Overseas students stay in Taiwan after graduation

Q1. Can I stay in Taiwan after graduation?

A：YES！

There are three main ways for overseas students to stay in Taiwan after graduation:

1. Job-Seeking Residency Extension

• Overseas students can apply for a 1-year job-seeking residency, extendable once for a maximum of 2 years.
• Hong Kong & Macau students can apply for a 6-month job-seeking residency, extendable once for a maximum of 1 year. (Q2 and Q3 for details.)

2. Internship in Taiwan

• Graduating students must apply before June each year through the university’s Career Development Center, which will submit the documents to the Ministry of Education for review.

3. Work in Taiwan

• You must obtain your diploma before applying to work in Taiwan.
• Work permits fall under the Points-Based System or the Specialized Professionals Work Permit.(Q6 for details.)

Note: The National Immigration Agency recommends that you change your residency purpose within 30 days after receiving your diploma.If you plan to change to a work residency after graduation, please prepare the required documents and follow the application process below ↓↓↓

• If you receive your diploma and return to your home country within 15 days, no need to extend your ARC.
• If you plan to stay longer than 15 days before returning home, it’s recommended to first check with the Immigration Agency if you need to extend your ARC.

Q2. After graduation, if I don’t apply for an internship in Taiwan and haven’t yet found a job in Taiwan, can I still stay in Taiwan?

A：YES！ But you must apply for a residency extension within the deadline.

You need to apply for the extension at the National Immigration Agency within 30 days after receiving your diploma. If you fail to apply within 30 days, your original “student” residency may become invalid, and you may have to leave Taiwan or reapply for a visa, which could affect your future plans to work in Taiwan.

Q3. Can I work part-time during the residency extension period?

Ａ：NO！The purpose of the residency extension is to allow you time to find a full-time job. Before you secure a full-time job and obtain a work permit, you are not allowed to work.

Note:

• According to the Ministry of Labor, if an overseas student works without a work permit, they may be fined NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 and banned from working in Taiwan for 3 years.
• Employers who hire overseas students without a valid work permit may be fined NT$150,000 to NT$750,000.

Q4.What should I do if my residence address changes?

Ａ：After graduation, you must update your residence address at the National Immigration Agency (because you’ve graduated and need to move out of the school dormitory).

Please complete the address change within 15 days from the effective date of your rental contract, and prepare:

1. Rental contract (If you are not the tenant, the tenant must write and sign a consent letter allowing you to live there.)
2. Valid ARC (Alien Resident Certificate)
3. Passport

Once you find a job and obtain a work permit, you’ll need to reapply for your ARC within 15 days, changing your purpose of stay from “Others” to “Employment.”

Note: If you don’t update your address within 15 days, you may be fined.

Q5. How is my National Health Insurance issue after graduation?

Ａ：If you joined NHI through the school, it only covers you until the month you graduate. Starting the following month, you must apply for NHI yourself at the NHI office or your local district office. The premium is NT$826/month.

• Spring Semester：coverage ends in February, and withdrawal on March 1.
• Fall Semester：coverage ends in August, and withdrawal on September 1.

Note: NHI is mandatory. If you don’t enroll before starting a job, once your employer registers you, you’ll still have to pay back the unpaid premiums. If you visit a doctor during the gap period, you must pay full price upfront and can apply for a refund after paying your back premiums, keep all receipts, as reissuing them may incur fees.

Q6.How can overseas students apply for a work permit?

A：There are two ways to apply for a work permit as an overseas/international graduate:

1.General Application (based on salary & work experience) You must meet the same criteria as other foreign professionals in Taiwan:

• Hold at least a bachelor’s degree plus 2+ years of work experience, or hold a master’s degree or higher.
• The monthly average salary offered must be at least NT$47,971.

2.New Scoring Criteria for Overseas Students

• Hold an associate degree or higher from a Taiwanese institution.
• Accumulate at least 70 points out of 200 on the points-based evaluation (which considers education, salary, Chinese ability, etc.) to qualify.

Please refer to the Ministry of Labor website for detailed regulations.

Q8. Do I need to get my diploma before applying to work in Taiwan?

Ａ：YES！ You must obtain your graduation diploma before applying to work in Taiwan. Even if you find a job while finishing your remaining credits (extended study period), you still need to complete your credits and receive your diploma first before applying to stay and work.

Q9. Must the work permit be applied for by the employer?

Ａ：YES！You must first find a company willing to hire you, and the employer will submit the work permit application on your behalf.

Note: Even if you meet the 70 points in the points-based system, you can not apply for the work permit yourself and then look for a job later. The work permit must be applied for under the company’s name. (If the company asks you to deliver the application in person after preparing the documents, that is acceptable.)

• 為提供大學校院僑外生畢業後留臺實習機會，訂有「大學校院僑生港澳學生及外國學生畢業後申請在臺實習作業要點」。
• 即將畢業之僑外生，如符合上開要點第2點各款資格之一，並取得要點第3點規定之擬實習機構同意實習證明書，向本校成就學生中心提出畢業後實習之申請，以統一彙整函送教育部審查。

• 外國人應為在臺取得大學學士(含)以上學位，或取得製造、營造、農業、長期照顧、電子商務等相關科系之副學士學位之外國留學生、僑生或其他華裔學生，並經本部審核累計點數滿70點，即符合資格。
• 評點項目共有8項，包含(1)學歷 (2)聘催薪資 (3)工作或實習經驗 (4)具擔任該職務資格 (5)華語語文能力 (6)他國語言能力或他國成長經驗 (7)配合政府政策 (8)在校就請期間領取獎學金或成績優異者
• 評點制網站及表格下載
• 更多資訊請詳見勞動部僑外生在臺就業說明

• 外國人應符合下列資格之一：

(1)依「專門職業及技術人員考試法」取得證書或執業資格(如:醫師、律師)

(2)取得國內外大學相關系所之碩士以上學位者或取得相關系所之學士學位而有2年以上相關工作經驗者

(3)服務跨國企業滿1年以上經指派來臺工作

(4)未具學歷而有5年以上工作經驗，有創見或特殊表現者且月薪須達新台幣47,971元

• 在台修讀大專院校畢業之僑外生，不受工作經驗限制，但須符合薪資門檻。
• 如畢業僑外生符合相關規定，即得以此方式由雇主提出申請，經許可後，始得留臺工作。
• 詳細說明請參閱勞動部網站

• 適用對象：

1. 在臺連續工作達6年以上、具一定技術資深移工。
2. 在台畢業之副學士學位以上僑外生。

• 開放以下類別之中階技術工作：

• 雇主資格：與聘僱移工條件相同 符合資格者由雇主申請聘僱 每次許可期間為3年。
• 外國人資格：達一定薪資門檻及技術資格條件(如下圖說明)

• 更多資訊請詳見勞動部留用外國中階技術工作人力計畫資訊專頁
• 資料來源：勞動部僑外生在臺就業說明

• 雇主應為政府單位登記並經許可之觀光旅館 、旅館業或民宿，並由雇主提出申請聘僱在台畢業之副學士以上僑外生。
• 非觀光相關科系的僑外生，有意從事旅宿服務工作，應完成 80小時實務訓練課程。(若有參訓需求，請洽海華文教基金會 02-2314-5080)
• 受聘僱從事訂房、接持、房務、清潔及旅宿業經營所屬餐廳外場。
• 初次受聘薪資應達每月30,000元(台幣)以上。
• 更多相關資訊請見勞動部網站說明。
• 資料來源：勞動部僑外生在臺就業說明

• 現持有效外僑居留證或以免簽證、停留簽證方式入境停留者，如具科技部、經濟部、教育部、文化部或其他中央目的事業主管機關公告之我國所需科技、經濟、教育、文化、藝術、體育及其他領域之特殊專長者，得申請就業金卡。
• 資格規範：具有中央目的事業主管機關公告之我國所需科技、經濟、教育、文化、藝術、體育及其他領域特殊專長之外國專業人才。
• 應備文件：依內政部移民署公告外國人申請就業金卡應備文件規定。
• 其他詳細要求請參閱「外國專業人才申辦窗口平臺」

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• 外國人從事就業服務法第四十六條第一項第一款至第六款工作資格及審查標準
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