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Overseas Chinese/ Foreign Students

▋To apply for/ extend/ replace a lost/damaged Resident Visa for Foreigners

For foreign nationals holding a residence visa undergoing inspection upon entry, it is required to apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) within 30 days of entry into the country.To apply for the Alien Resident Certificate, the following documents must be submitted :

  1. Complete the online application form(https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/student/entry/foreign-student)
  2. Original Passport and Residence Visa (Please upload electronic copies in JPG/JPEG/PDF format).
  3. Enrollment Letter(Please upload electronic copies in JPG/JPEG/PDF format).
  4. New students must attach the offer letter from the University  Entrance  Committee for Overseas  Chinese  students or the offer letter for individual admissions. (Please upload electronic copies in JPG/JPEG/PDF format).
  5. One recent 2 inch passport photo without a hat taken within the last year (Please upload electronic copies in JPG/JPEG/PDF format).
  6. Proof of Current Residency: Accommodation certificate (e.g., for those staying in on-campus dormitories, obtain a certificate from the accommodation department; for off-campus residents, provide proof such as a lease agreement. Please upload electronic copies in JPG/JPEG/PDF format).
  7. Fee: NT$1,000 for overseas students (Multiple payment methods available, including international credit cards, online ATM, and convenience stores).
  8. Processing Time: Approximately 10 business days.
  9. Validity Period of the Alien Resident Certificate: 1 year.

※Note 1: If the overstayed period is less than 30 days and incurs a penalty, the individual can reapply for a residence permit. However, those who exceed 29 days of overstaying must depart Taiwan forcibly and apply for a new residence visa upon reentry.

※Note 2: During the residency period, if there is a change of address, it must be reported within 30 days from the date of the change.

For detailed regulations, please refer to the National Immigration Agency website:  https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5382/5385/7244/7250/7317/%E5%B1%85%E7%95%99/29996/

 

▋Medical Insurance for Overseas Chinese Students (Limited to Hong Kong, Macau Overseas and Overseas Chinese Students)

Insurance fee is NT$1,200, with a 50% subsidy from the Overseas Community Affairs Council (NT$600), and the remaining NT$600 is self-paid by the overseas Chinese student.

  1. Subsidy Recipients: Overseas Chinese students who have been in Taiwan for less than 6 months and are not yet eligible for national health insurance.
  2. Coverage Period: 6 months from the start of the semester.
  3. Insurance Cost: 50% subsidy from the Overseas Community Affairs Council, and 50% self-payment by the overseas Chinese student (actual cost subject to annual announcement).
  4. Claims Application Process: Complete the claims application form (must be personally signed), and submit it along with the required documents to the International Center office (2nd floor of the administration building).
  5. Required Documents for Claims Application:
    • Claims Application Form
    • Original Receipt
    • Diagnosis Certificate (the diagnosis date on the certificate must match the date on the original receipt)
    • Copy of Passport
    • Copy of Front and Back of Residence Permit
    • Copy of the Cover Page of Personal Post Office/Bank Account

  6. Claims Application Notes:

    • Students with medical needs must visit NHI-contracted clinics nationwide.

    • For medical treatments received at NHI outpatient clinics during the coverage period of the overseas Chinese student medical insurance, the outpatient fees must be self-paid initially, and then the claims documents can be submitted for reimbursement.

    • Outpatient benefits are limited to once per day for the same symptom, with a maximum reimbursement of NT$1,000 (including registration fees). The maximum reimbursement for outpatient medical procedures is NT$7,000. During hospitalization, the maximum reimbursement for the same hospitalization event is NT$120,000.

For detailed claims items, please refer to the guidelines for overseas Chinese student insurance


▋Medical Insurance for International Students (Limited to Foreign Student Status)

  1. Eligibility:  Foreign student status only.
  2. Enrollment Period: Coverage begins from the start of the registration at the university and continues for a duration of 6 months
  3. Insurance Fee:  NT$3,000.
  4. Claims Application Process: Complete the claims application form (must be personally signed), and submit it along with the required documents to the International Center office (2nd floor of the administration building).
  5. Required Documents for Claims Application:
    • Claims Application Form
    • Original Receipt
    • Diagnosis Certificate (the diagnosis date on the certificate must match the date on the original receipt)
    • Copy of Passport
    • Copy of Front and Back of Residence Permit
    • Copy of the Cover Page of Personal Post Office/Bank Account

 

▋The National Health Insurance (NHI)

  1. Eligibility for Enrollment: International students (including Hong Kong, Macau, and foreign students) studying in Taiwan are required to join the NHI after obtaining proof of current residency and residing in Taiwan for at least 6 months.
  2. Enrollment Period: The enrollment date is determined by the NHI system. The International Center will notify students of the enrollment date and request electronic files for a passport-sized photo and front/back copies of the residency permit.
  3. Insurance Fee: NT$4,956 per person per semester (NT$826 per month). Overpaid premiums will be refunded at the end of the semester in case of program completion or other circumstances.
  4. What you pay for coverage each semester: Payment covers 6 months of insurance. For the fall semester, coverage includes September of the current year to February of the next year. For the spring semester, coverage includes March to August of the same year.
  5. Subsidy Application (Limited to Economically Disadvantaged Hong Kong, Macau Students, and Overseas Chinese): Students with proof of economic hardship can submit electronic files to the International Center. The center will assist in applying for a 50% subsidy from the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC). After the subsidy, students pay NT$413 per month (original monthly fee: NT$826).

    • Subsidy Notes:

      • The subsidy start date is based on the OCAC approval date, not necessarily the month of providing economic hardship proof.

      • Subsidies cannot be retroactively applied.

      • If a student previously received economic hardship subsidies at another school, the eligibility continues without reapplication. However, if a student transferred their NHI due to off-campus work, they need to reapply for subsidies after returning.

  6. Graduation and NHI Withdrawal:

    • Upon graduation and leaving the country, NHI coverage ends by the last day of the month when the graduate leaves. Overpaid premiums will be refunded at the end of each semester; students should provide account information for refunds.

    • If a graduate stays in Taiwan after graduation and the residence permit is still valid, they should inform the International Center for NHI withdrawal. For those leaving Taiwan, the NHI withdrawal will be processed, and they must complete enrollment procedures at the local government office based on the residence address. Refunds will be processed at the end of each semester.

 

▋Work Permit

Application Procedure:

  1. Fill out Consent Form of Work Permit Application, sign and submit it to the relevant authorities. Then, deliver the completed form to the International Center.
  2. Go to the online Work Permit Application System of the Ministry of Labor to fill out the work permit application.

    • Document Scanning:

      • Passport copy (valid for at least 6 months)

      • Certificate of enrollment and both sides of the student ID

      • Both sides of the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)

    • Payment (Work Permit Application Fee TWD 100):

      • Method 1: Payment at the Post Office
        Obtain a postal remittance savings deposit slip from the International Center office and pay at the post office, or go directly to the post office and fill in the Ministry of Labor payment information for payment.
        Ministry of Labor Payment Information:

        • Account number: 19058848

        • Amount: NT$100

        • Payee: Ministry of Labor, Employment Permit Fee Special Account

        • Address: No. 365, Mingde Road, Beitou District, Taipei City 112-19

      • Method 2: ATM Payment

      • Method 3: Taiwan Pay Payment
        ※ The exact payment method is subject to Ministry of Labor regulations.

  3.  When the International Center receives the printed TMU Work Permit Application Consent Form and the online Ministry of Labor work permit application, it will review and assist in submitting it to the Ministry of Labor.

Other Notes:

  • If the work permit application is submitted in the first semester, the permit's validity will generally be until March 31 of the following semester. If submitted in the second semester, the validity will be until September 30 of the same year. The actual issuance period depends on the Ministry of Labor's review.
  • Foreign students with a work permit, including those from overseas, Chinese, Hong Kong, and Macau, are limited to a maximum of 20 hours of work per week (excluding summer and winter breaks).
  • Failure to comply with the regulations may lead to the Ministry of Labor revoking the work permit. Additionally, individuals employed without a proper work permit may face fines according to the Employment Service Act, with a penalty of at least NT$30,000 and up to NT$150,000, and may be required to leave the country.
  • To enhance information security, connections to the Ministry of Labor's "Foreign Professional Work Permit Application System" from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Russia, among other countries or regions, are prohibited starting from August 15, 2022.

 

▋Leave of Absence or Withdrawal and Departure for Overseas Chinese Students:

For Overseas Chinese students:

After completing the procedures for a leave of absence or withdrawal, please proceed to the National Immigration Agency to handle the departure procedures (cancellation of the residence permit).
Ensure that you leave the country within 10 days after completing the procedures.

 

▋Departure or Remaining in Taiwan After Graduation:

  1. If you plan to leave Taiwan after graduation: 

After completing the departure procedures at the school, you are allowed to leave the country directly.If you have special circumstances and need to extend your stay in Taiwan, please visit the National Immigration Agency to apply for a delayed departure. This service may be provided without additional fees for a short period.
Note: Graduated Overseas Chinese students and students from Hong Kong and Macau can present their graduation certificate at the National Immigration Agency to apply for a job-seeking residence extension (allowing a stay in Taiwan for up to one year).

  1. Extension of Residence Permit after Graduation (Not available for online application, must be done at Immigration Service Centers):

If you plan to stay in Taiwan for more than 14 days after graduation, it is necessary to extend your residence permit at the National Immigration Agency. You can use the reason of seeking employment in Taiwan to apply for the extension. Each extension can be for up to 12 months, and the maximum extension period is two years. Before the first extension expires, you must apply for a second extension.After receiving your graduation certificate, you must apply for an extension within 14 days at the National Immigration Agency. The required documents include:

  • Application form
  • Passport (original and copy)
  • Residence permit (original and copy)
  • Graduation certificate (original and copy)
  • Photo (recent passport-sized, bareheaded, full-face photo taken within the last year)
  • Statement (must include: name, passport number, residence permit number, nationality, explanation of the reason for extension, and signature)
  • Housing contract (if there has been a change of address)
  • Fee: NT$1000
  1. Regarding how to utilize the point-based system to stay in Taiwan, please click the link.https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LMnONQh0yLpv8pIdHxgE-VmTsOv7DB8K

 

Note 1: Graduated overseas and Hong Kong/Macau students can extend their stay for job-seeking purposes by presenting their graduation certificates at the immigration office (would be allowed to stay for a year).

Note 2:  A foreign student or overseas Chinese student is not permitted to do any work during an extended residency period after they graduate. Such a student's work permit automatically becomes invalid on the day they receive their graduation certificate and for this reason a foreigner is not allowed to work until a work permit has been issued for them to take up a full-time job. They must wait until they find a job and get a work permit before they are allowed to start working.

 

▋For detailed regulations, please refer to the National Immigration Agency (NIA)
website: https://www.immigration.gov.tw/

Online Application System：https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/student/entry

address：No. 15, Guangzhou St., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100-213, Taiwan, ROC.

NIA Headquarters TEL: 886-2-2388-9393

Foreigners In Taiwan Hotline : Domestic 1990, Overseas 886-800-001990.

The office hours of the NIA's service centers nationwide: 08:00 a.m.-17:00 p.m. through the lunch hour from Monday to Friday.)
 

 

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