MEASURES GOVERNING PRC VISITORS RELAXED

07/01/2003

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The Measures Governing Permission for Multi-nationals to Invite Mainland Area Citizens to Taiwan for Commerce-Related Activities are promulgated under Article 10 Paragraph 3 and Article 16 Paragraph 1 of the Statute Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, and administered by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI). When reviewing applications, the MOI may consult with the competent authorities for the business sectors concerned, and other related agencies.

Under the measures, multinationals and enter-prises with sizable operations in Taiwan may invite PRC citizens to Taiwan for com-merce-related activities.

A multinational as referred to in the measures means an economic entity that has subsidiaries or branch offices in at least two countries, including Taiwan, while the parent company or head office is located overseas and exercises effective con-trol over its subsidiaries and branch offices, and meets any of the following criteria:

In the year preceding the application its global assets totaled at least US$2 billion;

The Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs has issued a letter certi-fying the scope of operations of the enter-prise's operational headquarters;

The enterprise has at least 100 employees in Taiwan, at least 50 of whom are educated to junior college level or above;

The enterprise has net regional operating an-nual revenues of at least NT$1.5 billion.

Categories under which PRC citizens may be invited to Taiwan by a multinational are as fol-lows:

Reassignment of internal personnel:

A PRC citizen who is a responsible officer, manager, or specialized or technical employee of a multinational, and has been employed by the multinational for at least one year, may apply to enter Taiwan for reasons of reassignment of du-ties within the company. The spouse and the children under age 18 of an applicant in this category may apply to accompany the applicant to Taiwan.

Specialists engaged in contract performance:

A PRC citizen who has been employed for at least one year by a company with no commercial location in Taiwan, and who performs specialist or technical services, may apply to enter Taiwan for the purposes of the performance of a hire of work, purchase, or technical collaboration con-tract between the employer and the inviting en-tity.

Commercial visits:

A PRC citizen may apply to enter Taiwan to participate in commercial meetings, commercial negotiations, or other similar commercial visits.

Training:

A PRC citizen who is a supervisor, specialized or technical employee, or a purchasing officer of a multinational, and has been employed for at least three months, may apply to enter Taiwan to re-ceive training.

A PRC citizen who applies to enter Taiwan under the measures, and is aged over 60 and of limited mobility, or requires individual care for health reasons, may also apply for a spouse or direct lineal relative to accompany him to Taiwan.

An "enterprise with sizable operations in Tai-wan" as referred to in the measures, means an enterprise meeting any of the following criteria:

The Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs has issued a letter certi-fying the scope of operations of its operational headquarters;

It has net operating annual revenues within Taiwan of at least NT$1 billion; and

It has net regional operating annual revenues of at least NT$1.5 billion.

PRC citizens are eligible for invitation for the following purposes:

Specialists engaged in contract performance;

Commercial visits; or

A PRC citizen who applies to enter Taiwan under the measures, and is aged over 60 and of limited mobility, or requires individual care for health reasons, may also apply for a spouse or direct lineal relative to accompany him to Taiwan.