The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) would like to welcome international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) to set up branch offices and regional or global headquarters in Taiwan, which has grown into a vibrant democracy in recent decades. To facilitate this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up a dedicated website with flow charts to help navigate the application process.
As part of the effort to welcome INGOs and nonprofit organizations (NPOs), Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior has eased restrictions on the opening of foreign NPO branch offices.
The revised regulations allow authorized NPOs to establish secretariats and multiple offices in Taiwan, and provide a six-month grace period for foreign nationals in charge of local chapters in obtaining an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). Moreover, in keeping with international norms, these offices are now no longer required to report to the local police.
Under the regulations, NPOs from Hong Kong and Macao can set up offices in Taiwan. However, the regulations do not apply to NPOs from mainland China and its citizens.
Taiwan is committed to further engaging with the international community and promoting regional and global peace and prosperity. The country’s robust civil society and free media environment make it an ideal place for INGOs that share such goals.
A number of NPOs have recently established branch offices in Taiwan, or are planning to do so, including the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute from the U.S., German think tank the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, and the European Values Center for Security Policy from the Czech Republic.
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