TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A new visa that enables digital nomads to stay in Taiwan for up to six months went into effect on Wednesday.
The National Development Council held the "Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa Launch Ceremony" in Tainan City on Dec. 20. NDC Minister Liu Chin-ching (劉鏡清) said this is Taiwan's first initiative to recruit digital nomads, with Tainan being the starting point of the new program.
Liu said that Taiwan possesses two major advantages when attracting digital nomad talent. First, Liu cited a 2024 report by Global Citizen Solutions that ranked Taiwan first in Asia and 12th in the world for digital nomads due to its Employment Gold Card.
Following President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) directive, Taiwan plans to allocate NT$150 billion annually to foster innovative entrepreneurship, said Liu. He added that Taiwan especially welcomes digital nomad talent from Japan, South Korea, and neighboring countries.
Liu said the digital nomad community numbers around 35 million globally and is projected to reach 40 million, per CNA. These individuals possess exceptional digital skills and extensive experience, said Liu.
Liu added that Taiwan will create a favorable environment for digital nomads, provide funding and investment opportunities, support entrepreneurship in Taiwan, and encourage digital nomads to settle in the country.
Drawing from the implementation practices of other countries, the NDC will issue digital nomad visas on a trial basis, per Knews. Depending on the effectiveness of the pilot program, it will consider amending the "Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) to extend the visa's duration.
Eligible individuals
Foreign nationals who are professional and able to work remotely digitally. During their stay in Taiwan, they are prohibited from working for local employers. This includes:
- Individuals working remotely in Taiwan.
- Those who have applied for digital nomad visas in other countries and intend to work remotely in Taiwan.
- Individuals aged 30 or above with an annual salary of at least US$40,000 or its equivalent in one of the last two years, or those aged 20 to 29 with an annual salary of at least US$20,000 or its equivalent in one of the last two years.
Visa validity
A short-term visa will be issued with an initial validity of three months. Before expiration, it can be extended once for another three months, allowing for a maximum stay of six months.
For applicants who have previously obtained digital nomad visas from other countries, the Ministry of the Interior's review process will be waived, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will directly issue the visa.
The visa can later be converted to a work visa, or the holder can apply for an Employment Gold Card or Entrepreneur Visa. However, once a work visa is issued, the digital nomad visa will become invalid.
Foreign nationals may bring their spouses and children to stay in Taiwan, but all applicants (including their spouses and children) must purchase adequate commercial insurance.
Future plans
Depending on the program’s results, the government will consider extending the stay period, conducting rolling reviews, and studying revisions to relevant laws. Plans include establishing an online application platform for the digital nomad visa and providing one-stop services for digital nomads.
This will include offering assistance to foreigners coming to Taiwan. Local governments will propose and plan distinctive areas of interest.
Potential areas include Tainan, Taitung, Hualien, and Nantou's Zhongxing New Village to create digital nomad demonstration zones. There will be vacation and experiential activities, plus long-stay assistance for foreign nationals residing in these demonstration zones.
