Legislature approves 'new immigrant development agency'

Taipei, Nov. 21 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan on Friday passed an amendment sanctioning the establishment of a "new immigrant development agency" that will oversee the governance and services of new immigrants.

"New immigrants," as specified in the New Immigrants Basic Act, are defined as foreign nationals or stateless individuals who have been afforded residence through marriage with a Taiwanese national, foreign professionals who have been granted a work permit and approved for residence, or Chinese nationals who are granted residency through ad hoc programs.

According to the New Immigrants Basic Act passed in July 2024, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is instructed to establish a third-level administrative body to attend to new immigrant affairs.

The new agency will oversee planning, research, consultation, coordination and promotion of services related to education, employment, empowerment, care and other services as needed by new immigrants.

After passing a third reading, the amendment must be implemented three months after it is announced, with the naming of an inaugural director-general and a deputy director-general.

In June this year, the MOI's Wu Tang-an (吳堂安) announced that the new agency will have a budget of around NT$700 million (US$23.62 million) and around 100 full-time employees if it is launched in 2026.