The 留才久用 Pathway: From Overseas Student to Permanent Taiwan Workforce
You hired a Vietnamese student two years ago. She started as a part-time housekeeping assistant, learned the systems, earned guest compliments, and became one of your most reliable team members. Now she's graduating. Does she have to leave?
No. Taiwan's 留才久用 (Retain and Employ Foreign Talent) program creates a direct pathway from student worker to full-time professional. Over 62,000 foreign nationals have been approved through this program — and for hospitality employers, it's one of the most underutilized tools available.
What Is 留才久用?
留才久用 (literally "retain talent for long-term employment") is a program under the Employment Service Act and the Foreign Professionals Act (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) that allows overseas students who graduate from Taiwanese universities to stay and work in Taiwan.
The key mechanism is the 評點制 (Points-Based System): graduates who score 70 or more points on a standardized evaluation can obtain a work permit without the usual job market test or salary threshold requirements.
The Points System (評點制) Explained
The 評點制 evaluates candidates across eight categories. You need 70 points to qualify:
| Category | Max Points | What Counts |
|---|---|---|
| Education level | 30 | PhD = 30, Master's = 20, Bachelor's = 10 |
| Monthly salary | 20 | NT$47,971+ = 20, NT$40,000+ = 15, NT$35,000+ = 10 |
| Work experience | 20 | 2+ years in Taiwan = 20, 1-2 years = 10 |
| Mandarin proficiency | 20 | TOCFL Level 4+ = 20, Level 3 = 15, Level 2 = 10 |
| Professional license | 20 | Taiwan-recognized professional certification |
| Other language skills | 10 | English, Vietnamese, Japanese, etc. |
| Employer recommendation | 10 | Letter from Taiwan employer |
| Overseas Chinese/Taiwan degree | 10 | Bonus for OCAC or Taiwan alumni status |
For a typical Vietnamese hospitality graduate: Bachelor's degree (10) + NT$35,000 salary (10) + 2+ years part-time in Taiwan (20) + TOCFL Level 3 Mandarin (15) + Vietnamese language bonus (10) + employer recommendation (10) = ** 75 points** — above the threshold.
The math works especially well for students who've been working part-time during their studies, because the Taiwan work experience and language ability they've already built count directly toward the score.
Why This Matters for Employers
1. Convert Your Investment into Long-Term Value
You've already spent time and resources training a student worker. The 留才久用 pathway lets you keep that investment instead of starting over with a new hire every graduation cycle.
2. No Workforce Cap
Unlike migrant workers (capped at 10% of your workforce) or the new intermediate skilled worker category, employees hired through 評點制 do not count against any quota. Hire as many qualified graduates as you need.
3. No Employment Stabilization Fee (就業安定費)
Employees on 評點制 work permits are exempt from 就業安定費. That's NT$2,000-9,000/month per worker that you don't pay — the same advantage as hiring them as students, preserved into full-time employment.
4. The Salary Is Reasonable
The minimum salary for 評點制 workers is the regular minimum wage — currently NT$29,500/month. There's no artificially high salary floor like some other foreign worker categories require. Higher salaries earn more points, but NT$35,000/month is typically sufficient to reach 70 points for most graduates.
5. Permit Duration: Up to 3 Years, Renewable
The initial work permit is valid for up to 3 years, renewable without limit. After 5 years of continuous legal residence, workers can apply for permanent residency (APRC).
The Application Process
For the Graduate
- Graduate from a Taiwan university (bachelor's degree or above)
- Apply for a job-seeking visa extension — graduates get up to 1 year to find employment (extended from 6 months in January 2024)
- Secure a job offer from a Taiwan employer
- Compile 評點制 documents: transcripts, language certificates, employer recommendation, salary offer
For the Employer
- Submit application through the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) online system at ezworktaiwan.wda.gov.tw
- Required documents:
- Company registration and business license
- Employment contract with salary stated
- Graduate's degree certificate and transcripts
- Points-based evaluation form (評點表)
- Employer recommendation letter
- Processing time: Typically 2-4 weeks
- No labor market test required — unlike standard foreign worker applications, you don't need to prove you couldn't find a local worker
Real Numbers: 留才久用 Is Growing Fast
- 62,000+ foreign nationals approved through the retention program (cumulative through 2024)
- 91% use the 評點制 pathway (vs. other tracks like salary-based qualification)
- 19,205 points-based permits issued by end of 2024
- Post-graduation job-seeking visa extended to 1 year (effective January 2024), making the transition smoother
- Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia graduates are the primary beneficiaries
The Full Career Pipeline
Here's how a strategic employer thinks about the student-to-professional pipeline:
Year 1-2: Part-time student worker (20 hrs/week)
→ Learn systems, build skills, earn trust
→ Zero 就業安定費, no quota
Year 3-4: Continued part-time + approaching graduation
→ Increase responsibilities, train for full-time role
→ Student builds 評點制 points naturally
Post-graduation: 留才久用 application (評點制)
→ Full-time employment, same tax benefits
→ No quota, no 就業安定費
Year 5+: Permanent residency (APRC) eligible
→ Long-term team member, fully integrated
This is a 5+ year talent pipeline that no gig platform or emergency hire can replicate.
Common Questions
Q: What if the graduate doesn't reach 70 points? A: They may still qualify through a salary-based track if offered NT$47,971+/month. Or they can improve their score by obtaining language certificates or professional licenses before the job-seeking visa expires.
Q: Can the graduate switch employers? A: Yes. The work permit is not tied to a single employer. Workers can change jobs freely, though a new application is required.
Q: Does this apply to vocational university graduates? A: Yes. Graduates from Taiwan's universities of science and technology (科技大學) qualify the same as traditional university graduates.
Q: What about the new August 2024 hospitality direct-hire regulation? A: That's a separate track for hiring graduates specifically into hospitality roles (housekeeping, F&B, front desk). It has different requirements (80-hour training certificate) and a 30% workforce cap. The 評點制 is broader and has no cap.
Getting Started
For employers: If you have student workers approaching graduation, start the conversation now. Help them understand the 評點制 requirements and what documents they'll need. A recommendation letter from you is worth 10 points.
For students: Track your points as you study. Get your TOCFL certificate, maintain your work record, and talk to your employer about post-graduation plans before your final semester.
For both: Match Global can help navigate the transition from student worker to full-time employee — from 評點制 evaluation to application support. Start the conversation.
The best overseas student workers don't have to leave when they graduate. The 留才久用 program with 評點制 creates a direct pathway to permanent employment — no quotas, no 就業安定費, and a system that rewards exactly the skills hospitality students build during their time in Taiwan. Learn more at matchglobal.co.
