Government Information Office
Information Service Center for Foreign Nationals

Department of Information and Protocol
Reference for employing foreign journalists.

1. Legal Basis

Directions for Accrediting Foreign Journalists
Applying for Resident Status in the
Republic of China(Taiwan)

Originally promulgated by Official Letter (82) Lien Er Tze No. 03675, on March 1, 1993. 
Revised by Official Letter (83) Chiang Lien Er Tze No. 08487, on May 17, 1994. 
Revised by Official Letter (88) Chien Lien Er Tze No. 18103, on November 5, 1999. 
Revised by Official Letter (89) Chin Lien Er Tze No. 11096, on July 26, 2000. 
Revised by Official Letter Pasuya Yao No. 0940820256 Z, on June 8, 2005. 
Revised by Official Letter Pasuya Yao No. 0940820714Z, on January 3, 2006.

1. These directiions are specifically designed to help foreign journalists apply for resident status in the Republic of China.
   
2. The term "foreign journalist" herein refers to any person assigned by a newspaper, news agency, periodical, radio or television enterprise, or Internet media lawfully established in a country or territory outside the Taiwan area of the Republic of China to report on current events and affairs of public concern.
   
   Both full-time and part-time journalists stationed in Taiwan by foreign news organizations are considered foreign journalists, as the term is used herein.
   
3. The stationing of a foreign journalist in the Republic of China shall be registered with the Government Information Office (hereinafter referred to as GIO) of the Executive Yuan. Those who apply from abroad shall file an application with the GIO, through an ROC representative office abroad, and those who apply in the ROC shall file an application directly with the GIO. In either case, the following documents shall be submitted:

1. an application form, as in Attachment 1;
    
2. a letter of assignment bearing the signature of the publisher, president, editor-in-chief, general manager, or any other person holding an equivalent position in the head office of the news organization, with which the applicant is affiliated; or the supervising editor of the organization's branch office in the Asian region. The letter of assignment shall contain the following:

(1) a general description of the nature of the medium; 
(2) the nature of the employment (full-time or part-time); 
(3) a general description of the employment contract (including the duration of employment, nature of the job, working hours, pay, etc.);

3. a health certificate obtained within the last three months and a photocopy of the applicant's passport. In the event that the GIO questions the validity of the health certificate, the applicant may be required to take a physical examination at a hospital designated by the national health authority of the Republic of China upon arrival in the Taiwan area. (This requirement is applicable only to foreign nationals.) The health certificate shall include the following items in the health check:

(1) a chest X-ray; 
(2) an antibody test for HIV; 
(3) a serological test for syphilis; 
(4) a Hepatitis B surface antigen test; 
(5) a blood smear for malaria;
(6) a stool examination for parasites; 
(7) a urine test for morphine and amphetamines; 
(8) other tests designated by ROC health authorities. 

4. An applicant employed by more than one foreign news organization as a foreign journalist to be stationed in the Republic of China shall make separate applications for registration with the GIO, according to the previous procedure for each employment position.
   An applicant may provide reports to foreign media other than the media employing him/her.
   When the applicant of the preceding paragraph deems it necessary, he/she may file an application (as in Attachment 2) for registration with the GIO. The application shall be approved by the GIO upon confirmation of the said case.
   
5. A foreign journalist may apply for residence in Taiwan, but the duration of stay for the first application shall not exceed one year. If the applicant needs to continue residence, he/she shall re-apply to register with the Government Information Office for an extension of the residence not less than thirty days before the approved period expires by submitting the relevant documents. Each extension shall not exceed two years.

1. the attached application form;
    
2. a letter of assignment bearing the signature of the publisher, president, editor-in-chief, general manager, or any other person holding an equivalent position in the head office of the news organization, with which the applicant is affiliated; or the supervising editor of the organization's branch office in the Asian region. The letter of assignment shall contain the following:

(1) a general description of the medium; 
(2) the nature of the employment (full-time or part-time); 
(3) a general description of the employment contract (including the duration of employment, nature of the job, working hours, pay, etc.);

3. five published news reports written within the last year by the applicant for the employing foreign news organization(s) or the media to which he/she provides reports.
   

6. When a foreign journalist is no longer employed in such capacity, the original applicant, or the applicant's original sponsoring foreign news organization, shall supply the GIO with documentation to cancel the registration of the foreign journalist status. The GIO may also withdraw the foreign journalist status if it finds that the foreign journalist is no longer employed in such a capacity.
   
7. Applicants registered in accordance with the directions shall be issued by the GIO a press certificate for foreign journalist. 
   
   The press certificate shall serve only as proof of the bearer's professional identity. If any information on the certificate is changed or incorrect, the bearer shall apply for a new certificate, and the old press certificate shall be revoked. 
   
   If the press certificate is lost, the bearer shall publish an announcement to that effect in a newspaper in the Taiwan area and apply for a new press certificate from the GIO.
   
8. The GIO may deny the application for registration or cancel the registration and suspend the press certificate of a foreign journalist under the following circumstances:

1. If the foreign journalist commits a serious violation of the laws and regulations of the Republic of China;
    
2. If the foreign journalist fails to pass any item listed on the health certificate;
    
3. If the foreign journalist violates any provisions of these directions.

2. Application Information

1. Requirements
   The term "foreign journalist" herein refers to any person assigned by a newspaper, news agency, periodical, or radio or television enterprise, or Internet media lawfully established in a country or territory outside the Taiwan area of the Republic of China to report on current events and affairs of public concern. Both full-time and part-time journalists stationed in Taiwan by foreign news organizations are considered foreign journalists, as the term is used herein.
2. Required Documents
   1. Application form
   2. Letter of assignment
   3. Health certificate obtained within the last three months
   4. A photocopy of passport

3. Application Form

• APPLICATION FORM FOR ACCREDITING FOREIGN JOURNALISTS
  APPLYING FOR RESIDENT STATUS IN
  THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA
• APPLICATION FORM (II) FOR ACCREDITING FOREIGN JOURNALISTS
  APPLYING FOR CONTRIBUTOR STATUS IN
  THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA