exceptions.
Non-employed persons must enroll after 6 months
Unemployed individuals must enroll in National Health Insurance after residing in Taiwan for 6 continuous months with a valid residency certificate. If they leave Taiwan once for no more than 30 days, those days are excluded from the residency calculation, which must still total 6 months.
Foreign newborns must enroll from birth
Starting December 1, 2017, foreign babies born in Taiwan who have valid residency documentation must be enrolled in National Health Insurance from birth.
Participation of Foreign Nationals in National Health Insurance (Image / Reproduced from the National Health Insurance Administration website)
Regulations for foreign special professionals
In accordance with the "Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals," which took effect on February 8, 2018, foreign professionals employed in Taiwan must enroll in National Health Insurance along with their spouses, minor children, and adult children with disabilities who cannot live independently, from the date they receive their residency certificate.
Amended on October 25, 2021: Foreign special and senior professionals who are employers or self-employed must also enroll themselves and their spouses, minor children, and dependent adult children from the date they receive their residency certificates.
Eligibility of Foreign Special Professionals and Their Dependents for National Health Insurance Enrollment (Image / Reproduced from the National Health Insurance Administration website)
New NHI policy for Mainland Chinese students
On November 24, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that entry/exit permits issued by the National Immigration Agency for &ldquoMainland Chinese students studying in Taiwan&rdquo are now officially recognized as long-term residency documents. Starting February 1, 2024, all such students must participate in National Health Insurance.
