E02 Application Case Q&A - Athlete (English)
Q1. How do we apply for hiring an athlete, and what documents are required?
Ans: According to Article 7 of the Regulations on the Permission and Administration of the Employment of Foreign Workers and the Ministry of Labor's Announcement No. 1110507399 on May 19, 2022, work permit applications for foreign professionals must be submitted entirely online. Paper applications are no longer accepted. Please prepare your company/organization's electronic certificate (MOEACA) and a personal Citizen Digital Certificate, then apply online through the "EZ Work Taiwan" website (https://ezwp.wda.gov.tw).
When applying to hire a foreign athlete, employers need to prepare the following documents: An application form, a list of foreign employees, the review fee, the ID of the employer's person-in-charge, company registration documents, the foreigner's passport, an employment contract, and proof of the foreigner's work qualifications.
※ ID of the employer's person-in-charge: Please provide a Taiwan ID card for Taiwanese citizens, or a passport/Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) for foreigners.
※ If the employer is a civil association: A valid certificate of election for the person-in-charge must also be provided.
※ If you do not hire a private employment agency to apply to the Ministry, since you already fill out the application form and employee list online via "EZ Work Taiwan," you do not need to print out or provide paper copies.
Q2. What are the eligibility criteria for employers applying to hire an athlete?
Ans: According to Article 45 of the Qualifications and Criteria Standards for Foreigners Undertaking the Jobs Specified Under Subparagraph 1 to 6 of Paragraph 1 of Article 46 of the Employment Service Act, employers hiring foreign athletes must meet one of the following conditions:
1. Schools.
2. Government agencies (institutions) or administrative corporations.
3. Non-profit sports groups.
4. Companies that are involved in physical education, sports, and related businesses.
5. Companies or organizations that participate in sports competitions and games organized by national sports federations or associations, with certificates proving participation.
※ Note on Item 4: This means the company's registered business scope includes sports training, sports performances, and competitive sports, etc.
Q3. What are the eligibility criteria and required documents for the foreign athlete?
Ans: According to Article 44 of the Qualifications and Criteria Standards for Foreigners Undertaking the Jobs Specified Under Subparagraph 1 to 6 of Paragraph 1 of Article 46 of the Employment Service Act, the foreign athlete being hired must have one of the following qualifications:
1. An athlete who has participated in an international or national sports competition and holds a supporting document.
2. Having actual work experience in athletics for more than a year and being recommended by a national (international) individual sports association (federation).
3. Having expertise in athletics and aiming to promote the development of domestic sport, or in special circumstances that are identified by the Central Competent Authority after consulting with the central business purpose authorities.
※ Required documents to prove the qualifications above include: Proof of participation in international or national sports competitions, proof of over 1 year of athlete work experience, a recommendation letter issued by a national/international sports association, or other proof of exceptional performance approved through inter-agency consultation.
※ If the documents are issued in mainland China or specific countries/regions announced in the Ministry’s Directive No. 10805088081 on July 17, 2019 (such as Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cuba, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.), they must be verified by a Taiwan overseas representative office or the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).
Q4. How should the foreign athlete's work experience certificate be prepared?
Ans:
1. It should be a document issued by the previous company or organization that proves the employment history. The details should include the foreigner's basic info, job description, employment period, company/organization name, and company stamp, along with the supervisor's signature or stamp.
2. Or, official webpage content from a tournament organizer showing the foreigner's participation in the event (for example, MLB, NBA, etc.).
Q5. How is the application review fee calculated for an athlete work permit, and how much is it?
Ans: According to Subparagraph 1, Paragraph 1, Article 2 of the Fee-charging Standards for Application Case Review and License under the Employment Services Act, the review fee for a foreign professional work permit application is NT$500 per case.
※ The review fee is charged per application case, not per person. It is NT$500 per case.
※ The fee for an extension application is the same as a new application.
Q6. Where can I find information and introductions regarding Taiwan's national sports associations?
Ans: To search the list and introductions of national sports associations in Taiwan, please visit the official website of the Ministry of Sports at: https://www.sports.gov.tw/News/2396.
Q7. If the foreign athlete we want to hire is a minor, what extra documents do we need to prepare?
Ans: According to Article 12 of the Civil Code, majority is attained upon reaching the eighteenth year of age. If you are applying to hire a minor foreign athlete, you must provide a consent letter from their legal guardian allowing them to work, along with the legal guardian's ID document. To protect minors' right to education, the Ministry will also request review opinions from the central authority in charge of the relevant industry.
※ The legal guardian's consent letter should state the employer's name, the foreigner's job description, and the date the consent was signed (or the consented employment period).
※ If the legal guardian cannot provide a passport, other documents that prove their identity (such as a local ID card or driver's license) may be submitted instead.
Q8. How long can a work permit be granted for a foreign athlete?
Ans: According to Paragraph 1, Article 52 of the Employment Service Act, employment permits for foreign workers engaged in work types listed in Subparagraphs 1 to 7 and Subparagraph 11 of Paragraph 1 of Article 46 shall be valid for up to three years.
Additionally, according to Article 11 of the Regulations on the Permission and Administration of the Employment of Foreign Workers, if an employer needs to continue hiring the foreign athlete, they must apply for an extension within 4 months before the expiration date. However, if the permit duration is less than 6 months, the extension can only be applied for after two-thirds of the permit duration is completed.
Q9. What documents are required when applying to extend a foreign athlete's work permit?
Ans: According to Article 7 of the Regulations on the Permission and Administration of the Employment of Foreign Workers and the Ministry of Labor's Announcement No. 1110507399 on May 19, 2022, work permit applications for foreign professionals must be submitted entirely online. Paper applications are no longer accepted. Please prepare your company/organization's electronic certificate (MOEACA) and a personal Citizen Digital Certificate to apply online via the "EZ Work Taiwan" website (https://ezwp.wda.gov.tw).
When applying for an extension, employers need to prepare the following documents: An application form, a list of foreign employees, the review fee, and the foreigner's passport.
※ If you do not hire a private employment agency, since you already fill out the application form and employee list online via "EZ Work Taiwan," you do not need to provide paper copies.