Taiwan Gold Card: Eligibility, Salary Route and How to Apply

What the Taiwan Gold Card is

The Taiwan Employment Gold Card is Taiwan’s visa for foreign professionals. It is a 4-in-1 card that combines four documents into one:

• Work permit
• Resident visa
• Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)
• Re-entry permit

Unlike a regular employer-sponsored work visa, the Gold Card gives you open work rights — you can change employers or work freelance without re-applying. It is managed by the National Development Council (NDC) and processed through the official portal at goldcard.nat.gov.tw.

Who can apply — the 12 fields

The Gold Card is available to professionals in 12 fields:

1. Architecture
2. Biotechnology
3. Culture and Arts
4. Digital
5. Economy
6. Education
7. Environment
8. Finance
9. Law
10. National Defense
11. Science and Technology
12. Sports

Within each field, the NDC publishes a list of eligible sub-fields. You qualify by meeting the criteria of at least one sub-field, either through your salary, your qualifications (degree, professional experience or awards), or your job role.

The salary route

One way to qualify is the salary route. If your monthly salary meets a minimum, you can qualify for fields where the salary criterion applies.

• The current salary threshold for most salary-based sub-fields is NT$160,000 per month (an annual salary of about NT$1,920,000).
• The salary route is limited to specific fields and sub-fields — it does not apply to every Gold Card field.
• You need to be employed (or have a job offer) in Taiwan with a salary at or above the threshold, and the employment must be in an eligible professional role.

The NDC checks the exact sub-field salary thresholds on the official portal, since the list is updated from time to time.

Validity and renewal

A Gold Card is valid for 1, 2 or 3 years, and you choose the validity period when you apply.

• Renewal — before it expires you can apply to renew through the same online portal, and the renewal is assessed against the rules in force at the time.
• The card is tied to your identity, not to a specific employer, which is why you can switch jobs while holding it.
• Holders can apply for permanent residency after a qualifying period of residence, subject to the standard immigration requirements.

Renewal and permanent residence rules are set by Taiwan’s immigration authority, so check immigration.gov.tw for the current requirements before you plan your stay.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online at goldcard.nat.gov.tw. The steps are:

1. Create an account on the official Gold Card portal.
2. Choose your field and the sub-field that fits your background.
3. Prepare supporting documents — passport, degree certificates, professional work history, proof of income or job offer, and any professional licenses or awards.
4. Pay the application fee and submit.
5. The NDC and related agencies review the application and issue the card.

Processing time depends on the field and the completeness of your documents. The portal shows the current fee schedule and the required documents for each sub-field, so review your chosen sub-field’s checklist before submitting.

Practical notes

A few things worth knowing before applying:

• Open work rights mean you can work for more than one employer, or freelance, without a separate permit.
• Spouses and minor children can apply for residence based on the cardholder’s status; check the portal’s family section for the current dependent rules.
• If you do not meet a sub-field’s criteria, the application will not meet the eligibility standard, so pick the field that genuinely matches your profile.
• The salary threshold is one route, not the only one — many applicants qualify through degrees and professional experience in eligible sub-fields.

This guide reflects the Gold Card rules as published as of August 2026. Field lists, salary thresholds and fees are updated by the NDC, so always confirm the current details on the official portal.