Source: http://asiallians.com/taiwan-foreign-recruitment-act/
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 10:17:55+00:00

Document:
The Legislative Yuan just passed the “Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professional Talent” (“Talent Act” as followed) by the end of October. Since the Talent Act has not yet take into effect, we give you a quick insight of this new law and its features for foreign talents who wish to work in Taiwan or even wish to apply for permanent residency in Taiwan.
Article 4 of the “Talent Act” states the definition of three different types of professional talent.
A Foreign National Engaging in Professional Work in The State.
The above chart stated the regular foreign professionals in Taiwan.
A Foreign Professional as Referred to in The Preceding Paragraph Who Possesses Special Expertise Needed by The State in Science & Technology, The Economy, Education, Culture, The Arts, Sports and Other Fields, as Announced by The Relevant Authority.
The “Talent Act” recruitment policy is mainly focused on the special professionals – different from the professionals described in the chart above – who has been endorsed in the fields that are designated by the government of Taiwan.
1. Compensation reach-up to certain among as the foreign professionals (regular) in Taiwan.
2. Endorsed or recommended by the Academia Sinica, ITRI, or through the MOU of technology, international trade, and Academic research.
3. Be hired as President or Manager of the research center, operation headquarter, or global company.
5. Exceptional talents in the field of technology, E-commerce, new-material, digital marketing, green energy, and Tech-management.
6. Other talents in technology, economic, education, art, culture, sports or special know-how who is an emerging leader in the field that the government would like to recruit.
“Foreign Senior Professional” Means A Senior Professional Needed by The State as Prescribed In Article 25 Paragraph 3 Subparagraph 2 of The Immigration Act.
Senior professional needed by Taiwan as prescribed in Article 25 Paragraph 3 Subparagraph 2 of the Immigration Act. It would, for example, include one who possessed unique capability in the R&D or management of a special technology or S&T institution, one who possessed special ability in some aspect of science, research, industry or commerce, and a winner of an award or distinction in an international competition (ex: the Olympics). This would reserve for only a handful of persons and the standards are listed in the Plum Blossom Card .
• § 5: the Foreign teacher shall apply for a permit to the Ministry of Education.
• § 6: Opening for professional work as a buxiban(cram school) teacher.
• § 10: Professional works as an artistmay, without applying through an employer, apply directly to the Ministry of Labor for a permit.
• The « Talent Act » set out the 5 years working permit which adapts to the « 183 days/ 5 years » requirement for applying Taiwan PR.
• § 18: Foreign Pro. who has obtained the PR will no longer have to stay in Taiwan for more than 183 days/year in order to keep the PR.
• § 11, 12: Foreign Pro who has obtained the PR may enjoy the retirement pension systemin Taiwan.
• § 14: Spouse and minor children who have obtained the residence should participate in National Health Insurance.
The Taiwanese government is eager for foreign talents to come to Taiwan recently, but the recruitment policy before was outdated. Thus, this new “Talent Act” can be regarded as the step-one for the policy of foreign white-collar workers.
However, this recruitment policy is similar to the “Tier 1 Visa” (Exceptional Talent) of the UK, rather than H-1B Visa of the USA. According to the Evaluation Report made by the National Development Council, the “Talent Act” is mainly focus on the “Special Professionals”. And regarding the standards for the category of “Special”, less than 2% of all the foreign white-collar workers in Taiwan would be able to meet the standard . As a result, a regular foreign professional would only benefit from the Talent Act who has already possessed the Permanent Residency in Taiwan.
Fortunately, there are expected to have more policies on foreigner white-collar workers in Taiwan in the coming years. Besides the field of technology, Taiwan is likely to open for foreign teachers or specialists in the fields like art, culture, cuisine, movie, animation, etc. and allow foreign professionals in these fields to work in Taiwan without having a bachelor’s degree.
 National Development Council, Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, p.5, 2017.11.2.

References: § 5
 § 6
 § 10
 § 18
 § 11
 § 14