Image Credit: Taiwan News
The Taiwanese government is preparing to launch a “Digital Nomad Visa” that will allow remote workers to stay in the country for up to six months. This initiative aims to attract foreign professionals and address the anticipated labour shortage by 2028. According to the National Development Council (NDC), the visa will be available to freelancers and remote workers, providing a pathway for them to transition into other visas, including the Gold Card and Entrepreneur Visa.
On Thursday (Sept. 19), NDC Deputy Head Kao Shien-quey stated that Taiwan will face a shortfall of 350,000 workers in the next four years, as cited by Taiwan News. The country aims to fill 200,000 of these positions through international recruitment, targeting 120,000 foreign professionals and 80,000 technical workers. Among the foreign talent, Kao mentioned that the government hopes to attract around 10,000 digital nomads.
As neighbouring countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Thailand have introduced similar policies, Taiwan is keen to establish its own framework to attract remote workers. The visa will initially be issued for three months, with an option to extend for another three months, providing a total stay of up to six months.
National Development Council Minister Liu Chin-ching highlighted the growing global trend of digital nomadism, with 35 million nomads estimated worldwide. He said Taiwan aims to capture a portion of this workforce, particularly to boost local tourism and consumption. Liu was hopeful that out of 100,000 digital nomads who might visit, 10,000 could potentially settle in Taiwan long-term.
The government has begun promoting the initiative through online advertisements in countries like the UK, hoping to swiftly implement the visa to remain competitive in the region.