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” 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] Students can apply for ARC extension for a period of six months and can also re-apply for another extension once thereafter. For more details, please refer to Q2, Q3, and Q4.

[Internship in Taiwan] Every April, the Ministry of Education will notify all colleges and universities in Taiwan of its internship program. Students must submit their applications before May for review. For more details, please refer to Q7.

[Working in Taiwan] Students can opt to work in Taiwan via the points system or as a skilled professional. For more details, please refer to Q8.

Otherwise, the university will submit a “graduation report” 10 days after the foreign students or overseas Chinese students graduate (the day the graduation certificates are available), and the student’s ARC will be invalid 14 days (including weekends) after the report is submitted.

Reminder: For example, if a student who graduates from NCHU in 2019, his/her ARC and work permit will be invalid simultaneously on July 16 if he/she is a student from the first batch, on August 14 if he/she is a student from the second batch, or 14 days after his/her results are officially announced if he/she is a student from other batches.

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!

However, you must apply for “extension of residency” within a specified time period.

Therefore, you must apply for an extension of residency at the National Immigration Agency one week before your ARC expires at the latest.

The first extension shall last till December 31 in the current year, and the second extension shall last till June 30 in the following year. (Please apply for the second extension one month before the first extension expires at the latest.)

Reminder: For example, a student who graduates from NCHU in 2019, he/she can apply for an extension of residency before July 9 if he/she is a student from the first batch, before August 7 if he/she is a student from the second batch, or seven days after his results are announced at the latest if he/she is a student from other batches.

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

After preparing the following documents, you are required to carry out the relevant procedures in personat the nearest National Immigration Agency.

(1) Application form
(2) Passport (original and photocopy)
(3) ARC (original and photocopy)
(4) Graduation certificate (original and photocopy)
(5) A 2”× 2” colored photo, front head and shoulder, taken within six months
(6) Tenancy agreement (in case of change of address)
(7) Fee: NT$500 to NT$1000 (Overseas Chinese students, Hong Kong and Macau students, and foreign students are charged differently)

Reminder:
1. Students who return to their home countries (and no longer return to Taiwan) within 15 days after being eligible to collect their graduation certificates (the day when they can collect their graduation certificates), do not need to apply for an extra.

2. Students who intend to return to their home countries beyond 15 days after being eligible to collect their graduation certificates are recommended to confirm with the National Immigration Agency whether they need to extend their ARC first.

3. Related Link:

https://www.immigration.gov.tw

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

Please be reminded that you are not allowed to work part-time during the extension of residency after graduation! (It is of utmost importance to keep this in mind).

The purpose of extension of residency is to allow students to seek full-time employment opportunities after graduation. During this period, students do not have a work permit, so working part-time is absolutely illegal!

According to the regulations set forth by the Ministry of Labor, overseas Chinese students or foreign students who are found to work part-time without a work permit will be hit with a fine between NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 and prohibited from working in Taiwan for three years.

Reminder:

Employers who hire overseas Chinese students or foreign students who do not hold a work permit will be hit with a fine between NT$150,000 to NT$750,000!

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
In the event that you have successfully got a job, you are required to re-apply for an ARC within 15 days after obtaining a work permit, and change your reason for residence from “Others” to “Work.”

Reminder: You will be fined if you fail to apply for a change of information beyond 15 days. It is of utmost importance to keep this in mind!

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

Fresh graduates will only be insured under the NHI program till the end of August. Therefore, students will not be insured under the program starting September.

You can apply for a continuance of NHI in person at the National Health Insurance Administration or the district office at your place of residence. You are required to pay a monthly premium of NT$749 to NT$1,200 (according to the regulations set forth by the National Health Insurance Administration in the current year).

In the event that you fail to pay the premiums, the National Health Insurance Administration will issue a fine if you are found to owe premium payments when you have successfully got a job and your company carries out an application to NHI. Therefore, you are still required to pay the premiums you owe.

However, you are required to pay for medical fees in full when you visit the doctor during the window period when you do not pay the premium. After settling the premium you owe, you can apply for a refund by bringing the receipt to the hospital or clinic at which you have sought medical treatment.

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)