Regulations for Leave of Absence and Withdrawal
Q. If a foreign student defers or abandons their studies, how long are they are allowed to stay in Taiwan before they are required to leave?
Answer:
- In accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4, Article 31 of the Immigration Act, the National Immigration Agency will revoke a foreigner’s residence permit and cancel their resident certificate if the reasons for that foreigner’s residence cease to exist within the residency period. In addition, the provisions of Article 36, Paragraph 2, Subparagraph 7 of the Immigration Act indicate that a person to whom the circumstances cited above pertain, the National Immigration Agency may forcibly deport that person or order them to leave Taiwan within 10 days.
- When an educational institution determines that a foreign student has deferred or abandoned their studies, it must immediately notify the Bureau of Consular Affairs and the National Immigration Agency; the National Immigration Agency will cancel the foreigner’s resident certificate and the foreign student must leave Taiwan within 10 days after they receive written notification that their resident certificate has been revoked.
Q. If an overseas Chinese student or a foreign student has suspended or withdrawn from their studies and their educational institution has already reported this but the student has not initiated cancellation of their resident certificate and continues to stay in Taiwan, during the period while their resident certificate has not yet expired how is the matter handled?
Answer: Once an overseas Chinese student or a foreign student has suspended or withdrawn from their studies, the reason for their residency no longer exists and in accordance with regulations, they are required to leave Taiwan. The National Immigration Agency will proceed with revoking the residence permit of an overseas Chinese student or a foreign student as soon as it has been notified that they have suspended or withdrawn from their studies. A student fails to leave Taiwan within the prescribed period will be regarded as a foreigner who has overstayed their visa, and if found they will be fined and detained. Those who overstay longer than a specified period will be restricted from entering Taiwan again.