Q1: What is an Employment Gold Card? How is it different from the Employment PASS Card?
A1:
1. The Employment Gold Card is based on Article 8 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals. It is an open-end work permit issued to employment-seeking individuals whose qualifications are reviewed and designated by the central competent authorities as Foreign Special Professionals. The card is a combination of a resident visa issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor and an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and a re-entry permit both issued by the NIA.
2. Although the Employment PASS Card is also a four-in-one certificate (resident visa, employment permit, ARC, and re-entry permit), qualified applicants are defined as those being white-collar foreign workers (Subparagraph 1 to 6, Paragraph 1, Article 46 of the Employment Service Act).
Q2: What are the special rights and interests conferred by the Employment Gold Card?
A2: Holders of Employment Gold Card enjoy the following rights and interests:
1. The card is an open-end work permit issued to employment-seeking individuals that requires neither pre-confirmed hiring by or application through any employer.
2. Income tax benefits in terms of income tax deduction and exemption according to Article 9 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals.
3. The maximum duration of stay of visiting lineal ascendants of the card holder is expanded to 1 year. According to Article 13 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, lineal ascendants of a card holder may apply for a multiple-entry visitor visa valid for one year for staying up to six months per entry. The application should be made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or one of its overseas missions. The visa may be extended upon expiration for 1-year-maximum duration of stay in each extension.
4. The spouse and minor children of the Employment Gold Card holders are eligible for residence in Taiwan.
5. For the holders of Employment Gold Card who are employed in professional work in Taiwan, their spouse, minor children, and adult children who are unable to live independently due to physical or mental disability, having obtained documentary proof of residence, will no longer be subject to a 6-month wait for inclusion in NHI coverage.
Q3: How to apply for Employment Gold Card? What are the fees involved?
A3:
1. The application of the Employment Gold Card is accepted online through the world-wide-website of National Immigration Agency, accessible either from within Taiwan or from overseas. Click “ENGLISH” tab and choose Online Application >>9. Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform (Apply Employment Gold Card) for the platform homepage (also accessible by directly searching https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/four-in-one/entry/)
2. Application fees for Employment Gold Card：
(1) US passport holder：
A. Applying from abroad: NT$6,460 per applicant for 1-year term, NT$7,460 for 2-year term, NT$8,460 for 3 years.
B. Applying from within the country：
a. A person who enters the State with a visa-exempt passport or a visitor visa for staying less than 60 days: NT$7,260 per applicant for 1-year term, NT$8,260 for 2 years, NT$9,260 for 3 years.
b. A person who holds a visa for a staying period of more than 60 days without remarks stating no extension or other restrictions: NT$3,700 per piece for 1-year term, NT$4,700 for 2 years, NT$5,700 for 3 years.
(2) Passport holders of all countries except the USA：
A. Applying from abroad: NT$3,700 per applicant for 1-year term, NT$4,700 for 2-year term, NT$5,700 for 3 years.
B. Applying from within the country：
a. A person who enters the State with a visa-exempt passport or a visitor visa for staying less than 60 days: NT$4,500 per applicant for 1-year term, NT$5,500 for 2 years, NT$6,500 for 3 years.
b. A person who holds a visa for a staying period of more than 60 days without remarks stating no extension or other restrictions: NT$3,700 per piece for 1-year term, NT$4,700 for 2 years, NT$5,700 for 3 years.
(3) Hong Kong or Macau residents: Employment Gold Cards with one-year to three-year validity – NT$3,100 each (including NT$500 work permit application fee collected by the Ministry of Labor).
3. An application Fee paid for Employment Gold Card is non-refundable.
Q4: How to make inquiry of the status of Employment Gold Card application?
A4: The applicant will obtain a Receiving Number once the online application is completed. For case status check, click the Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform (Apply Employment Gold Card) homepage (https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/four-in-one/entry/) and click the “Employment Gold Card” round button, then click “I want to apply” under the “Information” heading. Check applicant type and click “Consent & Continue” and fill in user's name and password to log in. Click the pull-down menu labeled “Case Status Check ” and fill in the Receiving No. beneath the “Case Status Check - Inquiry” bracket to show the status of application.
Q5: Why does the applicant still need to apply for a visa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs counter after completing the online application for Employment Gold Card?
A5: In accordance with the relevant regulations issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foreigners applying for visas should submit their passports for examination by the consular authority for authenticity and for review of other requisites.
Q6: Can I apply for extension upon the expiry of the Employment Gold Card?
A6: The term of the Employment Gold Card cannot be extended since it is an open-end work permit issued to employment-seeking individuals that require neither confirmed hiring by nor application through the employer. Periodic reviews and updates are needed on the applicant's work status and on potential changes in the qualification of the applicant. Therefore, a new application should be filed prior to the Employment Gold Card's expiration.
Q7: What are the categories of Foreign Special Professionals? What are the government authorities that draw the criterion to define them?
A7: Foreign Special Professionals are divided into seven qualification types. The criteria used to define each type of Foreign Special Professionals are issued by the following government departments:
1. Science and technology (Ministry of Science and Technology).
2. Economy (Ministry of Economic Affairs).
3. Education (Ministry of Education).
4. Culture and Arts (Ministry of Culture).
5. Sports (Ministry of Education).
6. Finance (Financial Supervisory Commission).
7. Law and Architecture (Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior)
Q8: I have an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). Can I keep the ARC upon approval of my Employment Gold Card? If I hold a valid Employment Gold Card and get approved of an ARC after applying by other causes, will my Employment Gold Card be cancelled?
A8:
1. The Employment Gold Card is a four-in-one cards that simultaneously works as work permit, residence visa, Alien Resident Certificate and Re-entry permit. There is no need for its holder to apply for another Alien Residence Certificate. To enforce the one-ARC-per-person policy for any foreigner residing in Taiwan, the applicant is given the option to make conversion between the ARC and the Employment Gold Card, but only one or the other.
2. If you already hold a valid Employment Gold Card but apply for and got issued an Alien Resident Certificate by other reasons, the NIA are bound by law to cancel your Employment Gold Card, though not af-fecting your rights to residency.
3. If you already have a valid ARC, be it by the reason of being an em-ployed white-collar worker or being the spouse of a registered ROC national, you are eligible for an Employment Gold Card once you meet the qualifications of a Foreign Special Professional.
4. In addition, if you want to convert your ARC to an Employment Gold Card, the NIA will cancel your ARC once you apply for and get issued the latter.
Q9: How does an Employment Gold Card applicant apply for a Resident Visa?
A9: The applicant should upload the information page of his/her passport, which should be valid for at least 6 months, and a color passport-size photo with a white background taken within 6 months to Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform. After receiving a Passport Verification Notice from the National Immigration Agency ,MOI, the applicant should hand in the Notice and his/her passport to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or overseas missions of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The applicant may authorize an agent to hand in the Notice and the passport if needed.
Contact Ministry of Interior for more information.