When Taiwan launched its Gold Card program in 2018, the premise was simple enough: attract skilled professionals to fuel innovation and help offset a shrinking workforce.

But intention is always the easy part. Translating policy into something people halfway across the world could actually use required more than a pen stroke.

It needed a steward, someone who could navigate a dense government bureaucracy and understand what makes a global workforce tick.

That person – the bridge – is Jonathan Liao.

Raised between the United States and Taiwan, Liao is versed in both systems and fluent in English and Mandarin. “I understand the cultures on both sides,” he told PolyPassport.

As Managing Director of the International Talent Taiwan Office and the Taiwan Employment Gold Card Office, he leads an approximately 30-person team charged with making one of the world’s most flexible residency programs accessible and real.

He’s quick to downplay his role. “This program is for Taiwan,” he said in our conversation. “I don’t think it’s about me.”

When we meet in his Taipei office, Liao comes across much like the program itself: pragmatic and forward-looking. His black T-shirt and jeans felt more “start-up founder” than civil servant—which make sense, because he isn’t one.

“We’re not government staff per se,” he said. “We’re more like contractors…more nimble, more flexible.”

The Gold Card is unusually flexible too. It grants skilled professionals a three-year residency visa with an open work permit. No employer sponsorship or local job offer required. Recipients can freelance, work remotely, start a business, or do all three.

“Most Asian countries now…they’re all facing a talent shortage,” Liao said. “So this is Taiwan’s response to it.”

The program has attracted close to 13,000 people from over 100 countries since it launched. Most candidates come from the U.S., Southeast Asia, and Europe, with backgrounds ranging from tech and academia to business.

On average, applications get approved in as little as four to six weeks.

Eligibility is based on factors like salary history and academic credentials. Those who stay in Taiwan an average of 183 days per year can apply for permanent residency after a mere three years.

Dual citizenship is not permitted unless you were born in Taiwan, although some advocates want to extend that right to long-term residents born abroad.

Jonathan readily admits Taiwan isn’t always top of mind for globally mobile professionals. “People go to Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, you know, Bali or Bangkok,” he said. “Taiwan usually comes up after that.”

But for those who do choose Taiwan, the payoff is in daily life. The island scores high on infrastructure, public transit, affordable healthcare, low crime, and convenience. You can even pay your taxes at your nearest 7-Eleven.

“None of these are as sexy as beaches and nightlife,” Liao concedes, “even though Taiwan has that [too].”

There’s also a notable openness to outsiders, something PolyPassport experienced firsthand during our time on the island. “People are generally nicer about things they might not understand,” Jonathan said.

Matthew is a Gold Card holder from Singapore who agrees wholeheartedly. “You’ll meet the friendliest people here,” he told us. That’s not all that keeps him around. “Healthcare, transportation, the low cost of living, the great food, the friendly people, the nature.”

Still, even paradise comes with paperwork. Routine tasks—like opening a bank account—can frustrate newcomers who lack Mandarin Chinese skills.

“Many of the systems are not set up for English-speaking people,” Managing Director Liao said. His office tries to bridge those gaps through the Talent Taiwan website, which offers step-by-step guidance on everything from visas to daily life.

And then there’s China. The geopolitics — and the potential security implications — come up a lot. Liao doesn’t dodge the question or dismiss it. But he puts it in perspective: “If it was so dangerous, would people still be coming?”

He adds: “if these big companies [such as Google, Microsoft, and AMD] were that scared and worried, would they be opening buildings, research facilities that require thousands of people?”

Taiwan produces about 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductors.

At a time when some countries are tightening their borders or raising the bar for would-be expats, Taiwan is offering something different. “It wants to be as open as it can,” Liao said. “Because that’s kind of what I think a great society, you know, community would be.”

The program’s slogan Next Stop, Taiwan appears on brochures and FAQ pages. But behind the tagline is something more enduring than a stopover, for those who want it: a place to stay.

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