Taiwan · Work
Taiwan Graduate extension
First stay: 2 yrs
Extended residence for new graduates of Taiwanese universities
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Graduate extension is a work route for Taiwan. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- TWD 1,000/yr ≈ $31
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government feesTWD 1,000/yr ≈ $31
- TWD 1,000 a year (≈ $31)Alien Resident Certificate fee for residence or extension: NT$1,000 per year of validity (NT$5,000 for five years).
RenewalRenewable, 2 years max
The Alien Resident Certificate is extended for one year from the end of the original residence period and can be extended again, with a total extension of no more than two years. Graduates may work in that time without a work permit.
Ministry of the Interior, Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of ChinaLaws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 2 years in total
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Taiwan
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant obtained an associate degree or higher in Taiwan.
What you must show and pay1
- A fee of TWD 1,000 a year (≈ $31) · Alien Resident Certificate fee for residence or extension: NT$1,000 per year of validity (NT$5,000 for five years).
Steps1
- Apply to the National Immigration Agency for the extension before the student residence period ends.
After you arrive2
- During the extended residence, work is free in any industry and position, full-time or part-time.
- There is no limit on employer eligibility, unless the occupation requires a professional licence.
When you become tax resident
How Taiwan decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 2 years in total
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a taxable yearResident for progressive-rate assessment
- More than 90 days in a taxable yearOver 90 but under 183 days: withholding on Taiwan-source income
- Foreign-source income
Overseas income, basic tax only
Taiwan's regular income tax covers income from sources in the R.O.C.; income from outside Taiwan is excluded from consolidated gross income but is added to 'basic income' when a filing unit's overseas income is NT$1,000,000 or more, and the Income Basic Tax is 20% of basic income above NT$7,500,000, payable only when it exceeds the regular tax.
All tax rules for Taiwan Tax records checked
Full official text
New graduates with an associate degree or higher from a Taiwanese university can extend residence for up to two years and work in Taiwan without a work permit. 1 2 3 4 5 6
What you must show and pay
- A fee of TWD 1,000 a year (≈ $31) · Alien Resident Certificate fee for residence or extension: NT$1,000 per year of validity (NT$5,000 for five years). 2
Requirements
- The applicant obtained an associate degree or higher in Taiwan. 1
- Apply to the National Immigration Agency for the extension before the student residence period ends. 5
- During the extended residence, work is free in any industry and position, full-time or part-time. 1
- There is no limit on employer eligibility, unless the occupation requires a professional licence. 1
Stay
- Extended residence after graduation: one year, with one further extension, two years in total.
- First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
- Not renewable according to our source.
Nationality
Open to foreign and overseas Chinese graduates of Taiwanese universities.
Work
Work without a work permit in any occupation for the duration of the extended residence.
Family
A spouse and children under 18, or older children who cannot support themselves because of a disability, can apply for the same extension if they already hold residence. Your spouse or partner needs their own work permit to work in Taiwan.
Official sources
- Work permit exemption during the extended residence of new graduates · Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-02-04
- Guidelines for Foreign Nationals Applying for Residency, Extension of Residency, or Change in Residency Status (0902) · National Immigration Agency, Taiwan · checked 2026-10-12
- Immigration Act (Taiwan) · Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Employment Service Act (Taiwan) · Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Regulations Governing Visiting, Residency, and Permanent Residency of Aliens (amended 30 December 2025), Article 11 · Ministry of the Interior, Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan) · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2025-12-30
- Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (amended 24 September 2025) · Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Ministry of Justice) · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2025-09-24
Graduate extension and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate extension | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| Professional work permit | Needs income of TWD 48k+ a month ≈ $1,500 | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Job-seeker visa | Needs income of TWD 48k+ a month ≈ $1,500 | 6 mo | No |
| LTR · Highly Skilled Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Engineer/Specialist visa Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Graduate extension?
A fee of TWD 1,000 a year (≈ $31). Alien Resident Certificate fee for residence or extension: NT$1,000 per year of validity (NT$5,000 for five years).
How long can I stay on the Graduate extension?
Extended residence after graduation: one year, with one further extension, two years in total.
Can I work on the Graduate extension?
Yes. Work without a work permit in any occupation for the duration of the extended residence.
Can I bring my family on the Graduate extension?
A spouse and children under 18, or older children who cannot support themselves because of a disability, can apply for the same extension if they already hold residence.
More in Taiwan
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 6 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Work permit exemption during the extended residence of new graduates · Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor · checked 2026-10-10
- Guidelines for Foreign Nationals Applying for Residency, Extension of Residency, or Change in Residency Status (0902) · National Immigration Agency, Taiwan · checked 2026-10-12
- Immigration Act (Taiwan) · Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Employment Service Act (Taiwan) · Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Regulations Governing Visiting, Residency, and Permanent Residency of Aliens (amended 30 December 2025), Article 11 · Ministry of the Interior, Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan) · checked 2026-10-12
- Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (amended 24 September 2025) · Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Ministry of Justice) · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.