國際事務組International Affairs Section

Resident permit

RESIDENT VISAS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS

【Note】

  • Students wishing to study for a degree may apply for a resident visa at the Foreign Office of the Republic of China before departure. If they cannot obtain a resident visa, they can apply for vistor visa and change to resident visa after entry into Taiwan, and then apply for a resident visa and use this visa to apply for alien residence permit. (Foreign students need to apply for a visa at the foreign office of Taiwan before coming to Taiwan to study and apply for a long-term resident permit with a resident visa and an application form and related documents at the Department of Immigration at the Ministry of Interior.)
  • Students with a resident visa must apply for an alien’s residence permit within 15 days of arrival. Before applying for the alien residence permit, they need to complete the formalities for admission to the school, obtain a student card or proof of enrollment.

※ Required documents for applying 【resident visa】

A. Original copy of passport with 6 months valid period and photocopies of pages of basic information of passport (including photo).
B. Visa application pasted with two 2-in color photos.
C. Original of school admission
D. Original and photocopy of health inspection qualification certificate
E. Admission permit/notification or proof of enrollment registration, original and photocopies of transcripts
F. Original and photocopy of highest educational certificate (including graduation certificate and transcripts)
G. Original and photocopy of financial support
H. Other required documents depending on individual cases.
I. Visa fee:

1. Resident visa fee at NT$2200(USD66)
2. Corresponding handling charge NT$3600(USD100 dollars, currently only applicable for US nationals).
3. A special handling charge of NT$800 (24 US dollars) for changing stay visa to resident visa.

J. Host unit: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan),Note on Resident Visas for Overseas Chinese Students
English website:http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=6139&ctNode=778&mp=2

K. ROC Visa Application Forms

Website: https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw/BOCA_MRVWeb/subroot/MRVWeb0_form.jsp

◎ Required documents for applying 【Alien Resident Certificates (ARC)】

A. One copy of application form
B. Two 2-in color photos
C. One copy of original and photocopy of passport (passport must have valid period for six months or more with blank pages. Photocopies of basic information pages with photo included).
D. One original, one photocopy of resident visa.
E. One original, one photocopy of student certificate or enrollment certificate.
F. Fee: NTD:1000
G. Host unit: National Immigration Agency,detail information

◎Application for extension, replacement of ARC of foreign students:

【Required documents】

I. Application: Fill in one copy of Application form.

II. Documents for verification:

1. Alien Resident Certificates
2. Submit original of passport, immigration visa (immigration visa is exempted if reason for applying change of residence has changed per provision 2 of Article 23 of this law.)
3. Attached with proof of application for residence purpose (check original, keep copy): student card or school attendance certificate (for the first time an overseas Chinese student has to submit a notification of school admission).
4. Submit one 2.5-in photo with no cap for exchange of certificate (photo specification same as ID card photo)

5. For the replacement of loss certificate, a lost declaration statement or proof of report must be attached.
6. Pay certificate fee: 1 year validity for NT$1000, 2 year validity for NT$2000, 3 year validity for NT$3000, for overseas Chinese student NT$500, replacement also NT$500.
7. Power of Attorney: Except for the applicant’s personal delivery, it is necessary to provide power of attorney if entrusting others to send on behalf of the person; if the person is in a foreign country, Hong Kong or Macao, the power of attorney shall be verified by the Taiwan Foreign Office.

III. Processing: 10 days(pick up alien residence permit with payment receipt)

IV. Relevant matters:

1. Foreigners entering Taiwan with resident visa must apply for alien residence permit within 15 days of stay.
2. If foreigners require continue staying here, it is necessary to apply for extension of stay within 30 days prior to expiration of stay period.
3. When a foreigner changes his residence address or service address during his/her stay, he/she shall go through the change registration within 15 days of the occurrence.
4. In accordance with provision 2, Article 23 of this law applying for change of stay, it is necessary to file application within 30 days before expiration of the valid period.
5. Documents prepared abroad must be accompanied by Chinese translation and verified by the Foreign Office of ROC. If the local Taiwan foreign office only examines the documents and does not verify the Chinese translation, the Chinese translation must be submitted to a court (or notary) in Taiwan for notarization.
6. For nationals with household registration in Taiwan but enter with foreign passport, it is necessary to apply for stay or extension of stay and go to the civil affairs administration to move out from household registration.
7. Before expiration of stay period, the applicant must leave Taiwan before the deadline if he/she fails to get an alien residence permit for change of stay.
8. Changes in the application for residence in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 23 of this Law shall be limited to the first paragraph (such as relative visiting, employment, investment, etc.), and shall be changed to other reasons of residence (such as attending school, missionary preaching, etc.) However, it is still necessary to contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for relevant matters and apply for a residence permit for aliens after obtaining the relevant resident visa.