Can Gold Card holders from Hong Kong and Macau apply for Registered Permanent Residence?

According to current regulations, Gold Card holders from Hong Kong and Macau may not apply for Registered Permanent Residence. Additionally, Article 24 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals stipulates that all matters related to entry, stay, and residence for permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau engaging in professional work or job-seeking in Taiwan shall be handled in accordance with the Laws and Regulations Regarding Hong Kong & Macao Affairs by the Ministry of the Interior.

The Act for the Entry and Permanent Residence of Permanent Residents of Hong Kong and Macau (“Act for Hong Kong & Macau”) states that permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau permitted for residence in Taiwan may apply for Registered Permanent Residence if they still qualify under the original conditions that resulted in their residence approval and have stayed in Taiwan for a specific period of time (kinship as a result of marriage or adoption must be maintained for more than 3 years but children born during marriage are excluded from these restrictions); the “specific period” above refers to a continuous residence of 1 year, allowing an unrestricted number of exits for a total period of 30 days within the year, prior to application; or a continuous residence of more than 270 days per year in Taiwan for a period of 2 years.

Currently, permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau with the following identity codes may apply for Registered Permanent Residence after staying in Taiwan for a specific period of time: HF151, HF152, HF155, HF189, HF156, HF157, HF158, HF159, HF160, HF161, HF162, HF163, HF166, HF167, HF169, HF170, HF173, HF174, HF175, HF176, HF179, HF180, HF196, HF197, HF177, HF178, and HF168 (upon conversion to HF171)

For details regarding Registered Permanent Residence, please refer to the Identity Code Chart for Permanent Residents of Hong Kong and Macau below.