WORK IN TAIWAN
Work in Taiwan After Graduation
Work Permit & Residence Guide
From graduation and job hunting to work permits,
the New Scoring Criteria for Foreign and Overseas Chinese Students,
and residence applications — understand the main pathways for
international graduates who wish to work in Taiwan.
NEW
2026 Update | Work Permit Exemption During the Extended Residence of New Graduates
New graduates who have obtained an eligible degree in Taiwan
and have been approved by the National Immigration Agency
for an extended residence after graduation
may, if they meet the applicable requirements,
work in Taiwan during the approved extended residence period
without separately applying for a work permit.
The extended residence period after graduation may be up to two years.
STEP ZERO
First, Find the Right Pathway for You
International students graduating from universities in Taiwan
generally have three common pathways to work in Taiwan.
2026 UPDATE
Work During Extended Residence After Graduation
Suitable for new graduates who are still seeking employment
or have not yet changed their purpose of residence to employment.
- Apply for extended residence after graduation
- Eligible graduates may be exempt from applying for a work permit
- Provides greater flexibility for job hunting and employment after graduation
COMMON PATHWAY
New Scoring Criteria for Foreign and Overseas Chinese Students to Work in Taiwan
Suitable for foreign and overseas Chinese students who
have obtained an eligible degree in Taiwan and are formally
employed by an employer in Taiwan.
- A score of 70 points or above is required
- The employer applies for the employment permit
- Points are assessed based on education, salary, language ability, professional skills, and other criteria
FOREIGN PROFESSIONALS
General Qualifications for Professional Work
Suitable for foreign professionals who already meet
the applicable requirements regarding education,
work experience, salary, professional qualifications,
or other criteria.
- Qualifications vary according to the type of work
- Some positions are subject to work experience or salary requirements
- The employer submits the application to the competent authority
APPLICATION PROCESS
Work Permit & Residence Application Process
If you are preparing to transition to formal employment in Taiwan,
follow the steps below.
Find a Job
Complete the interview process and confirm your offer,
salary, job title, job duties, and employment period.
Confirm Which Employment Qualification Applies
Confirm with your employer or HR whether the application
will be made under the
New Scoring Criteria for Foreign and Overseas Chinese Students
or under the
general qualifications for professional work.
Prepare the Required Documents
The applicant prepares personal documents and supporting
documents for the scoring criteria, while the employer
prepares the required company documents.
Employer Applies Online for the Work Permit
The employer submits the application online through
the Ministry of Labor's
EZ Work Permit system.
Apply for or Change Your Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)
After the employment permit is approved,
complete the applicable residence procedure with the
National Immigration Agency according to your current residence status.
NEW SCORING CRITERIA
New Scoring Criteria for Foreign and Overseas Chinese Students to Work in Taiwan
The scoring criteria do not assess salary alone.
Several qualifications are evaluated together.
A total score of 70 points or above is required
Points may be awarded based on education,
salary, work or internship experience,
professional qualifications or skills,
Chinese language proficiency,
other language abilities,
and other applicable criteria.
Education
Salary
Work / Internship Experience
Professional Qualifications
Chinese Language Proficiency
Other Language Abilities
Other Applicable Criteria
Important:
If you claim points under a particular scoring item,
you must provide the corresponding supporting documents.
The final score is subject to review and determination
by the competent authority.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
What Documents Are Required Under the New Scoring Criteria?
The documents below are divided into those normally prepared
by the foreign or overseas Chinese graduate
and those handled by the employer / HR.
Foreign / Overseas Chinese Graduate
-
Photocopy of a valid passport
-
Photocopy of the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), if applicable
-
Diploma obtained from a university or college in Taiwan
-
Information required for the employment contract
-
Personal information required for the New Scoring Criteria form
-
Supporting document for salary, if applicable
-
Certificate of work or internship experience, if points are claimed
-
Certificate of Chinese language proficiency, if points are claimed
-
Certificate of other language abilities, if points are claimed
-
Professional qualification, professional license,
or other evidence of professional skills, if applicable
-
Other supporting documents for any additional scoring items claimed
Employer / HR
-
Online work permit application
-
Application form for the employment permit
-
List of employed foreign workers
-
New Scoring Criteria form for the foreign or overseas Chinese graduate
-
Employment contract
-
Company establishment or registration documents, where required
-
Documents proving that the employer meets the applicable qualifications
for employing foreign professionals
-
Additional documents required for the applicable category of work
-
Work permit application review fee
Employment Contract:
The employment contract should clearly state the employee's
name and nationality, job title or actual job duties,
salary or remuneration, and employment period,
together with any other information required by the competent authority.
Suggested file organization:
Passport,
ARC,
Diploma,
Employment Contract,
New Scoring Criteria Form,
Language Certificate,
Work / Internship Experience,
and Other Supporting Documents.
Once your personal documents are ready,
provide them to your employer or HR for the online work permit application.
EMPLOYMENT & RESIDENCE
Important Matters After Starting Work in Taiwan
NHI
National Health Insurance
Foreign employees with a fixed employer who meet
the applicable eligibility requirements are enrolled
in National Health Insurance by their insurance registration organization
in accordance with applicable regulations.
LI
Labor Insurance
Labor insurance and occupational accident insurance
are handled in accordance with the employee's status,
employer, and applicable laws and regulations.
ARC
Alien Resident Certificate
A work permit and an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)
are separate matters.
After obtaining the employment permit,
complete the applicable residence procedures based on your status.
JOB
Changing Employers
Before changing employers,
confirm whether your new employer is required
to apply for a new work permit or complete other procedures.
LP
Labor Pension
Eligibility for the Labor Pension system
is determined in accordance with the applicable
regulations governing foreign professionals
and labor pensions.
APRC
Permanent Residence
If you later meet the applicable statutory requirements,
you may further explore eligibility for an
Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily.
Eligible new graduates who have obtained approval
for extended residence after graduation may qualify for the
work permit exemption during the extended residence of new graduates.
Eligibility depends on your graduation status,
residence status, and the latest applicable regulations.
In general, the application is submitted by the
employer.
The foreign or overseas Chinese graduate mainly provides
personal identification documents,
the diploma,
and supporting documents for the scoring criteria.
Yes.
Under the current New Scoring Criteria for Foreign
and Overseas Chinese Students to Work in Taiwan,
employment permits are issued to applicants
who meet the applicable eligibility requirements
and score 70 points or above.
Supporting documents must be provided for the points claimed,
and the final determination is made by the competent authority.
No.
A work permit concerns your authorization to work,
while an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)
concerns your residence status.
After obtaining the employment permit,
you may still need to apply for or change
your residence status with the National Immigration Agency.
Employment permits are generally connected to a specific
employer and approved employment.
Before starting work for a new employer,
confirm whether the new employer must submit
a new application or complete other required procedures.
OFFICIAL RESOURCES
Official Application & Information Websites
Requirements may be updated.
Please check the latest information published by
the competent authorities before submitting an application.
Important Notice:
The information on this page is provided as a general reference
for international students and graduates.
Eligibility and application requirements may vary depending on
an applicant's education, type of work, salary,
employer qualifications, residence status,
and the latest laws and regulations.
Before submitting an application,
please refer to the latest information published by the
Ministry of Labor, Workforce Development Agency,
National Immigration Agency,
and other competent authorities.
