Taiwan has two routes for remote workers who want a longer stay. The Digital Nomad Visa is a visitor visa that can reach two years. The Employment Gold Card is an open work permit and resident card. The guide below covers who qualifies, how to apply, what each costs, and which one most remote workers should look at first.
What each permit is
The two permits sit in different legal categories. Knowing which one fits the way you earn money can save weeks of paperwork.
Digital Nomad Visa
The Digital Nomad Visa is a visitor visa. The Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) issues it, and the National Development Council (NDC) checks your qualifications first. It suits people who keep working for employers or clients outside Taiwan.
- Visa type. It is a visitor visa, so it does not give you resident status.
- Who decides. The NDC reviews eligibility. BOCA or a Taiwan overseas mission then reviews the visa itself.
- Work. Applicants show remote work contracts with an employer or clients. Anyone planning Taiwan-based work should ask the mission first.
- 2026 update. Since January 1, 2026, extensions can stretch the stay to two years in total.
Employment Gold Card
The Employment Gold Card is a four-in-one document. It combines a resident visa, a work permit, an Alien Resident Certificate and a re-entry permit. The NDC, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) and the Ministry of Labor run it.
- Open work rights. Holders may work for any employer, take part-time jobs, change jobs or start a business.
- No sponsor. Applicants apply online, and a Taiwan job offer is not required.
- History. The card began in 2018. Foreign Professionals Act changes took effect on January 1, 2026.
- Length. Cards run for one, two or three years.
The nomad visa lets you live in Taiwan while clients abroad pay you. The Gold Card lets you work inside Taiwan’s own job market.
Who qualifies
Each route screens for money, but they ask for different proof.
Digital Nomad Visa
Applicants must hold a passport from a visa-exempt country. They also need to meet one of three income tests.
- Passport. BOCA’s visa-exempt list includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and many European countries.
- Ages 20 to 29. Show at least US$20,000 in annual salary in one of the last two years.
- Age 30 and older. Show at least US$40,000 in annual salary in one of the last two years.
- Another nomad visa. A digital nomad visa from another country can meet the test instead.
- Savings. Bank records for the last six months must show an average balance of at least US$10,000 a month.
- Insurance. You need international health and hospitalization cover for the whole stay. Our guide to health insurance plans for digital nomads covers the options.
Applicants need both an income record and a cash balance. A freelancer with a strong year still ahead may fall short on paper. People comparing thresholds can see our guide to digital nomad visa income requirements by country.
Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya are not on BOCA’s visa-exempt list as it stands today. Passport holders from those countries cannot use the nomad visa. The Gold Card is the route to read more closely, after checking the Gold Card site’s list of nationalities that cannot apply.
Employment Gold Card
Applicants qualify through one of twelve professional fields. They choose one field and one rule within it. The Qualification Quick Check on the Gold Card site shows which rules fit.
- Salary route. One path in the economy field asks for a most recent monthly salary of at least NT$160,000. That is about US$4,950 a month, or US$59,500 a year.
- Proof. A tax statement such as a US W-2 or UK P60 works. An employer certificate can replace it where tax law blocks a statement.
- Other routes. Each field has its own criteria, so people below the salary line may still qualify another way.
- Freelancers. The official page asks for salary or tax proof tied to work in an economic field. Freelancers may want to ask the Gold Card help desk before paying.
- Current visa. Some visa types, such as a Working Holiday visa, cannot be converted inside Taiwan.
How to apply
Digital Nomad Visa
The process has five steps. The NDC says review takes 14 to 20 working days from the application date.
- Step 1. Fill in the form. Complete the online form on BOCA’s visa site, print it and sign it. Submit your papers within 30 days.
- Step 2. Gather documents. You need two passport photos, a passport valid for six months, a CV or portfolio, and work contracts. Income proof, bank records, insurance proof and the Description of Intended Activities form are also required.
- Step 3. Submit. Applicants outside Taiwan apply at a Taiwan overseas mission. Applicants already in Taiwan apply to BOCA or its Taiwan offices at least 10 working days before their stay ends.
- Step 4. Wait for review. An interview may be required. Requests for extra papers must be answered within three working days.
- Step 5. Collect the visa. Collect it where you applied. An application made abroad cannot be collected in Taiwan.
Readers already in Taiwan on a tourist stay can compare statuses in our guide to the digital nomad visa vs tourist visa.
Employment Gold Card
The Gold Card process runs entirely online until the final pickup.
- Step 1. Register. Create an account on the Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform.
- Step 2. Choose a field and upload papers. Upload a color passport copy valid for six months, a 2-inch photo and documents that match your field. Papers not in English or Chinese need a translation.
- Step 3. Pay online. The fee is not refundable, whatever the result.
- Step 4. Passport inspection. Applicants abroad, or in Taiwan on visa-free entry, have the passport inspected at BOCA or a Taiwan overseas office. Inspection takes about seven working days. NIA review follows and takes about one to two weeks.
- Step 5. Collect the card. Pick it up at an NIA service center within 30 days of entering Taiwan.
Documents from Nigeria and Ghana, along with several other countries, must be verified by a Taiwan overseas office.
Official pages disagree on timing. The About page says 30 days for a perfect application, or 50 to 60 days with extra papers. The Application page says over 60 business days. Planning for the longer figure is the safer choice.
What it costs
Fees are set in New Taiwan dollars (NT$). The US dollar figures below are approximate, based on about NT$32.3 to the dollar in October 2026.
Digital Nomad Visa
BOCA’s fee table does not name the digital nomad visa. It lists visitor visa fees by passport type, so the nearest lines are likely the ones that apply.
- Most passports, single entry. NT$1,600, or US$50, per BOCA’s table.
- Most passports, multiple entry. NT$3,200, or US$100.
- US passports. NT$6,105, or US$185, for a general-purpose visitor visa, in force from April 7, 2026.
- Converting inside Taiwan. An extra special handling fee of NT$800, about US$24, applies.
The mission can confirm which fee line applies, and the fee is not refunded if the visa is denied.
Employment Gold Card
Fees depend on passport type and card length. The Gold Card site gives an overall range of US$100 to US$310.
- Most passports, and US passports applying in Taiwan. NT$3,700, NT$4,700 and NT$5,700 for one, two and three years. In dollars, about US$115, US$146 and US$176.
- US passports applying abroad. NT$7,605, NT$8,605 and NT$9,605, about US$235, US$266 and US$297.
- Extensions. NT$1,500, NT$2,500 and NT$3,500 for one, two and three years, about US$46, US$77 and US$108.
Both fees are small next to flights and rent. The income and savings tests are the larger hurdle.
How long you can stay
Digital Nomad Visa
- First stay. The visa allows six months.
- Extensions. Applicants can extend in six-month steps, up to two years in total.
- After two years. The NDC says a longer stay needs a change in the law.
- Moving on. The NDC says holders may apply to convert to long-term residence.
- Family. The official pages do not mention a spouse or children for this visa, so applicants should ask the mission directly.
Extension rules differ widely between countries. Our guide to digital nomad visa renewal and extension rules explains the common patterns. Families can compare other programs in our list of digital nomad visas with family and dependent provisions.
Employment Gold Card
- Card length. One to three years, with paid extensions available.
- Permanent residence. Holders can apply after three years. A Taiwan master’s degree offsets one year, and a Taiwan doctorate offsets two.
- Dependents. A spouse and children can apply for dependent residence. Parents can visit for up to one year per entry.
- Health care. Holders who work or run a business in Taiwan can join National Health Insurance without the usual six-month wait.
The Gold Card is the stronger long-term option. It carries a clear path to permanent residence and family coverage.
Taxes
Time spent in Taiwan matters more than the visa type for tax. The points below are general information and not tax advice.
Digital Nomad Visa
- 183 days. People who spend 183 days or more in Taiwan in a tax year count as residents and file income tax returns.
- Shorter stays. Stays of 90 to 183 days can bring reporting duties on income tied to work done in Taiwan.
- Basic Tax. Residents may face a 20% alternative minimum tax. A US expat guide says it applies once foreign income passes NT$1 million and total basic income passes NT$7.5 million.
- Home country. US citizens still file at home, as our guide to how US citizens file taxes while working remotely abroad explains.
Employment Gold Card
- Same 183-day rule. Gold Card holders follow the same residency test.
- Salary exemption. First-time holders who meet set conditions can apply for a 50% exemption on salary above NT$3 million a year. It runs for the first five years.
A tax professional who knows both Taiwan and your home country can check the details for your case.
Which route to look at first
Most remote workers should look at the Digital Nomad Visa first. It is built for people paid from abroad, and it needs no Taiwan job or professional field. The Gold Card fits people with a salary near NT$160,000 a month who want open work rights or permanent residence.
Digital Nomad Visa
- Best for. Remote employees and freelancers with foreign income, six months of savings records and a wish to live in Taipei or Kaohsiung. Our Taipei digital nomad guide covers wifi and coworking.
- Skip it if. Your passport is not visa-exempt, your income sits below the age-based line, or you want Taiwan-based work.
Employment Gold Card
- Best for. High earners, specialists and founders who want an open work permit, family coverage and a route to permanent residence.
- Skip it if. You cannot show salary or field proof, or you only want a short stay.
Readers still choosing a country can compare options in our list of top countries with official digital nomad visa programs. Japan is a nearby alternative, covered in our Japan digital nomad visa guide.
Plan your Taiwan trip
Taiwan offers a visitor visa for people paid from abroad and an open work permit for higher earners. Each has its own income test, fee and timeline. Most readers will want approval in hand before buying a ticket. When your visa plan is settled, search flights to Taipei on FlyBibe. Pick dates that leave room for processing time.
Immigration and tax rules change often. Confirm current requirements with the nearest Taiwan overseas mission or a qualified professional before making plans. The article reflects information as of October 23, 2026.
Official sources. BOCA digital nomad visitor visa page (updated August 7, 2026); Nomad Taiwan FAQ (digitalnomad.ndc.gov.tw/faq); Taiwan Employment Gold Card site (goldcard.nat.gov.tw); BOCA visa fee table and visa-exempt entry page.