Taiwan to grant entrepreneur visas to foreign nationals

Taipei, July 28 (CNA) Taiwan will begin taking applications for entrepreneur visas from foreign nationals starting on July 31 as part of a government plan to position Taiwan as a hub for innovative entrepreneurship in the Asia-Pacific region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

People applying for the entrepreneur visas can submit their applications to the ministry's representative offices overseas or to the ministry's Bureau of Consular Affairs in Taiwan, the ministry said in a statement.

The announcement of the new entrepreneur visa comes amid a global trend toward innovative entrepreneurship, the ministry said, explaining that the program hopes to get more foreign nationals to set up innovative businesses in Taiwan and stimulate the domestic economy and startup activity.

In the program's initial trial stage, foreign nationals including people from Hong Kong and Macau will be eligible for the entrepreneur visa, but mainland Chinese citizens will be excluded, the ministry said.

Applicants from Hong Kong and Macau should submit their applications to Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, the ministry said.

All applications will be screened by a review committee under the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

After obtaining the entrepreneur visa, foreign nationals will be asked to apply for an alien resident certificate from the National Immigration Agency.

First-time applicants will be allowed to stay in Taiwan for up to one year and can apply to extend their stay for another two years, the ministry said.

During the first two years the new measure is in place, there will be a quota of 2,000 entrepreneur visas per year, the ministry said. The government will review the program after its first two years to see if any adjustments are needed, it added.

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