Taiwan (TW)

A safe, democratic, tech-forward island with excellent public healthcare, dense transit, world-class food culture, and a strong base for East Asia.

Capital: Taipei

Region: Asia

Language: Mandarin Chinese

Currency: TWD (NT$)

Cost of living: Moderate (index 58)

Emergency: 110

Citizenship & Permanent Residency

Long-term settlement options in Taiwan.

Permanent Residency

Name

Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC)

Eligibility

Foreign nationals who have held a valid Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and maintained continuous residence in Taiwan for at least 5 consecutive years, with a minimum of 183 days of physical presence per year in Taiwan, may apply for an APRC. Gold Card holders and certain high-skilled professionals may have more flexible routes.

Duration

Permanent once granted; continued residence in Taiwan required to maintain status

Requirements

✓5 consecutive years of lawful residence in Taiwan on a valid ARC
✓Minimum 183 days of physical presence in Taiwan in each of the 5 years
✓Proof of stable income or assets meeting the NIA threshold
✓Tax compliance certificates from the National Tax Administration
✓Clean criminal record from Taiwan and home country
✓Valid health documentation where requested
✓Application to the National Immigration Agency (NIA) with full supporting documentation

APRC provides open work rights through a separate open work permit application. Time spent in Taiwan on a Gold Card counts toward the 5-year APRC residence requirement. In 2026, an accelerated APRC pathway exists for investors placing NTD 5 million or more in qualifying Taiwan investments — verify current conditions with the NIA. Verify your ARC category qualifies for APRC — not all ARC types are eligible.

Citizenship

Name

Naturalisation as a Republic of China (Taiwan) National

Eligibility

Foreign nationals who have held an APRC and resided continuously in Taiwan for at least 5 years (3 years for spouses of Taiwan nationals) may apply for naturalisation. Standard applicants must demonstrate Mandarin Chinese (or Taiwanese Hokkien/Hakka) language and civic knowledge. Most standard applicants are required to renounce their original nationality before completing the household registration step that confers full citizenship rights. An exception exists for foreign special professionals (高級專業人才) qualifying under the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals — they may retain their original nationality after naturalising.

Duration

Permanent R.O.C. nationality once granted and household registration completed

Requirements

✓5 years of continuous lawful residence in Taiwan with APRC (3 years for spouses of Taiwan nationals)
✓Mandarin Chinese language ability and civic knowledge (assessed through designated tests)
✓Financial self-sufficiency
✓Clean criminal record in Taiwan and home country
✓Renunciation of prior nationality required for standard route (before household registration is completed)
✓Special professional exemption: qualifying foreign professionals under the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals may retain their original nationality — confirm eligibility with the NIA before applying
✓Application to the NIA with household registration completed after citizenship grant

Naturalisation is a multi-step process in Taiwan: NIA grants nationality → applicant renounces prior nationality (standard route) → household registration completed → full citizenship rights activated. Processing can take 6–18 months. Male applicants should seek advice on military service obligations before applying.

Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship

Citizenship via Marriage to a Taiwan National

Eligibility

Foreign nationals married to a Taiwan national on an ARC based on the marriage may apply for naturalisation after 3 years of continuous lawful residence in Taiwan. This is significantly shorter than the standard 5-year APRC requirement.

Duration / Outcome

Permanent citizenship once granted and household registration completed

Requirements

✓Valid marriage to a Taiwan national registered under Taiwan law (or recognised by Taiwan authorities)
✓3 years of continuous lawful residence in Taiwan
✓Mandarin or other recognised language ability and civic knowledge
✓Financial self-sufficiency
✓Clean criminal record
✓Application to the NIA

Work rights and naturalisation rules under the spousal ARC category differ from employment ARC — confirm with the NIA. The renunciation-of-prior-nationality requirement applies to the standard spousal route as well, unless the applicant qualifies as a special professional.

Gold Card (Employment Gold Card) APRC Facilitation

Eligibility

Taiwan Employment Gold Card holders (special professionals in designated fields with qualifying income or recognised achievements) accumulate residence time toward the 5-year APRC requirement. Gold Card holders may also have more flexible physical-presence terms.

Duration / Outcome

APRC after 5 years of Gold Card + other qualifying residence; leads to naturalisation eligibility

Requirements

✓Valid Employment Gold Card in one of the qualifying professional categories
✓Income or achievement meeting Gold Card programme thresholds
✓Minimum physical presence (183 days/year, with flexibility for Gold Card holders — verify with the Gold Card Office)
✓Tax compliance and NIA application

Gold Card holders should confirm eligibility for the special-professional naturalisation exemption from renunciation with the NIA before starting the naturalisation process. The Gold Card programme undergoes periodic updates — check the current qualifying fields and thresholds at goldcard.nat.gov.tw.

Dual Citizenship

✓

Dual citizenship is allowed — Taiwan's Nationality Act Article 9-1 (effective 2019) created an exemption from the standard renunciation requirement for foreign special professionals (高級專業人才) who naturalise — qualifying individuals may retain their original nationality. Standard naturalisations (non-special-professional path) still require renunciation of the original nationality before household registration is completed and full citizenship rights are activated. Taiwan nationals by birth who acquire foreign citizenship do not automatically lose Taiwan nationality unless they voluntarily apply to renounce it. Confirm your eligibility for the special-professional exemption with the NIA before beginning the naturalisation process.

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