Vietnamese Companies Investing in Taiwan 2026: FIA, Visas, Taxes

Over the past two years, the questions I receive from Vietnamese entrepreneurs have changed noticeably. Whereas most inquiries used to revolve around "how to bring Taiwanese capital into Vietnam," today more and more Vietnamese clients are asking the reverse: "how do I invest in Taiwan?" The reason is not hard to understand. Taiwan sits at the heart of the global semiconductor and ICT supply chain; setting foot here means getting closer to customers, suppliers, and upstream technology. Together with the New Southbound Policy, through which Taiwan continually promotes two-way ties with Vietnam, and the large Vietnamese community in Taiwan that forms a genuine consumer market, setting up a company in Taiwan and doing business in Taiwan for Vietnamese enterprises — whether to access the market, establish an R&D base, cooperate on technology, or join the electronics supply chain — has become a serious strategic option.

But as a lawyer handling cross-border matters among Taiwan, Vietnam, and Thailand, I must emphasize: opening a company in Taiwan follows a different legal logic, and for Vietnamese investors in particular there is an additional layer of procedure on the Vietnamese side, right from the start, that many people overlook. In this article I bring together the keywords Vietnamese people often search for — from outbound investment permits, FIA, and work permits to the Gold Card and taxes — and place them back into a practical context, updated to the latest 2026 rules.

1. The "hidden" step on the Vietnamese side: the outbound investment permit (ODI)

This is the point I always raise first with Vietnamese clients, because it is completely different from investors of other nationalities. Before deploying capital into Taiwan, a Vietnamese enterprise/individual must, as a matter of principle, obtain an Outbound Investment Registration Certificate (ODI) from Vietnam's competent investment authority, and at the same time register the foreign-exchange transaction with the State Bank and transfer the capital through official banking channels. From 1 March 2026, the Investment Law 2025 becomes the central legal basis governing this activity.

In other words, a Vietnamese investment into Taiwan is a two-ended story: legalizing the outbound capital flow in Vietnam, and only then legalizing the receipt of capital in Taiwan. If money is transferred through the wrong channel or the ODI is skipped, the consequences are not merely a fine — it also becomes difficult to record the capital and to repatriate profits later. So design the procedures for both countries in a coordinated way from day one.

2. Choosing the legal form: subsidiary, branch, or representative office

The next step is to choose the right form of presence in Taiwan, because it determines tax obligations, legal liability, and the licensing procedure.

A Subsidiary is a Taiwanese legal entity independent of the parent company in Vietnam, with shareholders bearing limited liability up to their capital contribution. The two common forms are the "Limited Company" and the "Company Limited by Shares." It suits those who want to conduct a full business and ring-fence risk for the parent company. Establishing a subsidiary must go through FIA (see the following section).

A Branch Office has no separate legal personality; it is merely a branch of the foreign head office. Its major advantage is that after-tax profits can be remitted to the parent company without an additional dividend withholding tax, so it is often advantageous for profit repatriation. Setting up a branch does not require FIA; instead, the application is filed through the Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

A Representative Office may only carry out non-revenue-generating activities such as liaison, market research, and signing contracts on behalf of the head office; it may not issue Uniform Invoices or sell goods/services in Taiwan. It is suitable as a step to test the market before making a real investment.

3. FIA: the heart of foreign investment into Taiwan

If you choose to set up a subsidiary or buy shares in a Taiwanese company, the one thing you cannot avoid is the FIA (Foreign Investment Approval), issued by the Department of Investment Review (DIR) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). Taiwan's principle is "liberalization as the rule, review as the exception": foreign investors may invest in almost every industry except those on the Negative List (industries that are prohibited or restricted, such as aviation, telecommunications, and certain media sectors).

In 2026 practice, for investors with no Chinese-capital element, obtaining an FIA usually takes about 6–8 weeks, and completing incorporation takes roughly 8–10 weeks. Once the FIA is obtained, the investor must transfer the capital into Taiwan within one year and file the "capital verification" documents with the DIR within two months of transferring the full amount.

An extremely important note for Vietnamese enterprises: Taiwan has a strict mechanism for controlling "mainland Chinese investors," kept separate from ordinary foreign investors. If your Vietnamese company has Chinese shareholders (directly or indirectly) totaling more than 30%, or is controlled by Chinese capital through a company in a third country, the investment may be classified as "Chinese investment" — subject to the far stricter Positive List regime — and the DIR will conduct a look-through review of the entire ownership chain. Check your shareholder structure carefully before filing.

4. Registered capital, conditions, and the procedure for setting up a company in Taiwan

The most common question is "how much capital is needed." The answer: in principle there is no minimum capital (Taiwan abolished the general minimum registered-capital requirement back in 2009), as long as it covers the incorporation costs and working capital. However, there are "practical capital thresholds" that Vietnamese investors must be aware of because they are tied to work permits:

• If the new company (or branch) wants to employ one foreign manager, its paid-in capital must be no less than NT$500,000 and foreign capital must account for at least one-third.
• If it wants to hire a second foreign staff member, the paid-in capital must be raised to NT$5,000,000.
• After the first year, renewal of the work permit is tied to business performance: average revenue must reach NT$3,000,000 per year.

A summary of the steps: pre-reserve the company name (in Chinese) → apply for the FIA from the DIR → open a preparatory account and transfer capital from abroad → file for capital verification → adopt the articles of incorporation and elect the board of directors → register the company's incorporation and register for tax. Capital verification must go through a Taiwanese Certified Public Accountant (CPA), so arrange the timing of your money transfers accordingly.

5. Visas and work permits: from the ordinary Work Permit to the Taiwan Employment Gold Card

Once the company is set up, the next issue is "people." Many people search for phrases like "Taiwan visa," "Taiwan work visa," or "invest to settle in Taiwan," but it is important to be clear: every foreigner working in Taiwan must have a Work Permit. For ordinary professional categories, the minimum salary is around NT$47,971 per month together with qualification/experience requirements; the employer (the Taiwanese legal entity) is the party that files. Only after obtaining a work permit can you apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) of the same duration; a spouse and minor children may apply for residence alongside. Running through enough ARC cycles (usually 3 years, renewed once revenue reaches the threshold) opens the path to an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) — this is precisely the "invest-to-settle" path that many Vietnamese are interested in.

For senior managers or highly qualified specialists, I often recommend considering the Employment Gold Card — a "4-in-1" card combining a work permit, resident visa, ARC, and re-entry permit. Its strength is that no employer sponsorship is required: with the card in hand you can work for any company, or start your own business.

Latest 2026 update: The Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (as amended, promulgated 24 September 2025) takes effect from 1 January 2026, loosening conditions and expanding benefits, for example:

• The income threshold for the "economics/science and technology" category is around NT$160,000 per month;
• Tax incentives: a reduction in personal income tax on the portion of salary exceeding NT$3 million;
• A fast track to APRC: three years of residence (or just one year if income is NT$6 million per year or more);
• Spouses may apply on their own for an open work permit without needing an employer, and many additional professional fields are made eligible.

6. Taxes in Taiwan: the numbers Vietnamese enterprises need to calculate in advance

Before investing, you should grasp Taiwan's core tax structure:

• Profit-Seeking Enterprise Income Tax: standard rate of 20% on net profit.
• Business Tax (similar to VAT): standard rate of 5% (0% on exported goods/services).
• Withholding tax on dividends paid to foreign shareholders: standard rate of 21%, but this can be reduced under a double taxation agreement (see the following section).
• Capital gains from share transfers: transferring shares of a company limited by shares that has issued share certificates is, in principle, exempt from income tax, subject only to a Securities Transaction Tax of 0.3% on the sale price — a considerable advantage compared with many countries (although it may still fall under the 12% Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), with a basic-income exemption threshold of NT$600,000).

One point Vietnamese enterprises really like: Taiwan does not impose foreign-exchange controls on the remittance of dividends abroad for foreign investors already approved by the DIR — dividends can be converted into foreign currency and remitted out freely (although the central bank, the CBC, may limit the daily NT$ conversion ceiling for very large amounts). Note: once the money arrives in Vietnam, it must still comply with Vietnam's foreign-exchange and ODI rules.

7. The Vietnam–Taiwan double taxation agreement: an advantage not to be missed

Good news that many people are unaware of: Vietnam and Taiwan already have a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) in force. This is a tangible advantage for Vietnamese investors, because the DTA helps reduce the withholding tax on dividends below the standard 21% rate (often to around 10–15% depending on the ownership ratio and the treaty terms), reduces the tax burden on interest and royalties, and sets out rules on "Permanent Establishment" to avoid being taxed twice in both countries. However, the rate actually applied depends on the treaty provisions and on the documentation proving tax residence, so confirm the specific rate with a lawyer/tax advisor before designing the structure.

8. Practical "pitfalls" for Vietnamese investors

From experience, I sum up the common mistakes:

One, don't forget the ODI and foreign-exchange procedures on the Vietnamese side. Many investors focus only on the Taiwan procedures and skip the outbound investment permit and domestic foreign-exchange registration — leading to trouble when recording capital and repatriating profits later.

Two, clarify the Chinese-capital structure first. If the ownership chain contains Chinese capital exceeding 30% at any level, the investment may be classified as "Chinese investment" and get caught in a far harder process. This must be checked from the start, not fixed only when filing.

Three, choose the legal entity that fits your profit-repatriation plan. If the main goal is to remit profits back to Vietnam, a "branch" may be more advantageous because there is no additional dividend tax on top; if you want to ring-fence risk and create an independent legal entity in Taiwan, a "subsidiary" is more suitable.

Four, get the capital and capital-verification timing right. The money must be transferred under the correct investor's name, into the preparatory account, and the amount must match the filing. Any mismatch in timing can affect both the incorporation and the work-permit application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can a Vietnamese enterprise own 100% of a company in Taiwan?

Yes, in almost every industry not on the Negative List, but it must first go through the DIR's FIA. Some sectors (media, energy, telecommunications) have restricted foreign-ownership ratios.

How much minimum registered capital is needed to set up a company in Taiwan?

In principle there is no minimum, but to obtain a work permit for one foreign manager, you need paid-in capital of at least NT$500,000 and foreign capital of ≥ one-third; hiring an additional foreign worker requires raising the capital to NT$5 million.

Does a Vietnamese investor have to obtain permission in Vietnam first?

Yes. In principle you must obtain an Outbound Investment Registration Certificate (ODI) and register the foreign-exchange transaction under the Investment Law 2025 (effective 1 March 2026), and only then transfer the capital over to Taiwan.

How long does the FIA take?

For investors with no Chinese-capital element, usually 6–8 weeks, with incorporation completed in about 8–10 weeks.

Which type of visa should a Vietnamese manager use to come to Taiwan?

If you meet the high-qualification requirements, you should consider the Taiwan Employment Gold Card — a 4-in-1 card requiring no employer sponsorship, with tax incentives and a fast track to permanent residence. Ordinary staff use a work permit + ARC as is customary.

The opportunities in Taiwan are real, but the reward goes to "those who prepare thoroughly." The Louis Group legal consulting group has offices in both Taiwan (Taipei and Taichung) and Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), with a team able to communicate in Chinese, English, and Vietnamese — supporting Vietnamese enterprises end-to-end, from the ODI procedure on the Vietnamese side, applying for the FIA, incorporation, visas and work permits, to designing cross-border tax structures. If you are weighing this step, our Taiwan–Vietnam team is ready to accompany you in every decision.

This article is general legal information, not a legal opinion for any specific case. When implementing in practice, please consult a specialist lawyer and rely on the latest notices from the competent authorities of Taiwan and Vietnam.