A Complete Guide for Taiwanese Companies Hiring Overseas Students: Process, Work Permits, and FAQs

Overseas students in Taiwan (foreign students and overseas Chinese students studying here) can legally work in Taiwan after graduation, but many HR teams are not familiar enough with the recruitment process for this group. The willingness is there, the know-how often is not.

This guide sets out the full process for hiring overseas students, so you know the next step at every stage from interview through offer to work permit.

Who counts as an “overseas student”?

Taiwanese regulations distinguish two main categories:

• Overseas Chinese students (僑生): students of Chinese descent who come to Taiwan to study through channels such as the Overseas Chinese Affairs organisations
• Foreign students (外籍生): students of foreign nationality who come through general admission or supplementary quotas

The work permit process differs slightly between the two, but the basic principles are similar. Both may work legally while enrolled (a work permit is required), and both may apply for a work permit to stay and work in Taiwan after graduation.

Overview of the recruitment process

Step 1: interview and offer (same as any employee)

The recruitment process is no different from hiring a local employee. You can source through WPORT, 104, LinkedIn, or campus recruitment. Stating “recent overseas student graduates welcome to apply” in the job posting widens your candidate pool.

Step 2: confirm the candidate’s status and academic qualifications

After the offer, ask the candidate to provide proof of education (which must meet work permit eligibility), a passport, and documents relating to their residency in Taiwan. For an overseas degree, confirm whether Ministry of Education accreditation has been completed.

Step 3: determine which work permit route applies

The work permit route depends on the nature of the employment.

Part-time work while enrolled: the student applies for the work permit themselves. The employer only needs to confirm that the student presents a valid work permit. No paperwork is required from you.

Within 2 years of graduation (new rules from the 2025 amendment): overseas students holding an associate degree or above may apply for an extension of residency for up to 2 years after graduating. During this period the employer does not need to apply for a work permit at all and can hire directly, with no restriction on job category or on full-time versus part-time. This is a significant change following the 2025 amendment to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals. See the National Development Council explanatory page.

Formal employment after the 2-year extension expires: once the employee passes the 2-year extension period, the work permit is applied for by the employer on their behalf to the Ministry of Labor. You will need:

• Company registration documents
• The employment contract
• The employee’s academic and identity documents
• A job description (the role must fall within a category permitted by regulation)

Applications can be filed online through the Ministry of Labor’s Work Permit Application System for Foreign Professionals and Overseas Students. Review takes roughly 7 to 14 working days.

Step 4: the employee formally starts

Once the work permit route is settled, the employee can start. If you are hiring during the extension-of-residency period, it is worth tracking their residency expiry date so you can arrange the transition to a work permit well in advance.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Are there salary restrictions during the 2-year extension period?
A: No work permit is required during the extension period, so there is no statutory minimum salary threshold. Labor Standards Act requirements still apply.

Q: How long does converting to a formal work permit take once the 2 years are up?
A: Start the process about 2 months before expiry. Review typically takes 7 to 14 working days and can be filed online through the work permit application system.

Q: What if the employee is not a good fit during the probation period?
A: Handle it exactly as you would for a local employee, under the Labor Standards Act. If you terminate employment while the work permit is still valid, remember to notify the Ministry of Labor to revoke the permit.

Summary

Hiring overseas students is simpler than many companies assume. Since the 2025 amendment, no work permit is required within 2 years of graduation, so employers can hire directly with almost no barrier. Understand the process in advance and the later conversion to a formal permit is not complicated either.

If you would like a more direct route to suitable overseas student talent, get in touch with WPORT. We have long-standing roots in Taiwan’s overseas student employment community.