These regulations have been established in accordance with Article 35 of the Immigration Act (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”).

The duration of stay for any foreign national permitted to enter the Republic of China (ROC) with a visitor visa or a visa waiver after verification shall commence on the day following the date of entry, and the foreign national shall leave the ROC before his/her duration of stay expires.

Any foreign national applying for an extension of stay pursuant to Article 31, Paragraph 1 of the Act shall submit the following documents and a photo to the National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the “NIA””) within 15 days before his/her duration of stay expires:
1. Application form.
2. A passport.
3. A visitor visa.
4. Other supporting documents.
Each extension of stay granted to any applicant under the preceding paragraph may not exceed the duration of stay permitted by the original visa, with the total duration of stay not exceeding 6 months. Nonetheless, any applicant who is able to provide documents proving any of the following circumstances may have his/her duration of stay extended again by the NIA at the latter’s discretion:
1. Has been pregnant for more than seven (7) months, has given birth, or has had a miscarriage for less than two (2) months.
2. He/She has been hospitalized for an illness or pregnancy, and may endanger his/her own life if leaving the ROC by plane or ship.
3. He/She has a spouse, a lineal blood relative, a collateral blood relative within the third degree or a relative by marriage within the second degree who has been hospitalized for any serious illness or injury requiring care from others, or has died requiring the organization of a funeral, in the Taiwan Area.
4. Has met force majeure or other inevitable incidents.
5. Has his/her personal freedom restricted by laws.
Each extension of a visit pursuant to Subparagraph 1 or 2 of the preceding Paragraph shall not exceed two (2) months. The extension of a visit pursuant to Subparagraph 3 shall not exceed two (2) months from the date of the occurrence of the cause. The extension of a visit pursuant to Subparagraph 4 shall not exceed one (1) month. The extension of a visit pursuant to Subparagraph 5 shall be granted as required by circumstances.

Any foreign national who is permitted to enter the ROC with a visa waiver or a visa applied for upon his/her arrival after verification, and who is unable to leave the ROC before his/her duration of stay expires due to any of the circumstances under Article 4 of the Enforcement Rules for Issuance of ROC Visas to Foreign Passport Holders, shall apply for a visitor visa with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any of its branches.

Any foreign national permitted to enter the ROC with a resident visa after verification may apply for residency with the NIA by submitting the following documents and a photo, and will be issued an Alien Resident Certificate upon approval:
1. Application form.
2. A passport and a resident visa.
3. Other supporting documents.
Any foreign national applying for residency pursuant to Article 26, Subparagraphs 1 to 3 of the Act may be exempt from submitting the documents under Subparagraph 2 of the preceding paragraph.
Any foreign national born in the Mainland Area who applies for residency or permanent residency pursuant to Paragraph 1, Article 6, Paragraph 1 or Article 15, Paragraph 1 shall submit additional documents proving that he/she does not have any registered household in the Mainland Area and does not hold any passport issued by the Mainland Area.

Any foreign national applying for residency pursuant to Article 23 of the Act shall submit the following documents and a photo to the NIA, and will be issued an Alien Resident Certificate upon approval:
1. Application form.
2. A passport and a visitor visa. Any foreign national permitted to enter the ROC with a visa waiver after verification may be exempt from submitting a visitor visa.
3. Other supporting documents.
Any applicant for residency under the preceding paragraph to whom any of the circumstances in Article 23, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1, 9 or 10 of the Act applies may file his/her application 30 days before his/her duration of stay expires. Any such applicant to whom any of the circumstances in Article 23, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs 2 to 8 or Paragraph 2, 3 or 4 of the Act applies may file his/her application 15 days before his/her duration of stay expires.
An Alien Resident Certificate applied for in accordance with the preceding paragraph shall be valid from the day following the date of its issuance.
Any stateless person applying for residency in accordance with Paragraph 1 shall be reviewed by the NIA in consultation with the relevant authorities.

Any foreign national applying to change the reason for his/her residency pursuant to Article 23-1, Paragraph 1 of the Act shall, within 30 days from the date of occurrence of the fact, submit the following documents and a photo to the NIA for re-approval of his/her duration of residency:
1. Application form.
2. A passport and an Alien Resident Certificate.
3. Other supporting documents.
Any foreign national applying for changing a reason for residency other than any of those under Article 23-1, Paragraph 1 of the Act shall, within 15 days from the date of occurrence of the fact, re-apply for a resident visa with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any of its branches, and then apply for residency with the NIA by submitting the documents under the preceding paragraph, a resident visa and a photo.

A stateless person from Thailand, Myanmar or Indonesia who had entered the ROC before the Act came into effect on May 21, 1999 and who cannot be deported shall submit the following documents and a photo to the NIA to apply for residency, and will be issued an Alien Resident Certificate upon approval:
1. Application form.
2. A health certificate indicating good health.
3. Indictment or non-prosecution decision.
4. Proof of place of birth.
5. Proof of date of entry.
6. Other supporting documents.
A stateless person under the preceding paragraph may apply for residency for his/her children born in the Taiwan Area.
An Alien Resident Certificate applied for in accordance with this Article shall be valid from the day following the date of its issuance.

Any foreign national applying for an extension of residency pursuant to Article 31, Paragraph 1 of the Act shall submit the following documents and a photo to the NIA within 3 months before his/her duration of residency expires:
1. Application form.
2. A passport and an Alien Resident Certificate.
3. Other supporting documents.
Any foreign national who is permitted to reside in the Taiwan Area, who is aged 18 or older, whose father or mother is an ROC national with a registered household or permitted residency, a foreign national with permitted residency or permanent residency, or a Hong Kong or Macau resident with permitted residency in the Taiwan Area, and to whom any of the following circumstances applies, may apply for an extension of residency:
1. He/She has legally resided in the ROC for a total of at least 10 years, with a duration of residency of at least 270 days per year.
2. He/She entered the ROC at an age below 14, with a duration of residency of at least 270 days per year.
3. He/She was born in the ROC, and has legally resided in the ROC for a total of at least 10 years, with a duration of residency of at least 183 days per year.
A foreign national under the preceding paragraph shall, within 3 months before his/her duration of residency expires, apply for its extension by submitting the following documents and a photo to the NIA:
1. Application form.
2. A passport and an Alien Resident Certificate.
3. Documents proving relationship.
4. Other supporting documents.
The provisions of these Regulations before its amendment dated July 9, 2021 came into effect on January 1, 2023 may apply to any foreign national under Paragraph 2 who entered the ROC at an age below 16 before the said amendment came into effect, and the restriction in Subparagraph 2 of the paragraph on any foreign national entering the ROC at an age below 14 will not apply to him/her.

Any foreign national who is an investor in Taiwan, who is employed in Taiwan pursuant to Article 46, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs 1 to 7 or Article 48, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1 or 3 of the Employment Services Act, who is a professional worker under Article 4, Subparagraph 4, Items 3 to 5 or Articles 8 to 10 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, or who has received special approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for residency, may apply for an extension of residency with the NIA before his/her duration of residency expires. His/Her spouse, any of his/her children below the age of 18 or any of his/her children aged 18 or older who is unable to support himself/herself due to physical/mental disability may, if originally permitted for residency, also apply for such extension.
The Alien Resident Certificate of any applicant whose application for an extension of residency under the preceding paragraph has been approved shall be extended for 6 months from the day following the date of expiration of the original duration of residency. Before the extension expires, he/she may apply for another extension if necessary, with the total extension of residency not exceeding one year.

Any foreign national studying in Taiwan may, after graduation, apply for an extension of residency with the NIA before his/her duration of residency expires. His/Her spouse, any of his/her children below the age of 18 or any of his/her children aged 18 or older who is unable to support himself/herself due to physical/mental disability may, if originally permitted for residency, also apply for such extension.
The Alien Resident Certificate of any applicant whose application for an extension of residency under the preceding paragraph has been approved shall be extended for one year from the day following the date of expiration of the original duration of residency. Before the extension expires, he/she may apply for another extension if necessary, with the total extension of residency not exceeding two years.

An Alien Resident Certificate issued to any of the following foreign nationals shall be valid for no more than one year:
1. Any person who is studying languages at a Chinese language center affiliated with a college or university or is studying Chinese at a tutoring center.
2. Any person who is studying or undergoing training in the ROC with approval from the competent authority for education or any other relevant competent authority.
3. A foreign missionary or Buddhist preacher.
4. A first-time applicant for family-based residency who is married to a ROC national residing in the Taiwan Area with a registered household.
5. Any other person requiring residency.
The Alien Resident Certificate of any applicant whose application for an extension of residency under the preceding paragraph has been approved shall be extended for 3 years from the day following the date of expiration of the original duration of residency. If necessary, he/she may apply for another extension of residency not exceeding 3 years.

The Alien Resident Certificate issued to any foreign national with family-based residency shall be valid for the duration of residency of the family member sponsoring his/her residency. Where the sponsoring family member is an ROC national, the Alien Resident Certificate shall be valid for no more than 3 years.

Any foreign national whose duration of residency has expired or whose reason for residency no longer exists, whose residence permit has been revoked, and to whom any of the provisos under Article 3, Paragraph 2 applies, may apply to the NIA for an extension of the period before he/she leaves the ROC by submitting the relevant documents.
The period before leaving the ROC under the preceding paragraph shall be subject to Article 3, Paragraph 3.

Any foreign national applying for permanent residency shall submit the following documents and a photo to the NIA, and will be issued an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate upon approval:
1. Application form.
2. A passport.
3. An Alien Resident Certificate.
4. A health certificate indicating good health.
5. Documents proving his/her property or special skills to be self-sufficient.
6. Police criminal records of the most recent 5 years issued in both his/her country of origin and the ROC.
7. Other supporting documents.
Any applicant for permanent residency under Article 25, Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Act shall also submit a certificate issued by the central competent authority or an authorized organization. He/She and those applying together with him/her in accordance with Article 25, Paragraph 5 of the Act may be exempt from submitting the documents under Subparagraphs 3, 5 and 6 of the preceding paragraph.
Any foreign national applying for permanent residency, who has no record of leaving the ROC for more than 3 months during the most recent 5 years, may be exempt from submitting the document under Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 4 and the police criminal records of his/her country of origin under Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 6.
Any examination necessary for a health certificate indicating good health under Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 4 shall be conducted in accordance with the Items Required for Health Certificate established by the central competent authority for health.
Any foreign national whose Alien Permanent Resident Certificate has been cancelled in accordance with Article 33, Subparagraph 4 of the Act and who is still eligible for residency may apply for residency within 30 days from the date of its cancellation.

The NIA may grant permanent residency to any foreign national applying for immigration as an investor to the ROC who has met any of the following criteria:
1. He/She has invested at least NTD15 million in any profit-seeking enterprise, and has created job opportunities for five or more ROC nationals for at least 3 years.
2. He/She has invested at least NTD30 million in bonds issued by the central government for at least 3 years.

The NIA may reject the application of any foreign national for residency, changing the reason for residency, an extension of residency or permanent residency if any of the circumstances under Article 24, Paragraph 1 of the Act applies to him/her. Where such application has been approved, the NIA may cancel or revoke its approval and cancel his/her Alien Resident Certificate or Alien Permanent Resident Certificate.
In the case of any foreign national who has been permitted for family-based residency and whose sponsor has left the ROC for more than two years, the NIA may revoke his/her permit and cancel his/her Alien Resident Certificate if his/her sponsor has failed to enter the ROC within two months from the date of notice by the NIA.

Any foreign national aged 14 or older shall, in accordance with Article 28, Paragraph 1 of the Act, carry on a passport, an Alien Resident Certificate or an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate within the territory of the ROC.
Any foreign national who has none of the documents under the preceding paragraph shall carry any other identification document designated by the competent authority.

Any ROC national residing in the Taiwan Area with a registered household, who has entered the ROC with a foreign passport and is applying for an extension of stay, residency or an extension of residency, shall first apply to a household registration office for household de-registration before the NIA may accept his/her application.
The NIA will not accept an application filed under the preceding paragraph by any man near or at the conscription age who has yet to complete his compulsory military service, and to whom any of the following circumstances applies:
1. He holds neither an Overseas Compatriot Identity Certificate for military service exemption, nor an ROC passport with an Overseas Compatriot Identity Endorsement.
2. He is an overseas compatriot at the conscription age who has resided in the Taiwan Area for at least one year.
3. He is legally required to be subject to conscription and has been restricted from leaving the ROC.

Any foreign national who, during his/her duration of residency, needs to re-enter the ROC after leaving, shall apply to the NIA for a re-entry permit in accordance with Article 34 of the Act. Any applicant for the issuance of an Alien Resident Certificate may also apply for the issuance of a re-entry permit.
A re-entry permit under the preceding paragraph may be used multiple times, and shall be valid for a period not exceeding the duration of validity of an Alien Resident Certificate.
The re-entry permit of any foreign national whose Alien Resident Certificate has been cancelled shall also be deemed as cancelled.
Any foreign national permitted for permanent residency may re-enter the ROC with an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate and a valid passport.

The competent authority or any relevant authority shall, upon the discovery or knowledge of any foreign national whose reason for stay or residency no longer exists, notify the NIA.

Within 15 days of the death of any foreign national within the territory of the ROC, any of his/her related persons, the embassy of his/her country of origin in Taiwan or an authorized organization shall register his/her death with the NIA, or the NIA may register his/her death after verifying it through an investigation.
After a court/medical institution/prosecutorial agency/military prosecutorial agency has compiled the death information of a foreign national, the information shall be transmitted online to the Judicial Yuan/Ministry of Health and Welfare/Ministry of Justice/Ministry of National Defense, which shall, upon receipt of the information, transmit it online to the Ministry of the Interior for registration by the NIA.
The death information of a foreign national and the time limit for its transmission under the preceding paragraph shall be subject to Articles 2 and 4 of the Regulations on the Notice of Death Information.
Upon registration by the NIA under Paragraph 1 or 2, a notification of the registered information shall be immediately sent to the competent tax authority in the place where the central government with jurisdiction over the estate tax of the foreign national is located.

Any foreign national who cannot be deported due to the refusal of the country issuing his/her passport or other countries to receive him/her, any critical illness or any other special reason, may be issued a provisional alien registration certificate with restrictions on his/her place of residence or other conditions.

The effective date of this Regulations shall be determined by the Ministry of the Interior.