Current Students - Graduation

*For students who wish to understand their graduation credits and requirements, please inquire them from the related departments' official website or office by oneself.

Cancellation of the National Health Insurance

1. A student who must depart Taiwan due to graduation, suspension of studies, or withdrawal of studies shall take the initiative to apply for a cancellation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) at the Office of International Affairs. The student may keep his/her NHI card and is not required to return it.

2. A student who still holds a valid Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and has yet to depart Taiwan after graduation, suspension of studies, or withdrawal of studies, is required to apply for transfer of NHI at the Office of International Affairs, and bring the NHI transfer-out form to the relevant district office at the city, county or township and the district shown on his/her ARC to re-apply.

EZgo System

1. Leaving the University Procedures for the Bachelor Degree Students:

(1) Go to the “Student Results/Semester Results” page on the Academic Affairs System to confirm whether the results for all the courses taken in this semester are available. Then, click “Graduation and Leaving the University/Check Leaving Status.” If “All the results are available” and all the items under the leaving status indicate “OK,” bring your “Student ID Card” to the Registrar’s Office to collect your graduation certificate. If you are unable to collect your graduation certificate in person, please fill out a “Letter of Authorization” to entrust your family or friend to collect your graduation certification on your behalf. (You do not need to return your Student ID Card. The Registrar’s Office will only affix the “Leaving the University” stamp on your Student ID Card before returning it to you.)

(2) If any of the items under the leaving status shows “Not Completed,” please call or visit the concerning unit in person to ask why it has not been completed.

2. Leaving the University Procedures for Graduate Students:

(1) Please fill out the “Graduation and Leaving the University Procedure Form for Graduate Student” and get the form signed by your thesis advisor and head of the department. Then, submit the form to the department office, and the department office will indicate “OK” on the leaving status.

(2) Go to the “Student Results/Semester Results” page on the Academic Affairs System to confirm whether the results for all the courses taken in this semester are available. Then, click “Graduation and Leaving the University/Check Leaving Status.” If “All the results are available” and all the items under the leaving status indicate “OK,” bring your “Student ID Card” and the original copy of your “Result of Master Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation Defense” to the Registrar’s Office to collect your graduation certificate.  If you are unable to collect your graduation certificate in person, please fill out a “Letter of Authorization” (F2-05委託書(中英文版)) to entrust your family or friend to collect your graduation certification on your behalf. (You do not need to return your Student ID Card. The Registrar’s Office will only affix the “Leaving the University” stamp on your Student ID Card before returning it to you.)

Q1. Can I stay in Taiwan after graduation?

Yes, you can! At present, overseas Chinese students and foreign students can apply to stay in Taiwan after graduation via three methods:

[Extension of Residency(Job Search Period)] From Jan 1, 2026, fresh graduates with associate degree or above from Taiwan institutions can apply for 1-year extension, renewable once (max 2 years). During this period, work legally without work permit (full/part-time/internship, no industry limits). For more details, please refer to Q2, Q3, and Q4.

[Internship in Taiwan] Eligible graduating students who meet Ministry of Education (MOE) requirements may apply for an internship permit in accordance with the "Operation Guidelines for Overseas Chinese, Hong Kong, Macao, and Foreign Students of Colleges and Universities to Apply for Internships in Taiwan after Graduation." This permit is valid for a maximum period of one year following graduation. For more details, please refer to Q7.

[Working in Taiwan] After 2-year extension, apply via points system or professional criteria.  For more details, please refer to Q8.

Please Note: Once you have met the graduation requirements and are eligible to receive your diploma, the university will notify the National Immigration Agency (NIA) of your graduation status.

Following this notification, your current student residency status will only remain valid for a limited period before it expires. To avoid any gap in your legal stay, please ensure you apply for a "Residency Extension" or another legal status as early as possible.

Q2. Can I stay in Taiwan after graduation if I have not applied for “Internship in Taiwan” and found a “job (or work in Taiwan)”?

Yes, you can! As long as you apply for a "Residency Extension" with the National Immigration Agency (NIA) as a graduating student within the designated timeframe, you may legally remain in Taiwan to look for work.

Eligibility and Duration

Graduating students who have obtained an Associate Degree or higher in Taiwan may first apply for a 1-year residency extension. If necessary, you may apply for an additional 1-year extension before the first period expires, for a maximum total of 2 years.

Recommended Application Timing

• Please apply for the residency extension at the NIA as soon as possible, ideally within 15 days of the date your diploma becomes available, to prevent your student residency from becoming invalid due to the graduation notification.

• It is recommended to complete your application at least one week before your current residency expires to avoid overstaying.

Working During the Extension Period

While holding residency as a graduating student, you are permitted to engage in full-time or part-time work, internships, etc., in Taiwan without applying for a separate work permit.

Q3. How can I apply for “extension of residency (in case of ARC application or extension and reissuance or change of purpose of stay)”?

Please prepare the following documents and apply in person at the nearest National Immigration Agency (NIA) service center:

• Application Form: Can be downloaded from the NIA website or obtained on-site.

• Passport: Original and photocopy (validity must meet NIA requirements).

• Alien Resident Certificate (ARC): Original and photocopy.

• Diploma: Original and photocopy (must be an Associate Degree or higher obtained in Taiwan).

• Photo: One 2-inch color photo (front-facing, head and shoulders, without a hat, taken within the past year).

• Lease Agreement: If you have changed your residence address.

• Application Fee: Subject to the NIA's annual announcement (currently typically NT$1,000; the actual amount is based on on-site and official announcements).

Reminder:

• If you plan to leave Taiwan and not return within 15 days of the date your diploma becomes available, you generally do not need to apply for a residency extension. However, please confirm your specific case with the NIA first.

• If you plan to stay for more than 15 days, it is recommended to confirm with the NIA whether you must apply for an extension to avoid any record of overstaying.

• For the latest application forms and regulations, please refer to the "Residence and Extension" section on the official National Immigration Agency website.

https://www.immigration.gov.tw

Q4. Can I work part-time during the extension of residency?

As of January 1, 2026, regulations have been significantly relaxed:

Unrestricted Work During Residency Extension

Graduating students who have obtained an Associate Degree or higher in Taiwan may work in Taiwan during their 2-year "Residency Extension" period without applying for a separate work permit from the Ministry of Labor.

• Work is not restricted by industry, job type, or salary thresholds. Full-time, part-time, freelance, or internship positions are all permitted.

• Employers are not required to apply for a work permit for you, but they must still provide Labor Insurance, Occupational Accident Insurance, and Labor Pension contributions in accordance with the law.

What Still Constitutes "Illegal Work"?

If you engage in work while holding a residency status that does not grant a work permit exemption (such as certain dependency visas, tourist visas, or short-term stays) rather than the "Graduating Student Residency Extension" status, it is considered illegal employment and will be penalized according to Ministry of Labor and NIA regulations.

• After the 2-year extension period expires, if you wish to continue working in Taiwan, your employer must apply for a formal work permit on your behalf. Continuing to work without a valid permit after this period is illegal.

Legal Liability for Employers

Employers who hire foreigners who do not hold a permit-exempt status and have not legally obtained a work permit will be penalized under the Labor Standards Act and the Employment Service Act. This may involve heavy fines and restrictions on future hiring.

Q5. What should I do if I change my place of residence?

You must apply for a change of residence address to the National Immigration Agency after graduation (You are required to move out of the university dormitory because you have graduated.)

Remember to prepare the following documents: (within 15 days after the new tenancy agreement takes effect)

(1) Tenancy agreement (If you are not the tenant, you are required to ask the tenant who allows you to stay with him/her, to draw up an agreement and affix his/her signature and stamp on the agreement)

(2) Old ARC

Once you obtain a work permit from your employer and switch to "Employment" residency status, you must apply to the National Immigration Agency (NIA) within 15 days of approval to change your residency purpose and update your Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) (e.g., changing from "Other" or "Residency Extension" to "Employment").

Important Reminder: Failure to update your address or residency purpose within 15 days may result in a fine. Please be sure to complete this process on time.

Q6. What should I do with my NHI after graduation?

During Your Studies

The university only handles your insurance enrollment until the end of the current semester (for most schools, this is the end of July or the end of the term). After this, your insurance coverage will be terminated.

Gap Period: From Graduation to Employment

If you have graduated but are not yet employed, it is recommended that you proactively visit a National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) office or your local District Office (Gongsuo) to enroll yourself. You can apply under the status of a "Foreign Resident with 6 months of residency," and the premium will be based on the NHIA's announced rates for the current year.

• Note: If you do not self-enroll during this gap period, the NHIA will retroactively calculate the unpaid premiums and send a payment notice once your future employer enrolls you.

Seeking Medical Care Without Active Insurance

If you seek medical treatment during a period when you are not enrolled or have outstanding payments, you must pay the full medical costs upfront.

• Once you have settled the required premiums, you may apply for a refund from the medical institution by presenting your receipts, in accordance with NHIA regulations.

Recommendation: Please regularly check NHIA announcements and university notices to ensure your coverage remains continuous and your right to medical care is protected.

Q7. How can I apply for an internship in Taiwan after graduation?

Overseas Chinese students and foreign students who are fresh graduates can apply for an internship permit in Taiwan within a maximum period of one year after graduation.

Students can apply for an internship permit in Taiwan to the Ministry of Education. Please submit the application materials within the specified time period (usually in May each year) to the Office of Academic Affairs International Center (Refer to the website of the International Center for the latest announcements).

Students who successfully obtain an internship permit approved by the Ministry of Education are allowed to work as an intern at their internship unit without having to apply for a work permit. However, they are required to submit their internship report, which is affixed with the stamp of their internship unit, to the Office of Academic Affairs International Center every three months for tracking purposes.

Reminder: Please refer to the Operation Directions Governing Applications from Overseas Chinese Students, Students from Hong Kong and Macao, and International Students for Internships after Graduating from University/College in Taiwan established by the Ministry of Education.

Q8. How can overseas Chinese students and foreign students apply for a work permit?

Overseas Chinese students and foreign students can apply for a work permit via two methods:

[Application based on salary and work experience]

Application for work permit via this method follows the standards set for foreign professionals who intend to work in Taiwan. You are required to possess at least two years of work experience after graduation or a Master’s degree or above. In addition, the monthly amount of the average salary for an employed foreigner shall be no less than NT$47,971.

Link:https://ezworktaiwan.wda.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=0A9701A70ADA2E8C

[Application based on the new points system for foreign students and overseas Chinese students]

The points system is initiated by the Executive Yuan starting July 1, 2014, where any foreign students, overseas Chinese students, or other Chinese students who graduate from a public or private university in Taiwan can apply for a work permit based on this system.

As long as you accumulate at least 70 points based on this system, you are eligible to apply for a work permit. However, the employing company also has to meet the relevant standards in order to hire foreigners.

Link:https://ezworktaiwan.wda.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=8E87472D9CB255FF

Supplementary Information:

• Statistical Classification of Industry: https://eng.stat.gov.tw/public/Attachment/1324145537RLWRM7Z.pdf
• Standard Occupational Classification: https://eng.stat.gov.tw/public/Attachment/561102047USMXRNUA.pdf

Q9. Do I have to obtain a graduation certificate in order to apply for a job in Taiwan?

Yes! You can only apply for a job in Taiwan after receiving a graduation certificate!

If you have found a job during the extension of studies, you are still required to complete all your credits and obtain a graduation certificate before applying for a job in Taiwan after graduation

Q10. Do I have to get my employer to apply for a work permit for me?

Yes! You have to get the company which is willing to hire you to apply for a work permit for you. Therefore, meeting the minimum 70-point requirement to apply for a work permit before looking for a job is simply not enough!

A work permit must be applied in the name of a company to the Ministry of Labor (You can submit the documents prepared by the hiring company in person too).

All the rules and regulations above are subject to the latest updates provided by the National Immigration Agency under the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Labor, and the National Health Insurance Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Q11. How do I notarize and authenticate my degree?

Step 1. Go to District Court or Notary Public Office to notarize.

Step 2. Go to the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) to authenticate.

Check more details in the manual (Notarize_Degree_Manual.pdf)