The ROC Cabinet approved draft amendments to the Immigration Act Nov. 8 in a move to attract more outstanding foreign professionals and overseas Chinese to work in Taiwan.
Article 33 of the current act stipulates that the “National Immigration Agency shall revoke or repeal a person’s permanent residence permit and cancel his or her Alien Permanent Resident Certificate if the person has not resided for 183 days for each year during his or her permanent residence in the State.”
Under the revised bill, the APRC will not be canceled unless the foreigner has left Taiwan for more than five years, the Cabinet said.
Luo Ying-shay, minister without portfolio in charge of reviewing the regulations, said high-ranking business executives often have to travel outside the country. “The amendments reflect international trends and will help create a friendly business and recruiting environment, further enhancing Taiwan’s international competitiveness.”
Residency application procedures for foreigners arriving in Taiwan will also be simplified, so that holders of an Employment Pass Card, which combines the functions of a visa, work permit, Alien Resident Certificate and re-entry permit, will not need to reapply for an Alien Resident Certificate. Accompanying spouses and minor children may also apply for permanent residency.
Other revisions will allow registered ROC nationals born overseas, regardless of age, to apply for permanent residency in Taiwan after entering the nation, while unregistered ROC citizens will be able to apply after residing in country for over 335 days.
Separately, the Cabinet gave the nod to draft amendments to the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area the same day.
“The revisions make it possible for mainland Chinese spouses to obtain ROC identity cards in a minimum of four years, compared to the current six, in line with the regulations for foreign spouses,” Premier Sean C. Chen said.
“Those who have resided in Taiwan for three consecutive years, for more than 183 days each year, may apply for long-term residency,” Chen said. “With a year of long-term residency covering at least 335 days, two consecutive years over 270 days, or five consecutive years with more than 183 days per annum, mainland Chinese spouses will be eligible for citizenship.”
Referring to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior, Chen said that as of September, the number of mainland Chinese spouses in Taiwan had exceeded 300,000.
“Currently, more than 90,000 mainland Chinese spouses have obtained ID cards,” he pointed out.
The premier stressed that the draft amendments to both acts must still be sent to the Legislative Yuan for review.
