Taiwan residence at a glance
WHAT YOU OBTAIN
Permanent residence, then citizenship
The Plum Card grants permanent residence. Gold Card holders and investors may apply after meeting the residence conditions. Citizenship has its own requirements.
WHO IT SUITS
Investors, specialists and families
Investors in a Taiwan business or government bonds, specialists in the fields Taiwan recruits for, and the families who join them.
BASIC OUTLAY
Investment and application fees
Plum Card: business investment from NT$15,000,000. Gold Card: NT$5,700 for three years. Investor residence: from US$200,000.
FAMILY
Spouse, children and elders
Spouse and eligible children may join. Gold Card holders' parents and grandparents can apply for a one-year multiple-entry visa.
PRESENCE IN TAIWAN
Residence counted in days
Permanent residence counts at least 183 days a year, averaged for Gold Card holders. Residence days at Plum Card application are exempt from the annual test.
MAIN STAGES
Card, permanent residence, citizenship
Apply for the card, build the residence period, apply for permanent residence, then for citizenship and settlement.
WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE TAIWAN
Permanent residence from the start
The Plum Card grants permanent residence on an approved, implemented investment. The application fee is NT$10,000.
Three years, or one
Gold Card holders may qualify after 3 years, or 1 year with NT$6m of qualifying income; residence-day conditions apply.
Five-year salary relief
Qualifying foreign specific professionals can exclude half of salary above NT$3m for five years, on application.
The three main statuses
| Item | Plum Card | Employment Gold Card | Investor residence |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you obtain | Permanent residence: the Alien Permanent Resident Certificate | Work permit, residence visa, ARC and re-entry permit in one card, valid 1 to 3 years | Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), up to 3 years per issue |
| Entry condition | NT$15,000,000 in a business with 5 jobs for Taiwan nationals for 3 years; or NT$30,000,000 of government bonds held for 3 years | Specialist expertise in a field the competent authority announces, from technology and finance to law, sport and the arts | Investment of at least US$200,000, approved or filed with the competent authority |
| To permanent residence | On approval of the investment; residence days at application are exempt from the annual 183-day test | 3 years of continuous residence averaging 183 days a year; or 1 year with 183 days and NT$6,000,000 of latest-year domestic income | 5 years of continuous residence, 183 days each year; apply within 2 years after the period |
| To citizenship | 5 years of lawful residence, 183 days each year | 5 years of lawful residence, 183 days each year | 5 years of lawful residence, 183 days each year |
| Family | Spouse, children under 18 and adult children with a disability apply together or afterwards | Dependants' residence; the spouse may apply to the Ministry of Labor for a work permit | Spouse and children under 18 may apply for dependants' residence |
For specialist families, permit-free work after permanent residence covers the spouse, children under 18 and adult children with a disability.
Application eligibility · Investment permanent residence
| Applicant / family | Age and conditions |
|---|---|
| Main applicant | At least 18; Meet the statutory investment permanent-residence conditions and obtain approval; the ordinary annual residence-day test is waived for this route; Age at application |
| Spouse | Age not specified; Provide a valid marriage certificate |
| Minor child | Under 18; Include birth or adoption and custody documents; parental consent where required; Age at application |
| Adult child with a disability | At least 18; Must be supported by the applicant; provide evidence of disability and care needs; Age at application |
| Adding family later | Spouse, minor children and adult children unable to care for themselves due to disability may apply under the relevant family provisions; parents do not automatically obtain residence |
| Nationality restrictions | For foreign nationals under the Immigration Act. Mainland Area residents and Hong Kong/Macao residents use their respective legal regimes |
| Who the restrictions cover | Taiwan’s nationality and area-status classification applies; an additional passport does not automatically establish foreign-national treatment |
| Residence conditions and exceptions | Investment permanent residence has a residence-day exemption. It does not waive nationality classification or entry restrictions |
| Sanctions and background checks | Background, security and source-of-funds checks apply. Sanctions affecting a person, bank or transfer can prevent completion |
Application eligibility · Employment Gold Card
| Applicant / family | Age and conditions |
|---|---|
| Main applicant | Age not specified; Meet the announced special-professional criteria and obtain a Gold Card. Family residence and later permanent residence are separate applications |
| Spouse | Age not specified; Provide a valid marriage certificate |
| Minor child | Under 18; Include birth or adoption and custody documents; parental consent where required; Age at application |
| Adult child with a disability | At least 18; Must be supported by the applicant; provide evidence of disability and care needs; Age at application |
| Adding family later | Spouse, minor children and adult children unable to care for themselves due to disability may apply under the relevant family provisions; parents do not automatically obtain residence |
| Nationality restrictions | For foreign nationals under the Immigration Act. Mainland Area residents and Hong Kong/Macao residents use their respective legal regimes |
| Who the restrictions cover | Taiwan’s nationality and area-status classification applies; an additional passport does not automatically establish foreign-national treatment |
| Residence conditions and exceptions | Permanent-residence periods depend on the special-professional category and the conditions effective in 2026. A Gold Card alone is not permanent residence |
| Sanctions and background checks | Background, security and source-of-funds checks apply. Sanctions affecting a person, bank or transfer can prevent completion |
Application eligibility · Investment ARC
| Applicant / family | Age and conditions |
|---|---|
| Main applicant | Age not specified; Obtain approval or filing for the qualifying investment and apply for an ARC; permanent residence is not automatic |
| Spouse | Age not specified; Provide a valid marriage certificate |
| Minor child | Under 18; Include birth or adoption and custody documents; parental consent where required; Age at application |
| Adult child with a disability | At least 18; Must be supported by the applicant; provide evidence of disability and care needs; Age at application |
| Adding family later | Spouse, minor children and adult children unable to care for themselves due to disability may apply under the relevant family provisions; parents do not automatically obtain residence |
| Nationality restrictions | For foreign nationals under the Immigration Act. Mainland Area residents and Hong Kong/Macao residents use their respective legal regimes |
| Who the restrictions cover | Taiwan’s nationality and area-status classification applies; an additional passport does not automatically establish foreign-national treatment |
| Residence conditions and exceptions | Ordinary permanent residence requires the applicable lawful residence period and annual days; the investment ARC itself does not waive them |
| Sanctions and background checks | Background, security and source-of-funds checks apply. Sanctions affecting a person, bank or transfer can prevent completion |
The family budget
THE MAIN AMOUNTS
PLUM CARD
GOLD CARD FEES
INVESTOR, PERMANENT RESIDENCE
OTHER GOVERNMENT FEES
QUOTED CASE BY CASE
Process and payment schedule
Choose an application option
| Stage | You prepare | Payment | You obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plum CardPayment | Investment licence and filing letter, company change register, 3 years of tax clearance and financial statements, staff list; bond purchase proof for the bond option | NT$10,000 | Alien Permanent Resident Certificate |
| Gold CardPayment | Passport valid for 6 months or more, a 2-inch photograph, the specialist-recognition document; apply online and choose the validity | Online: NT$3,700, 4,700 or 5,700 | Gold Card following approval |
| Investor residencePayment | Approval letter issued within 3 months (investment of US$200,000 or more), company registration form, director list | NT$1,000 per year of validity | ARC; review in 10 working days |
Later stages
| Stage | You prepare | Payment | You obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01Permanent residencePayment | Application form, photographs, passport and ARC, health certificate, police records for the last 5 years | NT$10,000 | Permanent resident certificate; review 14 days from the case officer's receipt |
| 02CitizenshipPayment | Application, valid residence card, photographs, original-country police record, language and civic-knowledge proof | Per the published fee schedule | Citizenship permit; nationality from the permit date |
The documents to prepare
Order original records early and work from the immigration agency's current guide for your status.
Plum Card and permanent residence
- Plum Card: investment licence and filing letter, change register
- Plum Card: 3 years of tax clearance, financial statements, staff list
- Permanent residence: form, photographs, passport and ARC
- Health certificate and police records for the last 5 years
- Proof of self-sufficiency, where the guide lists it
Gold Card and family
- Passport valid for 6 months or more
- 2-inch colour photograph within 6 months
- Specialist-recognition document
- Relationship evidence for each dependant
- Dependants: health check and police records for 5 years
- Adult child with a disability: diagnosis or Barthel score of 30 or below
Investor residence and citizenship
- Investor: approval letter, company registration form, director list
- Citizenship: application form and photographs
- Valid ARC or permanent resident certificate
- Police record from the original country
- Language proof: a year at a Taiwan school, 200 hours of government courses, or a test score of 70
- Overseas documents authenticated, with a Chinese translation
Each dependant needs their own relationship evidence, health record and police record, so start these in parallel with the main applicant.
What Taiwan residence gives you
AMONG THEM
Professional life
- Work and residence
- Health and pension
Family life
- Dependant residence
- Re-entry with valid papers
IN TAIWAN
Live and work in Taiwan
The Gold Card combines work, visa, residence and re-entry. Permanent-resident specialists and eligible family members may work without a permit.
TAX
Tax residence and salary relief
A stay of 183 days establishes tax residence. Five-year salary relief starts in the first year meeting both the residence and NT$3m salary thresholds.
NATIONALITY
Apply for citizenship
After five qualifying years, apply with proof of language ability and civic knowledge.
FAMILY
Family residence and visits
Spouse and eligible children may apply for residence. A spouse can apply for a work permit; parents and grandparents for a one-year visa.
Your path to citizenship
Permanent residence, citizenship permit, then settlement and the national identity card.
- Residence statusPlum Card, Gold Card or investor ARC
- Permanent residencePlum Card on approval; other categories meet residence conditions
- Five years of residence183 days each year
- Citizenship permitNationality from the permit date
- Settlement and ID cardHousehold registration within 30 days
Years of residence
The general option needs five years of lawful residence with at least 183 days each year, together with proof of language ability and civic knowledge. Unmarried children under 18 can apply with a parent.
Permit and original nationality
Submit proof of loss of original nationality within one year, unless an exemption applies. Complete the separate residence requirements for settlement.
Settlement and household registration
After naturalisation, count from the Taiwan-area residence permit: 1 year with 335 days, 2 years with 270 days each, or 5 years with 183 days each. Settlement: NT$600; household registration within 30 days.
Speak with your adviser
Request a comparison of the Plum Card, Gold Card and investor residence, with a family budget.
HOW TO APPLY
Assessment
We review your family, aims and eligibility, and say plainly whether the programme fits.
Written proposal
You receive an itemised quotation, a document list and a timetable in writing.
Engagement and filing
Once engaged, we prepare the file, submit it and follow it through to the decision.
BRANDS
Identity planning and second-citizenship advisory
