Getting Taiwan’s Entrepreneur Visa in 2020

On July 17th, 2020, Taiwan’s government announced a “fifth and final” automatic extension for foreign nationals stuck in Taiwan due to COVID-19. If you’re looking to stay longer, one way is to find a job. Another way is to work on building your own company, and you can get started on that path by taking advantage of Taiwan’s Entrepreneur visa.

This article is a guide for what to expect when applying for the Entrepreneur Visa. Our goal is to point you to the right resources, but we remind you to consult with professionals like Futureward, 11th Fleet, EZPermit or ProJoy Immigration if you have any questions.

Table of Contents

• What is the entrepreneur visa? Do I need to have a company before I apply for it?

• Are the requirements for the visa really strict?

• What is the timeline for getting the Entrepreneur visa?

• If my current visa will expire before the Entrepreneur visa process is finished, will I be granted permission to stay until my Entrepreneur visa is processed?

• What are the costs for getting the Entrepreneur visa?

• What else does it take to apply for the Entrepreneur Visa using the co-working space requirement?

• If I apply for the visa, will I really get it?

• I’ve gotten my entrepreneur visa, what’s next?

• What does the Entrepreneur Visa do for me?

• Can I now take money from customers in Taiwan? If so, how?

• Can I work for someone else in Taiwan using my entrepreneur visa?

• What happens a year from now, when the entrepreneur visas expire?

• Is there another, better way for me to stay in Taiwan?

• The Entrepreneur visa feels very restrictive!

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So you’ve gotten a taste for Taiwan: the beaches, the hot springs, and the tofu. But finding a way to stay in Taiwan to enjoy that tofu can take a good amount of work.

Let’s take a look at some foreigners in that very predicament: