TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan issued Gold Cards to 12,082 foreign nationals by the end of 2024 to attract talent for its high-tech sector, reports said Saturday.
The card allows foreign skilled workers to apply for permanent residency after three years in the country. It is not tied to a fixed employer, allowing for greater flexibility in the work search.
The number of Gold Cards for 2024 amounted to a 34.8% increase over the previous year, per CNA. The most popular category was for jobs in the economy, followed by the technology sector.
The National Development Council launched the formula in 2018 to help strengthen the country’s booming tech sector while countering the effects of population decline. The number of cards reached 5,000 in May 2022, with 10,000 recorded two years later.
The US saw the largest number of Gold Card holders, with 25% of the total. Hong Kong followed with 12% and Japan with 8%. During the next session of the Legislative Yuan, the government plans to amend employment regulations to support the development of the domestic economy.
