Taiwan Aims at Making Country’s Immigration Policies Flexible

The Taiwanese Immigration authorities are looking forward of making certain reforms in the immigration system of Taiwan for making it more favorable for permanent residents and foreign investors. According to the Taiwanese Ministry of Interior (MOI), the aim of such reforms is to attract more foreign professionals and entrepreneurs to work and invest in Taiwan. As per the information provided by the MOI, the new reforms are expected to relax most of the restrictions in the country’s immigration system.

The government is getting ready to create a positive impact on the country’s economy, trying to influence it through certain adjustments in Taiwan’s immigration system. The planned revisions in the immigration rules have already been worked out by the MOI. The more flexible rules will enable foreigners to obtain permanent residency in Taiwan more conveniently than before.

The Draft revisions include proposals for adjusting certain conditions for the permanent residency holders in Taiwan. One of these conditions on these individuals living in the country is that they must remain in the country for at least 183 days in a year in order to continue keeping their status. The new revisions aim at getting rid of this restriction all together, enabling permanent residents in the country to take long foreign trips without fear of losing their permanent residency status.

According to Taiwan immigration department, up till now 6,000 permanent Alien Resident Cards have been issued by them. The agency is expecting an increase in this number once the new revised immigration rules are implemented by the country’s lawmakers.

One of the most important adjustments was made to the eligibility criteria for the foreigners to apply for permanent residence. Currently the scope of eligibility is somewhat narrow. The revisions will enable, in the future, foreigners to become permanent residents in the country by just investing in different local projects. Highly trained professionals and people with special contributions will also having the same facility.

Another, very particular, change gave incentives to people who had left Taiwan at a young age to return to the country. Also, those regarded as citizens of the Republic of China (R.O.C), because of their blood lines, will be allowed to settle in Taiwan even if they come back with R.O.C passports.

The age restrictions for these people currently require them to be over 20 years of age to register directly for permanent residency. Those below the age of 20 must wait for a year to become eligible for registration. The revisions might also eradicate any such restrictions from the rules.

MOI and Taiwanese immigration department officials have stated to local news media that the proposed changes are being made particularly to attract foreign skilled professionals to choose Taiwan for their career prospects. The officials claimed that such favorable conditions are bound to attract skilled workers to Taiwanese labor market, increasing the overall competition in the country by raising the standard of work.

The current condition of the Taiwanese skilled labor market is adversely affecting the country’s economy due to lack of professional orientation. Local entrepreneurs and companies have been blaming the country’s hard and rigid immigration policies for discouraging import of foreign skilled professionals into Taiwan. Due to such criticism the government finally gave way for the new reforms to take place. The officials said that the revisions will be presented before the legislature for a review.

Tags: foreign skilled professionals, Ministry of interior in Taiwan, permanent residency holders in Taiwan, Taiwan, Taiwanese immigration, Taiwan’s immigration system