Taiwan: Pilot Program for Online Alien Resident Certificate Submissions Launched
July 20, 2022
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At a Glance
- The Taiwanese government is now accepting submissions for Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) applications online from foreign nationals and their dependents.
- Initial ARC applicants filing online must submit their applications within 15 calendar days from their work permit approval.
- The Taiwanese government will take five business days to process online ARC applications and an additional three business days to prepare the physical ARC.
The situation
The National Immigration Agency of Taiwan now allows online applications for Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) for foreign nationals and their dependents, following the announcement that all work permit applications will need to be submitted online starting August 2, 2022. All individuals (excluding Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR Chinese) who hold work permits that have a validity of more than six months are required to apply for the ARC.
A closer look
Applicants opting for the online ARC submission must do so within 15 calendar days from their work permit approval. Otherwise, applicants must go through the regular in-person submission process for the ARC.
Impact
Foreign nationals applying for ARCs online will benefit from a faster processing time of approximately five to eight business days, down from the usual government processing time of 10 business days for the standard in-person application.
Background
Looking ahead
The Taiwanese government will likely move other ARC-related applications online, including the Taiwan Resident Certificate (which is applicable to Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR Chinese as well as those sponsored by Taiwanese spouses) as the Taiwanese government continues its streamlining efforts for immigration applications. Fragomen will report on related developments.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
