Taiwan mulls incentives for high-level professionals, digital nomads

Taipei, April 10 (CNA) Taiwan's National Development Council (NDC) has previewed proposals to allow high-earning foreign professionals to apply for permanent residence after only one year, while also extending the duration of its new digital nomad visa to a maximum of two years.

The draft changes, consisting of amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, were put up for public review last week, and are expected to be sent to the Cabinet at the end of the 30-day commenting period in early May.

The changes would create a "global elite" category for foreign professionals earning more than NT$6 million (US$182,674) annually, which would allow those eligible to apply for permanent residence after only one year in Taiwan.

In contrast, holders of the current employment gold card must wait three years to apply for permanent residence.

Meanwhile, the proposal would extend the duration of the "digital nomad visitor visa" that Taiwan's government launched this year, from the current maximum of six months to up to two years.

The draft amendments would also add a new visa category to attract graduates of the world's top 200-ranked universities, in a program based on the United Kingdom's High Potential Individual (HPI) visa.

The NDC explained that while Taiwan currently offers a visitor visa for employment-seeking purposes, that option lacks incentives.

The proposed visa category for graduates of top universities would allow them to stay without finding a fixed employer, thus giving them flexibility to take on individual contracts or engage in freelance work, the NDC said.

Following the public comment period, the draft proposal will be sent to the Executive Yuan for approval, and must then be passed by the Legislature in order to become law.