Live and Work in Taiwan with the Taiwan Employment Gold Card

Last updated February 2026

What is the Taiwan Gold Card?

The Taiwan Employment Gold Card is a residency program that enables foreigners to live and work in Taiwan for a period of 3 years, with a pathway towards permanent residency after 3 years.

The Taiwan Gold card is a 4-in-1 permit that provides:

• Residence visa
• Work permit
• Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)
• Re-entry permit

The work permit is open, meaning you are not tied to a particular employer. Applicants are free to work for any company and to change jobs at any time. You don’t even need to have a job lined up when you first arrive.

The gold card is also digital nomad friendly. Visa holders can choose to undertake self-employed work either for customers based in Taiwan or overseas.

Additionally for business owners, there is no restriction on where your business is registered. You can be incorporated offshore or you can even set up a new company in Taiwan if that suits you better.

There are also tax incentives available for high income earners. More on that below.

The Taiwan Gold Card is a family friendly visa. Your immediate family, including your spouse and children can come with you to live in Taiwan. And if your parents or grandparents would like to visit, they will be granted a visitor permit that last for up to a year.

There is no minimum stay requirement for the visa, but if you plan to access the tax incentives or apply for permanent residency, you will need to be present in the country for at least 183 days in a year.

If you are self-employed, an employer, or a professional worker, you will be eligible to join the national health insurance system as soon as you arrive. Other gold card holders will be eligible for public healthcare after 6 months.

Who is eligible for the Taiwan Gold Card?

To be eligible for the Taiwan Gold Card, applicants have to demonstrate that their field of work falls into one of 10 designated industry categories, which are:

Architecture

Arts and Culture

Digital

Economy

Education

Finance

National Defense

Science and Technology

Law

Sports

The allowable categories are quite broad, so most people will qualify. However, it’s important to choose the correct category when applying.

You can use the qualification checker tool available on the Taiwan Gold Card website to help you select the right category.

The Application Process

You can apply directly on the Taiwan Gold Card website without needing to use an agent or have a sponsor.

The application cost ranges from USD $100 to $310 depending on your nationality.

Processing times are relatively quick, with most applications finalized within 30 to 60 days.

How are foreigners taxed in Taiwan?

Taiwan Gold Card holders will be taxed according to the same rules that apply to all other tax residents.

An individual is considered a Taiwan resident for tax purposes if they spend 183 days or more in the country during a tax year.

All income earned within Taiwan will be subject to regular tax rates for individuals.

However, foreign source income is generally only taxable if:

• The foreign income exceeds NTD 1,000,000 (approx. USD 32,000) and
• The individuals total basic income exceeds NTD 7,500,000 (USD 237,000)

This is a simplified explanation of how taxation works in Taiwan. For a more detailed analysis of your tax situation, please schedule a consultation call.

Are there any tax incentives available with the Taiwan Gold Card?

Gold card holders who are high earners in Taiwan will have the opportunity to claim tax incentives on their Taiwan sourced income.

First time entrants to the visa scheme will be able to claim a 50% tax exemption for salary income exceeding NTD 3 million for the first 5 years.

Is the Taiwan Gold Card a good choice for you?

The Taiwan Gold Card is quite a generous residency program with numerous benefits and limited restrictions. It offers a flexible visa option for individuals looking to establish a medium to long-term base in East Asia.

A visa offering a pathway towards permanent residency is quite rare in Asia. Especially considering that there is no wealth requirement and no minimum income requirement.

The tax system in Taiwan can be very beneficial for expats who want to keep income earned outside of Taiwan from being taxed there. If you meet the requirements and your investments are based in a country with low taxes, this could be a good option for you.

Why does this visa offer so much for so little? It’s reasonable to suspect that it has something to do with the situation in China and the potential reunification efforts. There is uncertainty about what the future holds for Taiwan and whether it will maintain its independence.

If reunification does occur, there is no guarantee that it will be a peaceful transition. This is an uncomfortable fact that anyone entering Taiwan on this visa will have to consider.

Despite these uncertainties, Taiwan is very popular with expats who have chosen to make it their base.

Next steps

If you’re interested in learning more about the Taiwan Gold Card or have any questions about tax planning and related matters, feel free to contact us.

Thanks for reading.