Visa

Foreign students enrolling in degree programs at NCCU should apply for a resident visa (purpose: academic study) through their closest Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) or ROC Embassy.

Foreign students entering Taiwan on a visitor visa (purpose: academic study) must apply for resident visa (purpose: academic study) at the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) before the visitor visa expires.

For detailed information on visa application procedures, please refer to the link.

For students already in Taiwan:

• Foreign students who entered Taiwan via Visa-Exempt Entry or Landing Visa may not apply for a resident visa at BOCA, but must rather leave Taiwan and apply for a resident visa at TECO abroad.
• Foreign students who hold an ARC to study Mandarin at a language center can apply for a resident visa at BOCA using their NCCU acceptance letter and enrollment certificate.
• Foreign students who just finish their previous degree in Taiwan can apply for a new resident visa at BOCA.

Alien Resident Certificate(ARC)

Foreign students entering Taiwan with resident visa must apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) online within 30 days of their arrival. Late applications will incur a fine of NTD2,000-10,000.

Foreign students who secure a resident visa from BOCA must apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) online within 30 days after receiving their resident visa. Late applications will incur a find of NTD2,000-10,000.

Online Application

Apply for your ARC online using the bilingual (Chinese and English) National Immigration Agency (NIA) Student Online Application System. You can also use the system to extend your ARC or amend your information data (e.g., place of residence). Online applications also typically take only 5 days to process, as opposed to 10 days for in-person applications.

Online Application System: click the link

The OIC also provides step-by-step instructions for ARC application, extension, and more (download). For detailed information of the ARC application, contact the National Immigration Office Taipei City Service Center.

Application Notice:

1. ARC application processing time: around 10 working days (Keep your application fee receipt to collect your ARC).
2. Changes in residence address must be reported to the National Immigration Agency service center within 30 days.
3. If you plan to continue your study at NCCU beyond the expiration date of your ARC, please apply for an extension within 3 months of the expiry date.
4. If you plan to leave Taiwan during the enrollment period, make sure that your ARC will still be valid when you return to Taiwan. Otherwise, you will need to renew your ARC prior to departure.
5. If you apply for suspension, withdrawal, or graduation, your ARC validity will end within 14 days of the date your school-leaving procedures are completed. Therefore, you need to leave before the prescribed time. If you have suspended enrollment but wish to return NCCU, you will need to apply for a new visa to enter Taiwan.
6. Overstay

• If you are still enrolled at NCCU but overstay your ARC by less than 30 days without extending your ARC, you will be assessed a fine and be required to extend your ARC.
• If you are still enrolled at NCCU but overstay your ARC by more than 30 days, you will be assessed a fine and be required to leave Taiwan within 7 days. Once abroad, you may apply for a new visa to re-enter Taiwan.
• Overstay fine:
  1-10 days: NTD$10,000 
  11-30 days: NTD$20,000 
  31-60 days: NTD$30,000
  61-90 days: NTD$40,000 
  over 91 days: NTD$50,000

Extending ARC After Graduation

Upon reaching your graduation date, the registration system will update your student status to "graduated." This will prompt you to initiate the school leaving procedure and obtain your diploma. A reminder email from the Office of International Cooperation (OIC) will notify you to complete the school leaving procedure. Simultaneously, OIC will inform the Immigration Agency of your graduation, leading to the invalidation of your current Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) within 14 days.

If you plan to depart Taiwan within this timeframe after receiving OIC's reminder email, there is no requirement to extend your ARC. However, if your intention is to remain for employment purposes, it is necessary to extend your ARC. For those seeking employment, you are eligible to apply for two consecutive one-year extensions. The longest extenstion could be two years. It's important to note that extension applications must be submitted in person at the National Immigration Agency service center.

While on an ARC extended for employment-seeking purposes, it's crucial to be aware that you are not permitted to engage in part- or full-time work in Taiwan.

Required Documents:

• Application Form
• Two-inch passport photo 
• Passport 
• ARC
• Diploma
• Lease
• Application fee of NTD1,000