Taiwan
Investor Resident Visa
Taiwan's Investor Resident Visa allows foreign nationals who invest a minimum of USD 200,000 in a Taiwanese business to obtain residency. The program is established under the Immigration Act (most recently amended June 2023) and the Statute for Investment by Foreign Nationals. The visa is issued by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, while the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) is issued by the National Immigration Agency. All foreign investment requires prior approval from the Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).
- Minimum investment of USD 200,000 in a business in Taiwan
- MOEA investment approval (must be obtained before applying for the visa)
- Valid passport with at least 6 months validity and blank pages
- No specific educational or professional qualifications required
- Health examination certificate (within 3 months)
- Criminal record certificate from home country (within 1 year, covering past 5 years)
- Cash
- Machinery and equipment or raw materials for own use
- Patent rights, trademark rights, copyrights, technical know-how, or other intellectual property rights
The investment must be in a permitted industry -- the MOEA maintains a "Negative List" of prohibited and restricted industries for foreign investment.
- Completed online application form
- Two color passport photos (45mm x 35mm, white background, within 6 months)
- Valid passport with copy of bio page
- MOEA investment approval letter (issued within past 3 months, amount at least USD 200,000)
- Company establishment or change registration form
- List of company directors and supervisors
- Proof of residence in Taiwan (lease agreement or property deed)
- Health examination certificate
- Criminal record certificate (authenticated by ROC overseas mission)
- Resident visa in Taiwan: NT$2,200 (single-entry) or NT$4,400 (multiple-entry)
- Resident visa overseas: USD 66 (single-entry) or USD 132 (multiple-entry)
- ARC fee: NT$1,000 per year of validity
- Additional NT$2,200 surcharge for switching from visitor visa to resident visa
The ARC is valid for 1 to 5 years depending on application. Extension must be applied for within 3 months before expiration. The MOEA-approved investment must still be maintained and the approval must remain valid.
Spouses and minor children may apply for dependent resident visas and ARCs. Each dependant requires their own application with family relationship documentation (authenticated by ROC overseas mission), passport, health examination, and criminal record certificate.
After 5 consecutive years of legal residence with at least 183 days per year, holders may apply for an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC). Alternatively, investors meeting higher thresholds may apply for immediate permanent residency through the Plum Blossom Card: NT$15 million in a business with 5 jobs over 3 years, or NT$30 million in government bonds for 3 years.
Foreign nationals residing in Taiwan for 183+ days per year are tax residents subject to progressive income tax rates of 5% to 40%. Those residing fewer than 183 days are non-residents subject to flat withholding rates (18% on salary, 21% on dividends). Taiwan has income tax treaties with 35 countries.
The investor first applies to the MOEA Investment Commission for investment approval under the Statute for Investment by Foreign Nationals (decision within 1-2 months). Once approved and the company is established, the investor applies for a resident visa at a BOCA office or ROC overseas mission, presenting the MOEA approval letter and company registration documents. Processing takes approximately 8 working days for the visa and 10 working days for the ARC. After entering Taiwan, the ARC must be obtained at the local NIA service station within 30 days.
The MOEA investment approval letter is valid for only 3 months, so timing between investment approval and visa application is critical. Applicants who entered Taiwan visa-free, on a landing visa, or as blue-collar workers are ineligible to convert to a resident visa in-country. Investors holding 45% or more of a company's capital are protected against government expropriation for 20 years. National Health Insurance enrollment is required after 6 consecutive months of residence.
Links
Other Digital Nomad Visas in Asia
Country↑ | Program↕ | Income↕ | Investment↕ | Funds Required↕ | Capital Required↕ | Duration↕ | Dependants↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Highly Skilled Migrant Programme | — | — | — | — | |||
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Investor Temporary Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Golden Residency Visa for Property Owners | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Golden Residency Visa for Talented Individuals | — | — | — | — | |||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Property Owner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Retired Foreigner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Digital Nomad Residence Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Investor Card | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇭 Cambodia | Cambodia My 2nd Home (CM2H) | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇭 Cambodia | Retirement Visa (ER Extension of Stay) | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇳 China | Permanent Residence Permit (Investment Category) | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇳 China | Private Affairs Residence Permit (Entrepreneurship) | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Investment Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | IT Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Remotely from Georgia | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Short-Term Residence Permit (Property Ownership) | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Quality Migrant Admission Scheme | — | — | — | — | |||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Top Talent Pass Scheme | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇳 India | Permanent Residency Status for Foreign Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Golden Visa (Global Talent) | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Golden Visa (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Remote Worker KITAS | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Retirement KITAS | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Silver Hair Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇷 Iran | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇷 Iran | Special Residence Permit for Non-Iranian Elites | — | — | — | — | |||
🇮🇶 Iraq | Investment Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇱 Israel | B/5 Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇱 Israel | Innovation Visa for Foreign Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Business Manager Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Designated Activities (Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation) | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Future Creation Individual Visa (J-Find) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇯🇵 Japan | Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Annual Residence Permit Based on Bank Deposit | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Citizenship by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Residency by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | A6 Investor Visa (Golden Visa) | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | C5 Business Immigrant Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Digital Nomad Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Neo Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Permanent Residence Visa for In-Demand Professions | — | — | — | — | |||
🇰🇼 Kuwait | Investor Residency Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Digital Nomad Status | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇦 Laos | Investor Visa (NI-B2) | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Annual Residence Permit (Cash Bond Deposit) | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Permanent Residence Permit (Financial Independence) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇴 Macau | Major Investment Temporary Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇴 Macau | Talent Recruitment Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | DE Rantau Nomad Pass | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇻 Maldives | Corporate Resident Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇳 Mongolia | Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Persons of Exceptional Merit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Retirees | — | — | — | ||||
🇴🇲 Oman | Golden Residency Program | — | — | — | ||||
🇴🇲 Oman | Retiree Residence Card | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Business-Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Long-Term Residency (LTR) | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Mustaqel Visa (Entrepreneur) | — | — | — | ||||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Mustaqel Visa (Talent) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Real Estate Investment Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Entrepreneur Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Gifted Premium Residency | — | — | — | — | |||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Investor Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Real Estate Owner Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | EntrePass (Entrepreneur Pass) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Global Investor Programme (GIP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Tech.Pass | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | D-10 Job Seeker Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Permanent Residence for Overseas Pension Beneficiaries | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Technology Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Tourism and Leisure Facility Investment Immigration | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Colombo Port City Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Condominium Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Golden Paradise Residence Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Individual Investor Residence Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇾 Syria | Investment Residency Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Digital Nomad Visitor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Employment Gold Card | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Entrepreneur Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Investor Resident Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Plum Blossom Card (Investment APRC) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇯 Tajikistan | Investor Visa (Category C) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Long-Term Resident Visa (Work-from-Thailand Professionals) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | LTR Visa (Wealthy Global Citizens) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | LTR Visa (Wealthy Pensioners) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa (Investment) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa O-X (Long Stay 10 Years) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | SMART Visa S (Startup) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Business Visa Class II | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Investor Residence Authorization | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Citizenship by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Short-Term Residence Permit (Tourism Purpose) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Turkiye TechVisa (Startup) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Turquoise Card | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Entrepreneur) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Talented Individuals) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Green Visa (Freelancer / Self-Employed) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Green Visa (Investor/Partner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Job Exploration Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Retirement Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Virtual Work Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Golden Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | IT Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Investor Visa (DT1-DT4) | — | — | — | ||||
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Special Visa Exemption Card | — | — | — | — |