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On June 18, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan held a joint committee review of the proposed amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals. National Development Council (NDC) Minister Kung Chin-Ching stated that Taiwan is projected to face a labor shortage of approximately 480,000 workers by 2030. Given the intensifying global competition for talent, along with Taiwan's demographic challenges such as low birth rates and population aging, foreign professionals are seen as a critical solution to support key national strategies, including the Five Trustworthy Industries, AI development, and net-zero transformation.

As of the end of April 2024, a total of 55,677 foreign professionals held valid work permits in Taiwan, including 18,403 classified as “special professionals.” By the end of May, a cumulative 13,487 Employment Gold Cards had been issued, with 48% of recipients still residing and working in Taiwan. Furthermore, the recently launched Digital Nomad Visa, open since January 2024, has already attracted nearly 3,000 remote professionals to Taiwan.

Minister Kung emphasized four main focuses for the amendment: expanding eligibility for freelance work to increase hiring flexibility and attractiveness; extending the maximum stay for digital nomads from six months to two years; relaxing the requirements for permanent residency to encourage long-term settlement; and enhancing labor and social protections for foreign workers to improve Taiwan’s overall talent retention environment.

Legislators also raised concerns about the employment difficulties faced by overseas Chinese and international students. Surveys show that 70% of such graduates wish to stay and work in Taiwan, but current company eligibility requirements—such as having NT$5 million in capital or NT$10 million in revenue—often exclude startups and service providers from hiring them. Minister Kung responded that the government aims to revise the regulations so that by next year, a majority of these willing graduates can successfully stay and work in Taiwan.

The Ministry of Education is also actively contributing to the foreign talent initiative. In the 2024 academic year, Taiwan hosted 123,188 international students, of whom 78,801 were degree seekers, accounting for about 64% of the total. The Ministry is working to loosen enrollment rules, foster internationalized campus environments, and provide career guidance for international students to help integrate them into the workforce and meet the growing talent needs of local industries.

立法院於6月18日聯席審查《外國專業人才延攬及僱用法》修正草案。國發會主委劉鏡清指出，根據國發會推估，至2030年臺灣將面臨約48萬人的勞動力缺口，顯示我國人才短缺問題日益嚴峻。在全球人才競逐激烈的背景下，加上少子化與高齡化趨勢，配合政府積極推動的五大信賴產業、人工智慧與淨零轉型等政策，延攬外國專業人才已成為我國補足人力缺口的關鍵策略之一。

根據統計，截至今年4月底，外籍專業人才獲得有效工作許可者累計達55,677人，其中屬於「特定專業人才」者累計18,403人；至5月底，就業金卡核發總數達13,487人次，其中有48%仍選擇留在台灣繼續工作與生活。此外，自2024年1月起正式開放的「數位遊牧簽證」，目前已有近3,000人透過此方式來台短期居住與工作。

針對國際人才長期留台發展的政策設計，劉鏡清表示，本次修法將聚焦四個方向，分別是開放更多自由工作資格，以提高企業聘用意願與國際人才來台誘因；延長數位遊牧簽證的停留期間，由現行最長六個月延長至兩年；放寬申請永久居留的資格條件，以促進留台意願；並加強外國人才在勞動與社會權益方面的保障，優化整體攬才留才環境。

對於境外生的延攬與留任問題，也引發立委關注。調查指出，有高達七成的僑外生希望畢業後留台工作，卻常因相關聘僱條件過高，例如企業須達資本額500萬元、營收1,000萬元等門檻，使許多新創與服務業難以延攬其人才。對此，劉鏡清回應，國發會將持續推動制度放寬，希望在明年能讓七成有意願的僑外生得以順利留台就業。

此外，教育部也積極配合國際人才政策的推動。113學年度全台境外學生人數達12萬3,188人，其中取得學位者為7萬8,801人，占總數的64%。教育部表示，將透過放寬招生規定、強化大學國際化環境及推動國際學生留台就業輔導等方式，吸引更多優秀學生來台並協助其順利銜接職場，充實我國產業人才庫。