Next Stop, Taiwan!
We are thrilled to introduce an incredible opportunity for all attendees to join us on an exciting adventure!
The Taiwan Ministry of Digital Affairs (moda) has paved the way for international digital talents like you through the Gold Card in the Digital Field. This program is your ticket to industry exchanges within Taiwan, including the chance to attend fantastic events like WordCamp Asia 2024.
*If you would like to get 1-on-1 help from TCA (Taipei Computer Association, the executing agency), make sure to select WordCamp Asia 2024 in the form.
** When applying for Gold Card, please ensure to select Digital Field to specify your area of expertise.
*** A more detailed application tutorial please see here.
Why Should I Apply for Digital Field Gold Card?
The 4-in-1 Card
1
Work Permit
Allows cardholders to seek employment freely, obtain employment at any time, work any part-time job legally, and freely change jobs.
2
Resident Visa
Long-term visa which allows cardholders to stay in Taiwan for more than 180 days.
3
Alien Resident Certificate
A physical ID card proving that you can live in Taiwan legally.
4
Re-entry Permit
Allows unlimited entry and exit from Taiwan (even during COVID-19).
One-time Travel Incentive to Taiwan
You will receive a US$1,300 to US$2,750 travel incentive to Taiwan based on your region. Reimbursable items include flight tickets, accommodation fees, Internet fees, and event tickets in Taiwan. For more details, please read Application Guideline: Coverage Items and Limits.
Some other benefits include access to National Health Insurance, reduced income taxes in Taiwan for the first 5 years, and the ability to lease and own property in Taiwan.
Can I Apply?
Everyone is welcome to apply if you meet ONE or more of the following requirements:
- Working Seniority: Over 8 years of professional experience in the digital economy sector.
- Compensation: Employed in a relevant field with a recent monthly salary of at least NT$160,000.
- Academic Achievement: Graduated from a university ranked in the Top 500 worldwide and holding a doctoral degree from that institution.
- Relevant Expertise: Included academic certifications, winning awards, or having more than 4 years of relevant work experience.
More qualification details are here.
To apply for the Gold Card in the Digital Field, you will need to complete the “Foreign Special Professionals with Specialized Knowledge/Skills in the Digital Field” document, regardless of the qualification you choose. In the “□ Other Relevant Important Experiences” section, we recommend including all WordCamp and other tech event organizer/speaker experiences, as well as Make WordPress team representative or contributor experiences.
We also recommend including your profile at WordPress.org, LinkedIn, GitHub, Dribbble, portfolio website, and anything that can showcase your professional experiences in your CV/resume.
The Gold Card costs anywhere between US$100 and US$310 depending on your nationality and the duration of the card.
*If you would like to get 1-on-1 help from TCA (Taipei Computer Association, the executing agency), make sure to select WordCamp Asia 2024 in the form.
** When applying for Gold Card, please ensure to select Digital Field to specify your area of expertise.
*** A more detailed application tutorial please see here.
FAQ
What is the Digital Economy?
The “digital economy” mentioned in these Guidelines refers to economic activities driven by digital industries, along with innovation activities of non-digital industries through digital technology (in accordance with the OECD [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development] and British definitions of “digital economy”). Its fields and categories include but are not limited to the following：
(A) Application of Innovation Technology: Including artificial intelligence such as machine learning, deep learning, image recognition, and semantic analysis; data sciences such as data processing, data analysis, data visualization, and web scraping; smart networking such as Internet of Things (IoT), 5G communications, cloud computing, and communications technology.
(B) Development of the Digital Economy: Including digital marketing, financial technology (FinTech), e-commerce, sharing economy, digital content (such as AR/VR, 3D design, UI/UX design, etc.), research and analysis of digital economy policies, and investment analysis for international markets.
Uploading Document Guidelines
Documents must be in English or Chinese
If your documents are not in English or Chinese, please attach a translation to either English or Chinese. You have the option to translate the documents yourself and attach both the translated and original documents.
Additional Document Verification
Before submitting your Gold Card application, please note that documents issued by the following countries/regions require additional verification by an overseas ROC representative office: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bengal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cuba, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Some exceptions apply; please refer to this link for details.
For verification submission, document delivery must be done in the representative office, while you can receive the document back by mail after processing. If entrusting someone else, please ensure to fill out the Application Form for Authentication. The verification process typically takes about 2 working days.
Letter of Taiwanese Guarantee
Gold Card applicants from designated countries will be asked by the overseas missions of the R.O.C. to provide Letter of Guarantee for Visa Application to the Republic of China. These countries include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Syria. For more details, please refer to here.
If you are a sponsor, speaker, volunteer, table lead, or organizer of WordCamp Asia 2024, you can request the Letter of Guarantee from us. If you are an attendee of WordCamp Asia 2024, we will review based on your contribution to WordPress. Please contact asia-local@wordcamp.org.
How much does the Gold Card cost?
The cost depends on the country of citizenship and the duration of the Gold Card. The application fee is nonrefundable regardless of the results of your application. For more details, please see Step 1 Section 4: Payment and E-Mail Confirmation ↗.
How long does the process take?
A perfect application takes 30 days, however, if additional supporting documents are requested, expect a time frame of 50-60 days. For a detailed timeline on how long it takes, please refer to here.
How do I apply for travel incentive?
You must have a Gold Card application approved before you can apply for the travel incentive. You need to apply at least 15 working days prior to your arrival in Taiwan, and fulfill obligations in Taiwan (such as attending WordCamp Asia 2024). Read more details about Incentive Process.
Do I need to visit the embassy/overseas ROC representative office?
Additional Document Verification (before you submit Gold Card application): Documents issued by some countries/regions require additional verification by an overseas ROC representative office. Please read FAQ → Uploading Document Guidelines → Additional Document Verification.
STEP 2: Passport Check: For overseas applications (except Hong Kong/Macau applications), your passport will have to be inspected at your chosen Bureau of Consular Affairs or ROC mission/office. Under normal circumstances, this process should take a week.
STEP 3: Receiving your Gold Card: After verification, you will receive an email stating your passport has been inspected and the Gold Card application was approved, you will then pick up the Gold Card after you arrive in Taiwan. We recommend to choose Taipei City Service Center when choosing Location of Collection.
Taipei City Service Center
Address: No. 15, Guangzhou St., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100-66, Taiwan, ROC.
Chinese Address: 臺北市廣州街15號1樓
Who can I contact about the Gold Card?
Gold Card is organized by Taiwan Ministry of Digital Affairs (moda) and executed by Taipei Computer Assosciation (TCA). If you would like to get 1 on 1 service from TCA, please fill out the form here or see contact information below:
LinkedIn: Team DIGI Gold Card
General Gold Card Questions:
Jill Chang jill_chang@mail.tca.org.tw
Dana Liu preedanan@mail.tca.org.tw
Application of Industry Exchange Incentives Questions:
Vicky Ho vicky_ho@mail.tca.org.tw
Kelly Chuang kelly_chuang@mail.tca.org.tw