1.If the employer is a business of Startups with Innovation Capability, applying to employ a foreigner who has obtained a bachelor’s degree, the two years of work experience is exempted; foreigners employed in accordance with Paragraph 4, Article 5 of the “Qualifications and Criteria Standards for Foreigners Undertaking the Jobs Specified under Subparagraphs 1 to 6, Paragraph 1, Article 46 of the Employment Service Act” are not restricted by needing at least five years of related experience. In addition, for the employer qualifications, the capital, turnover volume, and work performance are exempted.
2.Employer that is a business entity complying with definitions of a “startup with innovation capability” and submits verifying documents proving the establishment has not exceeded five years and other relevant documents proving one of the following qualifications in accordance with the Company Act or Business Registration Act of Taiwan:
(1) Domestic Startup:
1.Obtain the following investment (fundraising) amounting to at least NT$2 million. (a.Investments from domestic and foreign venture capital businesses. b.Individual cash investments, as described in Article 23-2 of the Statute for Industrial Innovation. c.Investment reviewed and approved by the Angel Investment Project run by the National Development Fund, Executive Yuan. d.Investment (fundraising) from domestic, foreign or international start-up funding platforms recognized by the Government of Taiwan.)
2.Has registered with the Go Incubation Board for Startup and Acceleration Firms (GISA) operated by the Taipei Exchange.
3.Has obtained invention patents or design patents in Taiwan, or has been assigned or licensed with the invention patents or design patents by the patent owners who have completed the registration of such assignment/licensing at the Intellectual Property Office, MOEA.
4.Have applied and obtained plant variety rights, or animal and plant name registration in Taiwan, but does not include those implemented by rights assignment or authorization.
5.Those startups that have been physically stationed within one year, or are physically stationing in, the following parks or startup incubators, and have been recommended by such parks or startup incubators. (a.International start-up parks and projects approved by the central or local governments in Taiwan. b.The central or local government-operated startup incubators in Taiwan, or those registered in the MOEA international startup incubators and approved and announced by the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration of MOEA. c.Foreign startup incubators recognized by the central or local governments in Taiwan.)
6.The startup or the head of the company has received an award in representative entrepreneurial competitions in Taiwan or overseas.
7.The startup or the head of the company has participated in indicative domestic/international fashion week shows, or has been a finalist or winner in indicative domestic/international film festivals, or international style awards and competitions.
8.Others, as approved by the central competent authority of the relevant industry.
(2) Foreign Startup: should meet at least one of the directions, as stipulated
in the preceding Directions, except No. 1 Item b (Individual cash investments, as described in Article 23-2 of the Statute for Industrial Innovation.) and
No.2. (Has registered with the Go Incubation Board for Startup and Acceleration Firms (GISA) operated by the Taipei Exchange.)
3. For documents to be submitted for Startups with Innovation Capability recognition, head to the EZ Work Taiwan, Workforce Development Agency website (website: https://ezworktaiwan.wda.gov.tw/en/)
→Application Forms → A. Specialized and Technical Works → Startups with Innovation Capability