nomadr
Go Back

Visas in Taipei

Digital nomad visa
Yes

Digital Nomad Visa (數位遊牧簽證/停留簽證), visa annotation code DN

Overall7/10Easier visas than about 75% of cities

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Most nomads from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, and similar countries get 90 visa-free days in Taiwan — plenty for a short-term stay, but note this is NOT a work-authorized status; freelancing for local clients or taking local income while on visa-free entry is a legal gray area at best.
  • The 90-day visa-free stay generally cannot be extended (aside from the UK/Canada reciprocity rule), so many long-staying nomads do a border run or switch to a proper visa/permit if they want to stay longer than three months.
  • You must complete the Online Arrival Card (TWAC) before you fly — it's separate from any visa and applies even to fully visa-exempt travelers.
  • The 14-day visa-free arrangement for Thai, Bruneian, and Philippine nationals is a trial program currently running only through July 31, 2026, so it's worth double-checking BOCA's site closer to your travel date if you hold one of these passports.
  • This visa only covers remote work for employers/clients outside Taiwan — you legally cannot take on Taiwan-based clients or local employment without a separate work permit.
  • Because Digital Nomad Visa holders are excluded from Taiwan's National Health Insurance, budgeting for private international health/hospitalization coverage for your entire stay is mandatory, not optional.
  • The January 2026 update is a big deal: what used to cap out at 6 months now extends to a full 2 years — but each 6-month extension requires you to proactively re-apply through the National Immigration Agency with proof of a Taiwan address; it's not automatic.
  • Time spent on this visa does not build toward Taiwan's 5-year permanent residency clock — if long-term settlement is your goal, look at the Employment Gold Card or a work visa instead.
  • Watch your day-count carefully: under 90 days in a calendar year is generally tax-light, 90–182 days pushes you into an 18% flat non-resident withholding zone with no deductions, and 183+ days makes you a full tax resident on progressive rates. Given some real ambiguity around how 'Taiwan-sourced' is interpreted for remote work physically done in Taiwan, it's worth getting personalized tax advice if you plan to stay anywhere near or beyond these thresholds.
  • Application fees are set per nationality/consulate — there's no single universal fee in New Taiwan Dollars, so confirm the exact amount with your nearest Taiwan Representative/Economic and Cultural Office.
  • No dependents (spouse, kids) can be added under this visa — each family member would need their own qualifying visa.

Visa Free Entry

Process
No pre-arrival visa application is required for visa-exempt nationals, but a mandatory Online Arrival Card (TWAC) must be completed before travel. Visitors must submit the online immigration arrival card within a set window before arrival via the National Immigration Agency's TWAC website, and must generally show proof of onward/return travel, sufficient funds, and accommodation details.
Baseline Rule
Taiwan's Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, administers a broad visa-exemption program. The exact allowed stay depends on the traveler's nationality, but most Western passport holders (including the US, UK, Canada, EU/Schengen states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea) qualify for the longest visa-free tier.
Official Source
https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-149-4486-7785a-2.html
Who Does Not Qualify
Holders of diplomatic and official passports are generally not eligible for the standard visa-exempt schemes and must obtain a visa. Nationals of mainland China (ordinary passports) are not part of the visa-exempt program and face separate, more restrictive entry requirements.
Not Extendable For Most
Extensions are generally not possible for tourism-purpose visa-exempt entry, with the specific UK/Canada 90-to-180-day reciprocity exception noted above. Anyone wanting to stay longer, work, or study must apply for the appropriate visa or resident permit in advance rather than relying on a visa-free extension.

Tiers

  • Duration Days
    90
    Who Qualifies
    The most generous tier, covering most nomad-relevant passports. Holders of passports issued by countries such as the United States, most EU/Schengen states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea do not need a visa to visit Taiwan for trips of this length.
    Extension Possible
    Generally no extensions for tourism-purpose visa-free stays, except a specific reciprocity arrangement.
    Special Note
    British and Canadian nationals entering visa-free under the 90-day exemption may apply to the National Immigration Agency to extend their stay up to a maximum of 180 days, based on the principle of reciprocity.
  • Not extendable
    Duration Days
    30
    Who Qualifies
    A separate group of passport holders qualifies for a shorter visa-free window of less than 30 days; persons born in Afghanistan, mainland China, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, and Yemen are excluded even if they hold an otherwise-qualifying passport.
  • Not extendable and cannot be converted to a resident visa
    Duration Days
    14
    Who Qualifies
    Nationals of Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines currently qualify for a shorter trial visa-free entry period under a New Southbound Policy scheme extended by MOFA through July 31, 2026.
    Special Note
    This is a temporary trial program (not a permanent policy) and its continuation past July 2026 depends on a future government decision.

Tax Notes

Other Taxes
Taiwan does not levy a general capital gains tax on individual securities transactions. A 5% VAT (business tax) applies to most goods and services sold in Taiwan, but this is charged by businesses at point of sale rather than something nomads file separately.
Residency Trigger
183 days or more of physical presence in Taiwan within a calendar year makes a foreign individual a Taiwan tax resident; arrival and departure days both count as full days.
Gold Card Contrast
A separate 50% tax exemption on salary income above roughly NT$3 million/year (available to qualifying tax-resident Employment Gold Card holders for up to five years) does NOT apply to Digital Nomad Visa holders — it's tied specifically to the Gold Card/Special Work Permit category.
Resident Tax Treatment
Tax residents are taxed on a progressive scale from 5% up to 40% on taxable income, and can claim standard/itemized deductions and personal exemptions. Residents must file an annual return between May 1 and May 31 of the following year (deadline shifts to the next business day if it falls on a weekend/holiday).
Digital Nomad Visa Specific Caution
Because the visa restricts work to overseas employers/clients, income is nominally foreign-sourced — but several tax advisors and nomad-focused guides flag that if the actual work is physically performed while sitting in Taiwan, tax authorities could potentially treat some or all of that income as Taiwan-sourced once the 90-day mark is passed. This is a genuine gray area rather than a clearly settled rule, so anyone planning to stay in the 90–183 day range on this visa should get personalized advice from a Taiwan tax professional rather than assuming foreign-employer income is automatically untouched.

Non Resident Bands

Under 90 Days
Generally exempt from Taiwan income tax unless the income is Taiwan-sourced (e.g., paid by or for services to a Taiwan-based entity); any such income is withheld/taxed at the point of payment.
90 To 182 Days
Treated as a non-resident: a flat 18% withholding tax applies, and in this band it can apply more broadly to income tied to work performed while physically in Taiwan, not just Taiwan-sourced income in the strict sense. Non-residents cannot claim personal exemptions or standard deductions, so effective tax paid at this flat rate is often higher than a resident would pay on equivalent income.
Leaving Mid Year
Anyone leaving Taiwan partway through the year and not returning within the same tax year must file and settle their return roughly 10 days before departure, rather than waiting for the normal May filing window.

Eligibility

Dependents
Dependents cannot be sponsored under this visa category.
Purpose Restriction
Must work remotely for an employer or clients based outside Taiwan. Applicants who intend to work for a Taiwan-based company must instead apply for a work permit through the Ministry of Labor.
Nationality Requirement
Must be a citizen of a country eligible for visa-exempt entry to Taiwan.

Core Requirement Paths

  • Proof of having previously been issued a digital nomad visa by another country, OR
  • Meet the age-based minimum annual income requirement below.

Stay Duration And Renewal

Initial Stay
6 months, multiple entry, from date of issuance.
After Two Years
There is no automatic further extension once the 2-year maximum is reached; a departure and fresh application, or a switch to a different visa category (e.g., work visa or Employment Gold Card), would be needed to continue staying long-term.
Renewal Process
Extension applications must be submitted to the National Immigration Agency (NIA), Ministry of the Interior, before the current permitted stay expires, along with proof of a residential address in Taiwan. Extensions are not automatic — each one requires an active re-application.
Extension Structure
Up to three extensions of six months each, for a maximum cumulative stay of two years. The applicant is not required to leave Taiwan between extensions.

Overstay Fines

1 To 10 Days
NT$2,000
11 To 30 Days
NT$4,000
31 To 60 Days
NT$6,000

Fees

Guidance
Applicants should check the exact fee in their own currency with their nearest Taiwan Representative Office (TECO/TRO). Rush/express processing is available at some offices for an extra fee. Visa fees are non-refundable even if the application is denied.
Example US Citizens
NT$7,090
Note
Fees vary by applicant nationality/reciprocity and are set by each Taiwan representative office; there is no single universal fee.

Taiwan's Digital Nomad Visa is a multiple-entry visa for foreign professionals who work remotely for overseas employers or clients without serving Taiwan-based businesses. It was launched in January 2025 with a maximum stay of six months, then substantially expanded on January 8, 2026 so the initial 6-month visa can now be extended up to three additional times (6 months each), for a maximum cumulative stay of two years. It is a temporary stay category, not an immigration or residency pathway.

Visa Name

Digital Nomad Visa (數位遊牧簽證/停留簽證), visa annotation code DN

Visa Ease Tier

high

Processing Time

Typically around five to eight business days after documents are submitted, though an interview requirement can extend this.

Application Paths

Interview
An interview with the applicant may be required as part of the review.
From Inside Taiwan
If already in Taiwan on visa-exempt entry or a non-extendable visitor visa (tourism, social visit, business), the application must be submitted 10 working days before the current stay expires, to the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) or a regional MOFA office. The NDC reviews eligibility, and the visa is issued in Taiwan through BOCA/the regional office.
From Outside Taiwan
Submit the application to a Republic of China (Taiwan) overseas mission (e.g., a Taipei Representative/Economic and Cultural Office). The mission forwards the file to the National Development Council (NDC) for eligibility review, then the applicant returns to the same mission for visa issuance. The visa must be collected at that overseas mission — you cannot apply abroad and then pick up the visa inside Taiwan.

Required Documents

Required Documents

  • Completed and signed online Visa Application Form (printed with barcode)
  • 'Taiwan Stay Period Plan Description' form describing intended work activities during the stay
  • Proof of remote work experience: CV/portfolio and past/current work contracts
  • Annual income proof — one of: tax certificate (e.g., a W-2, P60, T4, PAYG summary, or equivalent from your home country), a company-issued salary certificate, or a deposit certificate showing the required average bank balance
  • OR proof of having already been issued a digital nomad visa by another country
  • Proof of international medical and hospitalization insurance covering the full intended stay in Taiwan
  • Passport plus, if applying from inside Taiwan, a copy of the visa page and entry stamp/page from the most recent entry
  • Additional documents may be requested during case review

Income Requirements

Age 30 Plus
Annual income of at least US$40,000 in at least one of the last two years.
Age 20 To 29
Annual income of at least US$20,000 in at least one of the last two years.
Alternative Route
Applicants who already hold an approved digital nomad visa from another country may use that as an alternative qualification, without meeting the income test.
Financial Backup Option
A regular deposit certificate covering the last 6 months showing an average monthly balance of at least US$10,000 can be submitted as one accepted way to demonstrate financial capacity, alongside or in place of an income/tax certificate. (Sources are not fully consistent on whether this bank-balance figure is a straightforward alternative to the income test or an additional requirement in some cases — worth confirming directly with the Bureau of Consular Affairs or National Development Council before applying.)

Local Work Restriction

Holders cannot work for or provide services to Taiwan-based businesses or employers. Anyone wanting to also take on local Taiwanese work needs a separate work permit from the Ministry of Labor.

Visa Ease Tier Rationale

Taiwan offers generous 90-day visa-free entry for most nomad passports plus a genuine Digital Nomad Visa extendable up to two years, though moderate income proof requirements and gray-area tax residency rules for 90-183 day stays keep it just short of “Very high”.

Health Insurance Requirement

Digital Nomad Visa holders are excluded from Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) system entirely, with no waiting period that eventually grants access. Proof of private international medical and hospitalization insurance covering the full intended stay is a mandatory part of the application and must be maintained throughout the stay.

Path To Residency Or Citizenship

None. This visa is explicitly designed for temporary stay only. Time spent on the Digital Nomad Visa does not count toward the 5-year physical-presence requirement for permanent residency. Nomads wanting a long-term residency track need to switch to a work visa or the Employment Gold Card instead.

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this visas research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.boca.gov.tw

More About Taipei

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.