POSTERN

Taiwan

Entrepreneur visa (Startup Terrace). A 2-year residence visa for founders with outside validation — venture funding, a government startup subsidy, an accredited incubator seat, or a qualifying patent or competition prize.

Free · The law behind every answer · Checked Sep 24, 2026

Entrepreneur visa (Startup Terrace)

A resident visa and residence card for 2 years, extendable in 2-year increments once the business shows annual sales of at least NT$3,000,000, operating expenses of at least NT$1,000,000, or at least 3 full-time Taiwanese employees.

Who qualifies

  • Any one of: at least NT$2,000,000 (about $63,000) in funding from a VC, a government startup fund, or approved crowdfunding — or NT$1,000,000 (about $31,500) if the applicant founded the enterprise directly; a government subsidy of at least NT$3,000,000 (central) or NT$1,000,000 (local); admission to a recognised incubator or startup park; an invention or design patent; or a prize in a recognised startup, design, fashion, or film competition.
    Entrepreneur Visa (Startup Visa)
  • A high-school diploma or above; no employer or prior business registration is required.
    Startup Terrace — entrepreneur visa

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

1

Does it fit your family?

One question, from the program’s own rules.

Savings you could move or invest?

Not legal advice.

2

What it takes.

Savings
About $63,000.
Time
4–8 weeks: about 8 working days for the Investment Commission review, then visa issuance.
Cost
NT$1,600–3,200 in visa fees, roughly NT$1,000–2,200 for the residence card, plus optional consulting fees of $1,500–5,000.
The hard part
Convincing the Investment Commission’s reviewers that the funding source, patent, or competition genuinely meets the innovation bar — a subjective review.

Dollar figures are converted from the local currency at the rate the program’s research used; the official figure is in the local currency.

3

Citizens by 2033.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

  1. 2027
    First residence permit

    2 years, renewable for 2 years at a time.

  2. 2029
    Renew the permit

    Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 2 years.

  3. 2031
    Renew the permit

    Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 2 years.

  4. 2032
    Permanent residence

    Five consecutive years of legal residence with at least 183 days in Taiwan each year, good conduct, and income above twice the minimum wage or enough assets. Student time does not count. Foreign professionals can apply after 3 years, and after 1 year with NT$6 million income.

  5. 2032
    Apply for citizenship

    With a language test and a civics test.

  6. 2033
    Citizenship
Language
Basic proficiency in the national language, tested with the knowledge test below.
Civics
A basic test of language and of the rights and duties of citizens.
Time away
Legal residence of more than 183 days in each of at least five consecutive years.
Two passports
It depends on the rules at the time and on your home country.
  • Two-year permits renewed while the business meets its targets; the ordinary five-year roads to permanence and citizenship apply.
  • Proof of giving up the old citizenship is due within a year of approval; high-level professionals recommended by a ministry, and people with special contributions, are exempt. Holding a Gold Card does not by itself make you one.
  • A shorter two-year clock for high-level professionals was reported in search summaries but not confirmed in the text read today.
  • No official decision time found.
  • How long the decision takes isn’t published; we allow a year.
  • Whether you can keep your current citizenship depends on the rules at the time and your home country.
The law behind these dates
4

Living there.

Time you must spend there
The program sets no minimum number of days. Renewal still expects it to be your home.
Tax
183 or more days a year makes you a Taiwan tax resident on worldwide income.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

5

Start today.

  1. Apply through Taiwan’s Startup Terrace programme.Open startupterrace.sme.gov.tw ↗
  2. Round up the papers.
    • Proof of savings: at least $63,000
    • Request your FBI Identity History Summary
    • Health cover for the move
6

Or let us run it.

$900for your first year as a founding member. Then $399 a year, automatically.Standard first year: $1,200. Everyone renews at $399.One membership, the whole family. Accounts and activation included.

20 steps, from the first paper to the passport. You do 4 of them: send what we ask for, sign, and show up. We run the rest, and keep every permit renewed on time. Accounts and activation are included, whether you move now or keep the plan ready. Accounts depend on provider availability. Government, record and approved third-party charges are extra.

Run it for my family →
7
ISSUED TO

YOUR FAMILY

Cover