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Taiwan (Republic of China) · entrepreneur · Leads to settlement

Entrepreneur Resident Visa

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 9 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

A resident visa for foreign entrepreneurs starting or running an innovative business in Taiwan, reviewed against the Entrepreneur visa qualification directions.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyInitial residence of 2 years; extensions of up to 2 years each subject to continuing to meet the qualification directions.
Processing time
Indicative only. Review involves the National Immigration Agency and the relevant economic authorities; check current timelines on the official BOCA and NIA pages.
Government fees
Indicative only. Visa and residence fees apply; refer to the official BOCA and NIA pages for current amounts.
Typical duration
Initial residence of 2 years; extensions of up to 2 years each subject to continuing to meet the qualification directions.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan) ↗

In short

As of 9 July 2026, the Entrepreneur Resident Visa for Taiwan (Republic of China) is an unsponsored Taiwan immigration route. Sources: official Taiwan (Republic of China) government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/taiwan/entrepreneur-resident-visa#answer

What is the Entrepreneur Resident Visa in Taiwan (Republic of China)?

Entrepreneur Resident Visa is an unsponsored Taiwan route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only. Visa and residence fees apply; refer to the official BOCA and NIA pages for current amounts; indicative processing time is Indicative only. Review involves the National Immigration Agency and the relevant economic authorities; check current timelines on the official BOCA and NIA pages; typical duration is Initial residence of 2 years; extensions of up to 2 years each subject to continuing to meet the qualification directions. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The Entrepreneur Resident Visa allows foreign nationals to come to Taiwan to start or operate an innovative business. Applications are submitted through the National Immigration Agency Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform and are reviewed for eligibility, with relevant economic authorities assessing the business against the official Review Directions of Entrepreneur Visa Qualification for Foreign Nationals. The initial residence period is two years, and applicants who continue to meet the qualification conditions may extend their residence in further periods of up to two years each. Blue-collar workers currently in Taiwan may not apply for this resident visa.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Assess against the directions

    Confirm that your venture can meet the official Review Directions of Entrepreneur Visa Qualification for Foreign Nationals.

  2. Apply online

    Submit the Entrepreneur visa application through the National Immigration Agency Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform.

  3. Collect the visa and enter Taiwan

    After approval, collect the resident visa from an overseas mission or BOCA, then enter Taiwan within the validity period.

  4. Obtain the ARC and extend

    Apply for an Alien Resident Certificate within 30 days of arrival, and extend residence in up to two-year periods while continuing to meet the qualification conditions.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Entrepreneur Resident Visa, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Entrepreneur Resident Visa instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Taiwan

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Taiwan. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Entrepreneur Resident Visa route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Entrepreneur Resident Visa.

    Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

How long is the initial Taiwan Entrepreneur resident visa valid?+

The initial residence period is two years. Entrepreneurs who continue to meet the conditions in the official Review Directions of Entrepreneur Visa Qualification for Foreign Nationals may apply to extend residence, with each extension not exceeding two years.

What are the eligibility requirements for the Entrepreneur visa?+

Eligibility is assessed case-by-case against the official Entrepreneur visa qualification directions, which look at innovation, funding, incubation and similar factors rather than a single fixed threshold. Supporting documents are determined individually, and blue-collar workers currently in Taiwan are not eligible. Check the current directions before applying.

How soon after arriving in Taiwan on the Entrepreneur Resident Visa must I get my ARC?+

You must apply to the National Immigration Agency for an Alien Resident Certificate within 30 days of arriving in Taiwan. You then extend residence in periods of up to two years each while you continue to meet the qualification conditions.

Can blue-collar workers already in Taiwan apply for the Entrepreneur Resident Visa?+

No. Blue-collar workers currently staying in Taiwan are not eligible to apply for the Entrepreneur Resident Visa. The route is for foreign nationals starting or operating an innovative business that meets the official Review Directions of Entrepreneur Visa Qualification for Foreign Nationals.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

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