How to file an investment application with the MOEA-IR

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The Department of Investment Review of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA-IR) is a central institution which oversees all foreign investments into Taiwan. Its approval is needed for any foreign owned business, of all sizes, to legally register in Taiwan. This process is complicated and time consuming. Here’s all the documents that are needed for the application:

文章目錄

Investor identification documents

Supporting documents

Company documents

New Business

Photocopy of the official company name approval letter from MOEA

Note: The business must not contain items listed on the "Negative List of Overseas Chinese and Foreign Investment – Prohibited and Restricted Industries for Overseas Chinese and Foreign Investment"

E.G.: chemical raw materials, chemical products, metal and machinery equipment manufacturing, land, water, and air transportation and related auxiliary industries, postal and express services, broadcasting and television industries, legal and accounting services, entertainment venues, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and livestock industries, tobacco manufacturing, telecommunications and optical instrument manufacturing, aircraft and parts manufacturing, other manufacturing industries, electricity and water supply, telecommunications.

For further details, please refer to the "Negative List of Overseas Chinese and Foreign Investment Industry Standards and Corresponding Business Activity Codes for Companies (1090910)"

Existing Business (in Taiwan)

Photocopy of the latest company registration document, including directors and supervisors
Photocopy of the latest company charter

According to the current company structure, please provide the following:

Co., Ltd.: Photocopy of the shareholders' meeting minutes approving the total capital amount, and/or the board of directors meeting minutes (including the attendance book or directors' consent letters).
LLC: Photocopy of the shareholders' consent letter for capital increase
Partnership / Sole Prorpriertership:
Photocopy of the acquisition contract or partnership agreement

Note: The business must not contain items listed on the "Negative List of Overseas Chinese and Foreign Investment – Prohibited and Restricted Industries for Overseas Chinese and Foreign Investment"

E.G.: chemical raw materials, chemical products, metal and machinery equipment manufacturing, land, water, and air transportation and related auxiliary industries, postal and express services, broadcasting and television industries, legal and accounting services, entertainment venues, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and livestock industries, tobacco manufacturing, telecommunications and optical instrument manufacturing, aircraft and parts manufacturing, other manufacturing industries, electricity and water supply, telecommunications.

For further details, please refer to the "Negative List of Overseas Chinese and Foreign Investment Industry Standards and Corresponding Business Activity Codes for Companies (1090910)"

Method of capital remittance and supporting documents

Onshore (NTD)

Offshore

Note

Foreign Entity

Post-tax dividends and profits from investments in domestic businesses (including earnings from the investor's branch in Taiwan): Please provide a photocopy of the withholding certificate for dividends and profits

After obtaining remittance approval from the MOEA-IR, please transfer funds from the foreign entity's bank account to the local company's temporary bank account

The amount of the planned investment must be smalled than the amount on the salary withholding statement.

DO NOT PROCEED TO REMIT FUNDS UNTIL THE MOEA-IR HAS EXPRESSELY APPROVED THE INVESTMENT APPLICATION

Foreign Individual

Personal income: Photocopy of salary withholding statement

After obtaining remittance approval from the MOEA-IR, please transfer funds from the foreign individual's bank account to the local company's temporary bank account

The amount of the planned investment must be smalled than the amount on the salary withholding statement.

DO NOT PROCEED TO REMIT FUNDS UNTIL THE MOEA-IR HAS EXPRESSELY APPROVED THE INVESTMENT APPLICATION

Investment verification

Once the capital has been remitted successfully, an Investment Verification application, with the following documents attached, must be filed with the MOEA-IR within 2 months of the remittance.

Currency

New Company

Existing Company

Local Remittance from NTD

Copy of the temporary bank account passbook

Copy of the bank passbook for the existing business

Foreign Remittance