Taiwan to further ease regulations in bid to attract foreign talent

Taipei, May 29 (CNA) Taiwan's Cabinet on Thursday approved a draft amendment it said would make it easier for foreign nationals to live and work in the country amid ongoing efforts to remain competitive in the global talent race.

At a Cabinet press briefing, Hsieh Chia-yi (謝佳宜), a senior official at the National Development Council (NDC), said the proposed revisions will allow foreign nationals who graduated from one of the world's top 200 universities within the past five years to enter Taiwan to look for work without first having to acquire a job offer.

However, eligible individuals will still need to apply for a work permit from Taiwan's Ministry of Labor before arriving in the country, Hsieh, who serves as director general of the NDC's Department of Human Resources Development, told CNA.

The proposed measure is part of broader efforts to loosen regulations and make Taiwan more attractive to highly skilled professionals from abroad, amid intensifying global competition for talent, she added.

Another revision approved Thursday will expand an existing provision that waives the two-year work experience requirement for foreign graduates of top-ranked universities, Hsieh said.

Under the proposed new rule, graduates from one of the world's top 1,000 universities -- up from the current top 500 -- will be allowed to seek employment in Taiwan without needing prior work experience.

According to the NDC, the Ministry of Education will determine the list of eligible universities based on international rankings published by globally recognized organizations.

In addition, the government will also extend the duration of Taiwan's digital nomad visa, which was introduced at the start of 2025 to attract remote workers from overseas, enabling them to stay in the country for up to two years, Hsieh said.

Currently, the digital nomad visa is valid for three months and can be renewed once, for a maximum stay of six months.

A draft amendment to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals is waiting for legislative approval.