Taiwan will extend the validity of the Digital Nomad Visa Program (DNV) from six months to one year, the National Development Council (NDC) has announced.
In addition, the government agency said the program would be expanded to include Japan and South Korea, VisaGuide.World reports.
The DNV program allows internationals to live in Taiwan while working legally for companies or clients located outside this country.
Currently, freelancers are allowed to stay for three months in this country by visa-free entry or tourist visa.
However, in a bid to manage labor shortages noted in several industries while the country is also experiencing a decline in population, the government has taken several steps to help economic growth.
Among them was also the launching of the Digital Nomad Visa Program to attract a larger number of foreigners to the country.
In this regard, the National Development Council Minister, Paul Liu, told Radio Taiwan International that the recent step will permit digital nomads to stay for six months, with the possibility of a six-month extension or even longer if necessary.
In addition, according to the minister, Taiwan also planned to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Japanese cities of Fukuoka, Osaka, and South Korea in order to permit digital nomads to spend time at each destination.
According to Liu, only Taiwan would offer them resources to help them foster innovation and creativity. He said that the local governments of Hualien, Tainan, Taitung, and Pingtung expressed interest in attracting digital nomads.
Digital Nomad Visa a Pathway to Employment Gold Card
The Minister emphasized that after spending a year in Taiwan, digital nomads would be granted the right to obtain the “Employment Gold Card” to be employed or launch a business.
Based on the estimates made by the National Development Council, there are about 35 million digital nomads worldwide, increasing to 40 million by 2030.
Earlier this year, the National Development Council (NDC) Minister said that the Council would submit draft amendments to the Act of Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals to the Legislative Yuan that were scheduled to be reviewed in the next session in a bid to facilitate the process of acquiring residency for foreign talents.
Back then, Minister Liu said Taiwan was following Japan’s example in launching a global elite visa that allowed foreigners with a salary of at least US$184,021 to be granted permanent residence at least one year after reaching Taiwan.
The government of Taiwan unfolded plans to attract a total of 120,000 internationals into Taiwan by 2028.