Validity & Extension

FAQ

Here is a summary of frequently asked questions regarding the Taiwan Employment Gold Card program, the application process, and other general questions regarding life in Taiwan and more.

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By default, between one and three years. If you are concerned your card (or underlying visa/work permit) may have become invalid or expired, you can check with the National Immigration Agency (NIA).

To reset your password, login to the Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform and click “Forget Password?”

To inquire about your account number, please write to the National Immigration Agency at a378liu@immigration.gov.tw and provide a copy of your Gold Card or passport.

The following information can be updated through the online application platform:

  1. Chinese/English Name (NTD500 fee)
  2. Gender (NTD500 fee)
  3. Passport Number (Free)
  4. Collection Location (Free)
  5. Resident Address (Free; Must provide documents such as electricity bills or rental agreement)
  6. Email (Free; Please contact NIA for assistance)

Please note that according to Article 6 of the Fee-Charging Standards for Employment Gold Cards, Employment Pass Cards and Entrepreneur Visas to Fee-Charging Standards for Employment Gold Cards, Employment Pass Cards and Entrepreneur Visas", Hong Kong/ Macau applicants must pay NT$2,600 if they wish to change their Name or Gender.

If you need to update any personal information or if your card is stolen, lost or damaged, please file a report using the Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform within 30 days from its occurrence.

Please follow these instructions to update information on your Gold Card.

change information_eng

For all foreigners whose foreign residence stay (including the Employment Gold Card) is about to expire, the National Immigration Agency Service Center will send a notification one month before the expiration date. A letter of notice will be sent to your residence address, but if the address is incorrect, the notice will not be received. If you wish to change your residence address, please visit the Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform to update it.

Please log into the Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform and update your details within 30 days of moving. Address changes are free.

Please follow the steps below:

  1. Log into the [Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform] and select Information change of Employment Gold Card
  2. Type in your address (must be written in Traditional Chinese). Please select the city and district from the drop-down menu, and type in the rest of your address in Chinese (do not type in the city and district).
  3. Upload proof of address (i.e. proof of accommodation, lease contract, or water/electricity bill). Additional Documents (if needed).
  4. Receive an automated email stating that the “Successful submission, review pending”
  5. It takes approximately 1-2 weeks for the National Immigration Agency (NIA) to review your application. Please keep an eye on your application status.
  6. When you receive an email from the NIA informing you that Your Card is Ready to Collect, bring your passport, current Gold Card, and electronic payment receipt to the NIA to claim your new Gold Card.

If you want to apply for a New UI No. for foreign nationals, please check the “Submission for Change of New UI No. Only” in the “Information Change of Employment Gold Card” section of the online application portal and upload a photo of your Gold Card to apply.

For all other Gold Card related changes, such as updating your resident address and other information or applying for a new Gold Card, after the payment is submitted and approved, if you still have an old ID number, the system will automatically give you a New UI No. for foreign nationals.

If you’ve applied for an Employment Gold Card in 2021, the UI No. will be changed to a New UI No. (one English letter plus nine digits), so if the ARC is an old-style UI No (two English letters plus eight digits), the Employment Gold Card application will be changed to a New UI No.

For more information, please refer to the NIA’s website .

Please log into the Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform, click Application then choose Application for Employment Gold Card Extension.

Extension Demo
Extension Demo

If your Gold Card is already expired, please choose “Application for Employment Gold Card (or renewal)”, and then click “New application”.

Reapplication Demo0
Reapplication Demo0

Reapplication Demo1
Reapplication Demo1

Please log into the Online Application Portal, go to Application Menu –> Replace Lost, Stolen or Damaged Employment Gold Card.

Follow the directions and complete the steps. After about 2 weeks, you will be able to pick up your new Gold Card at your local National Immigration Agency Service Center.

Those who have lost their Gold Card overseas can download the Resident Authorization Certificate from the Online Application Portal after being reviewed by the National Immigration Agency.

“Re-application” (also referred to as “renewal” on the Online Application Portal) is the term used for: 1) those who apply for a new Gold Card after their first Gold Card expires or, 2) those who applied for a second Gold Card before 10/25/2021. The start date of the new Gold Card begins on the approval date of the re-application.

“Extension” is the term used for those who apply for a new Gold Card before the first card expires and applied for it after (and including) 10/25/2021. You may apply for extension up to 4 months prior to your card’s expiration date, but no earlier. In this case, the start date of the new Gold Card is linked to the first Gold Card. For example, if your first card expires on 11/25, then your new card’s start date will begin on 11/25.

Please note that the application button is different for the “re-application” and the “extension”, although required documents are the same. In both cases, you must continue to meet the criteria you previously qualified for. If you change any criteria, then you will need to meet the qualifications of the new criteria.

Extension and Re-application demo

You may extend your Employment Gold Card on the Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform within 4 months of your current card’s expiration date. After re-entering your personal information, the platform will automatically transfer your documents from your previous application (you will not be able to preview or download your previous documents). To check new Gold Card qualifications, please refer to the Qualification Page .

Please note that if you switch to a new Field or regulation, or if there are new regulations for the Field of your previous application, the platform will not be able to transfer your documents from your previous application. Please note that there is no “Save” option, so please click “Next Step” continuously, then click “Send” to submit.

There are three ways for you to extend your residency:

  1. You can apply for an extension online via the “Foreign Professionals Online Application Platform (Employment Gold Card)” up to 4 months before the expiration date on your Gold Card.

  2. You may apply for the “Employment Seeking Resident Certificate” with 6+6 months validity at a National Immigration Agency Service Center 1 month before your current Gold Card expires. Please note that after obtaining the Employment Seeking Resident Certificate, you will not be able to legally work in Taiwan. Please refer to this LINK for the process for applying for an Employment Seeking Resident Certificate.

  3. Your employer can apply or extend a work permit for you at the Ministry of Labor 1 month before your current Gold Card expires.

You are eligible to apply for a 6-month job-seeking ARC before the expiration of your Employment Gold Card. For the application, you need to prepare your passport, Employment Gold Card, a passport-size photo in color within 6 months, and an application fee of NT$1,000. The application can be made at any National Immigration Agency Service Center, and if necessary, you can apply one last time for another 6 month extension.

If you are not in Taiwan, you may ask a friend or family member to act as your representative agent. In order to apply for the 6-month job-seeking ARC on your behalf, your agent must bring the following documents to the National Immigration Agency (NIA):

  1. A complete application form
  2. An authorization letter. Must be verified by a Taiwanese embassy or overseas mission
  3. Your original passport. If you cannot send your original passport back to Taiwan, please send it to the Taiwanese embassy of the country you are in at the time of application for Passport Authentication. Then, you may submit a copy of your passport + the passport authentication certificate in lieu of your original passport.
  4. Your original Employment Gold Card
  5. A passport-size color photo taken within 6 months
  6. An application fee of NT$1,000

Please note: after your application is approved, your agent will need to return to the NIA, pick up your ARC card, and send it to you overseas, as you will need to present your physical ARC at immigration in order to re-enter Taiwan.

Should you have any questions or concerns about the process, please contact your local National Immigration Agency Service Center .

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