The short version
International students need a Ministry of Labor work permit before starting any job, on or off campus. During term you can work up to 20 hours a week; the limit does not apply in the winter and summer vacations. A permit lasts up to one year and the fee is NT$100. Degree students can apply, and so can language students after six months of study.
The rules
- Permit needed A foreigner may not work in Taiwan without a permit, unless the law says otherwise (Employment Service Act, art. 43).
- Hours in term At most 20 hours a week, outside the winter and summer vacations (Employment Service Act, art. 50).
- Hours in vacations No weekly limit in the winter and summer vacations.
- How long it lasts One year at most.
- Fee NT$100 per application. A reissued permit is also NT$100.
- Working without one A fine of NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. The foreigner is ordered to leave and may not work in Taiwan again (Employment Service Act, art. 68).
Who can apply
Foreign students, and overseas Chinese, Hong Kong and Macau students, at public or registered private colleges and universities. Under the Ministry of Labor's regulations (雇主聘僱外國人許可及管理辦法, art. 51), you must:
- be formally enrolled in a division, department or graduate institute, or study a language course for six months or more; and
- be recognized by your school either as unable to cover your study and living costs (with concrete proof), or as needed by a teaching or research unit of the school.
These two limits do not apply to students with language skills approved by the Ministry of Education to teach foreign languages part-time at a university language center or to help with language teaching at schools, or to graduate students whose school allows research related to their studies.
Good to know: some school pages say language students need a one-year course, and some older pages say a permit lasts six months. The current regulations say six months of language study and up to one year of validity.
How to apply
The Workforce Development Agency (WDA, 勞動部勞動力發展署) handles applications. Its document list:
- The examination fee receipt. You can enter the receipt's serial number instead of sending the original.
- The application, approved by your school. A paper application needs stamps from your department and the school's counselling office.
- A copy of your valid passport.
- For a reissue: a statement of the reason.
- If the permit starts in the next academic year: your registration certificate for the first semester of that year.
You can apply online through the "Online Application" section of EZ Work Taiwan, or in person at the WDA counter: 10F, No. 39, Sec. 1, Zhonghua Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City, Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 17:30.
One school's process
National Taiwan University's page shows how this works in practice there: students apply on the WDA website, choosing the category for four-year university, master's or doctoral students, and upload a student ID with an enrollment certificate, both sides of the ARC, the post office receipt for the TWD 100 fee and the department-stamped consent form. Review takes about 7 to 10 working days. Because a permit lasts one year at most, students there reapply every year. Your school's process may differ, so check with its international office.
→ After graduation: work rules for graduates