--- title: "Taiwan Graduate extension requirements 2026: 2-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/graduate-extended-residence/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Taiwan · Work # Taiwan Graduate extension **First stay:** 2 yrs Extended residence for new graduates of Taiwanese universities Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 2 yrs (Extended residence after graduation: one year, with one further extension, two years in total.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport (Open to foreign and overseas Chinese graduates of Taiwanese universities.) - **Work:** Yes (Work without a work permit in any occupation for the duration of the extended residence.) - **Family:** Family can join (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.) - **Spouse work:** Needs a permit (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.) ## 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 fees: TWD 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). **Renewal: Renewable, 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 China](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0080129) [Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=A0030295) ## 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 apply - The applicant obtained an associate degree or higher in Taiwan. #### 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). #### Steps 1. Apply to the National Immigration Agency for the extension before the student residence period ends. #### After you arrive - 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 year** Resident for progressive-rate assessment - **More than 90 days in a taxable year** Over 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 **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. (sources 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). (source 2) #### Requirements - The applicant obtained an associate degree or higher in Taiwan. (source 1) - Apply to the National Immigration Agency for the extension before the student residence period ends. (source 5) - During the extended residence, work is free in any industry and position, full-time or part-time. (source 1) - There is no limit on employer eligibility, unless the occupation requires a professional licence. (source 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. Checked 2026-10-12 ## Official sources 1. [Work permit exemption during the extended residence of new graduates](https://ezworktaiwan.wda.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=8CE17C2739F9AB35&s=9BEFF2CF37C2786B) · Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-02-04 2. [Guidelines for Foreign Nationals Applying for Residency, Extension of Residency, or Change in Residency Status (0902)](https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5475/5478/141465/141808/141970/) · National Immigration Agency, Taiwan · checked 2026-10-12 3. [Immigration Act (Taiwan)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0080132) · Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Employment Service Act (Taiwan)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=N0090001) · Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Regulations Governing Visiting, Residency, and Permanent Residency of Aliens (amended 30 December 2025), Article 11](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0080129) · Ministry of the Interior, Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan) · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2025-12-30 6. [Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (amended 24 September 2025)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=A0030295) · 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/professional-work-permit/) | Needs income of TWD 48k+ a month ≈ $1,500 | 3 yr, renewable | – | | [Job-seeker visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/employment-seeking-resident-visa/) | Needs income of TWD 48k+ a month ≈ $1,500 | 6 mo | No | | [LTR · Highly Skilled](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-highly-skilled-professional/) Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – | | [Engineer/Specialist visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/engineer-specialist/) 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 [Employment Gold Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/employment-gold-card/) [Freelance artist permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/freelance-artist-work-permit/) [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/working-holiday/) [Digital nomad visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/digital-nomad-visitor-visa/) [Entrepreneur visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/entrepreneur-visa/) [Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/student-resident-visa/) [Graduate work permit (points)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/graduate-points-work-permit/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇮🇩 Special talent visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/e33a-special-talent-sponsored/) [🇦🇪 Golden · Senior specialist](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-specialised-professional/) [🇸🇬 Employment Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/employment-pass/) [🇲🇾 Residence Pass-Talent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malaysia/rp-t/) [🇰🇷 K-STAR to F-2](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/kstar-f2-talent-track/) [🇭🇰 IANG graduate visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/iang/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## 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. 1. [Work permit exemption during the extended residence of new graduates](https://ezworktaiwan.wda.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=8CE17C2739F9AB35&s=9BEFF2CF37C2786B) · Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Guidelines for Foreign Nationals Applying for Residency, Extension of Residency, or Change in Residency Status (0902)](https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5475/5478/141465/141808/141970/) · National Immigration Agency, Taiwan · checked 2026-10-12 3. [Immigration Act (Taiwan)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0080132) · Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Employment Service Act (Taiwan)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=N0090001) · Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Regulations Governing Visiting, Residency, and Permanent Residency of Aliens (amended 30 December 2025), Article 11](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0080129) · Ministry of the Interior, Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan) · checked 2026-10-12 6. [Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (amended 24 September 2025)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=A0030295) · 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](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.