Incentives for high-earners' spouses, parents, grandparents also available
The Taiwan government is planning to offer a "global elite" card for high-earning foreign professionals in a bid to attract more employees and prevent a potential brain drain.
The National Development Council unveiled the proposed card last week, which will be granted to foreign professionals with an annual salary of more than NT$6 million, Focus Taiwan reported.
According to the NDC, holders of "global elite" cards will be eligible for permanent residency in Taiwan after one year. They will also be entitled to benefits such as long-term care and disability services.
It added that spouses of these cardholders will be given permission to work in Taiwan. Their parents and grandparents will also be granted "unlimited stay" there.
The proposed "global elite" card comes six years after Taiwan rolled out a similar employment "gold card," Focus Taiwan reported.
The gold card serves as an open work permit that allows foreign professionals to stay and work in Taiwan for up to three years if they are earning more than NT$160,000 monthly in their previous job or if they have a proven track record in designated fields.
Work permits for foreign graduates
Meanwhile, the government is also proposing one-year work permits to foreign graduates of top-ranking universities and "overseas Chinese students" who recently graduated in Taiwan.
Taiwan's Ministry of Education defines an overseas Chinese student as a student who was "born overseas and has resided there until the present time, or who has resided overseas for more than six consecutive years at the time of their application to study in Taiwan and has a permanent or long-term residence status overseas."
Taiwan's latest measures come amid reports that it will be facing a talent shortage of about 350,000 people, Focus Taiwan reported.
Kao Shien-quey, deputy head of the NDC, said the government is seeking to attract 200,000 highly skilled and mid-level skilled individuals to Taiwan by 2028.