Taipei: Taiwan's Legislature has passed amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, expanding eligibility and extending certain visa categories to enhance the country's global competitiveness.

According to Focus Taiwan, the new rules permit foreign graduates from one of the world's top 1,500 universities to work in Taiwan without the previously required two years of work experience, a change from the previous threshold limited to graduates from the top 500 universities.

Additionally, the law now allows foreign nationals who obtained a bachelor's degree or higher within the past five years from one of the world's top 200 universities to apply directly to the Ministry of Labor for a professional work permit valid for up to two years. Lawmakers have also extended Taiwan's "digital nomad" visa, enabling remote workers to stay in the country for up to two years, compared to the current maximum of six months.

The amendments further ease residency requirements by allowing foreign professionals with degrees earned in Taiwan to count their study years toward residency qualifications-three years for a doctorate, two years for a master's degree, and one year for a bachelor's degree or associate degree.

The reforms also include stronger labor and social protections for foreign professionals, offering greater security for those seeking long-term careers in Taiwan. The government stated that these changes are part of broader efforts to reinforce Taiwan's competitiveness amid growing global competition for high-skilled talent.