As of January 2025, Taiwan rolled out a new “Digital Nomad Visa, (數位遊牧停留簽證)” which allows foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries to stay in Taiwan up to six months. Other requirements, such as an annual salary of at least USD 20,000-40,000 and a bank balance of at least USD 10,000, are also required. The visa does not include Taiwan National Health Insurance, Taiwan labor insurance, Taiwan Pension, or a Taiwan work permit. Even so, this visa is a powerful incentive for remote-working foreigners to visit Taiwan, which will hopefully encourage them to stay long-term.
Note: This guide is for reference only. The ultimate authority on what documents are required and whether or not your application will be accepted is the immigration bureau. Some of the information in the blog may be inaccurate for your specific situation. For clarifications, please call the foreigner hotline directly (toll-free): 0800-024-111. This information for this blog was taken from the BOCA website.
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My Personal Opinion Regarding the Digital Nomad Visa:
When I first heard about the digital nomad visa, I was surprised by how few benefits it offers foreigners, except for the chance to stay six months in Taiwan without leaving the country. Instead, you could stay 89 days in Taiwan, then fly to Hong Kong, and fly back the next day, when the visa-free 90 days starts again (also known as a visa run). A flight to Hong Kong may be cheaper and less of a hassle than applying for the Digital Nomad Visa.
The Employment Gold Card, which offers many more benefits such as an open work permit in Taiwan (so you can work ay any Taiwanese company without them sponsoring you), as well as the ability to join National Health Insurance, and the fact that it lasts for up to three years at a time with the ability to extend are all much better than what the Digital Nomad Visa offers. However, I can understand if most people do not qualify for the Gold Card. The Digital Nomad Visa sets a lower bar that more people are able to meet. However, before you apply, I would just ask everyone whether or not doing a visa run to Hong Kong or applying for a Gold Card would be better.
I was also surprised that the Taiwan government is basically accepting remote work without a work permit. This has long been a grey area in Taiwan’s legal system, which states that all foreigners must have a valid work permit to work in Taiwan (unless they are working under a contract for less than 30 days in a year). Therefore, the government is basically saying that it’s okay to work for a foreign company as a foreigner in Taiwan, as long as it is just remote work and you do not work for a Taiwanese company. This is great news for thousands of international companies that hire people in Taiwan remotely to work in Taiwan without registering a business entity, applying for work permits, and enrolling their Taiwan-based employees in statutory benefits. I know lots of people who have worked remotely for a foreign company under the radar for years, and now they may finally feel validated without having to worry about working illegally in Taiwan.
Again, I am surprised that Taiwan is taking this approach, considering the losses in tax revenue for foreigners that stay in Taiwan for less than six months, as well as revenue they could be making for National Health Insurance and Labor Insurance from a young, healthy foreign workforce. In the end, the statement they are making is good for foreign digital nomads. They are basically saying, Welcome to Taiwan, where we will not give you any trouble for working remotely and making money outside of the country.
Basic Requirements to Qualify for a Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa
Below are the requirements to apply for a Taiwan Digital Visa as prescribed by Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs:
- Hold a Nationality from the list of Visa-Free Countries
- Must be able to show proof of remote working experience, such as a CV, and current and past work contracts
- Provide a work description for your time in Taiwan using the designated form
- Proof of meeting one of the following conditions:
- Proof of having obtained a digital nomad visa issued by another country (show related passport annotation or proof of having obtained a digital nomad visa issued by another country)
- For those 30 years of age and older: proof of earning an annual salary of at least US$40,000 or its equivalent in one of the last two years
- For those between 20 and 29 years of age: proof of having earned an annual salary of at least US$20,000 or its equivalent in one of the last two years
- Proof of annual salary can be a tax certificate or a salary certificate from the employer
- Proof of bank account balance over the last six months. Account balance must average at least US$10,000 or its equivalent each month.
- Proof of international health insurance. Proof of health and full hospitalization insurance for the entire duration of stay in the R.O.C. (Taiwan) as indicated in the Description of Intended Activities form.
- A completed application form.
- Original passport and photocopy
- Two identical color passport photos taken within the last six months (45mm x 35mm), which should be a well-lit, high-quality image with a white background, no teeth showing, forward-facing the camera, ears showing, shoulders and above.
- Other supporting documents on a case-by-case basis.
FAQ (frequently asked questions)
Please see answers to frequently asked questions about the digital nomad visa below.
Q: How do I apply for the Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa?
A: If you are outside of Taiwan, you need to apply at a Taiwan Embassy or an overseas Taiwan Representative Office. The Taiwan Office will then send the application to the NDC for review.
If you are inside Taiwan, you must send an application at least ten days before your current visa expires to the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA), which has offices throughout Taiwan, and will send the application to the NDC.
An interview may be required, and those who are denied a visa must leave the country before their current visa expires.
Q: What is the list of nationalities that can apply for the Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa?
A: 90-day visa-free: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Island, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, and United States of America.
30-day visa-free: Belize, Malaysia, Nauru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Singapore.
14-day visa-free: Brunei, Philippines, and Thailand.
Q: What is the visa fee?
A: It depends on your nationality and where you are applying from. For a US citizen who applies in Taiwan, the total fees will be 7,090 NTD (actual fees may vary).
Q: Does the Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa include multiple entries?
A: No, Taiwan Digital Nomad Visas are single-entry visas.
Q: Does this visa count toward Permanent Residency (APRC) requirements?
A: No, you need to have the same type of resident permit for five years or more.
Check out our APRC FAQ here.
Q: Can I sponsor my family members on a Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa?
A: No. They will need to enter Taiwan using the visa-free entry or another visa type.
Q: Does a Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa exempt me from Taiwan income tax?
A: No. Please see our full Taiwan tax FAQ here.
Q: How many years of remote work experience do I need for a Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa?
A: There is no lower limit. You just need to show some experience.
Q: How long does it take for the government to approve a Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa?
A: 10 days.
Q: What is the difference between a Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa and a Taiwan Employment Gold Card?
Please refer to the table below:
Visa Type: | Duration of Stay | Multiple Entries | Work Permit and Taiwan Statutory Benefits | Tax and Immigration Benefits | Ability to sponsor visas for dependents |
Digital Nomad Visa | 180 days | No | No | No | No |
Employment Gold Card | 3 years | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa?
Advantages:
- Ability to stay in Taiwan for 180 days without leaving the country
- This stay is substantially longer than countries with visa-free entry for only 30 days or 14 days
- You can apply again for the visa after it expires as many times as you want
- Easier to obtain than an Employment Gold Card
Disadvantages:
- It does not include a work permit, so you can only work for an overseas employer
- It does not include an ARC card
- It does not let you join Taiwan’s statutory benefits programs
- It does not allow you to sponsor visas for your family dependents
- It does not include any tax benefits
- It does not help you obtain permanent residency (APRC)
- It only lasts for six months
Q: What are taxes like in Taiwan? What are the personal income tax rates in Taiwan?
A: Please see our full Taiwan tax FAQ here.
Q: How do I apply for permanent residency in Taiwan (APRC)?
A: Check out our APRC FAQ here.
Q: What is the general immigration process like in Taiwan?
A: Please see our immigration FAQ here.
Q: Can I apply for an extension before my Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa expires?
A: It depends. This is possible for some people; however, it may not be possible for others, depending on your nationality. Once your visa is issued, the visa itself will state clearly whether or not you can extend the visa.
Q: Can I apply for a new Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa right after my Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa expires?
A: Yes. You can leave the country before it expires and apply again right after it expires without waiting, and you can repeat this process as many times as you would like.
Q: If I have specific questions about my Taiwan Digital Nomad application, who should I ask?
A: Ask the immigration agency closest to you, or call the foreigner hotline in Taiwan toll-free at 0800-024-111.
Be sure to check out more of our Taiwan-related frequently asked questions here.