4 minutes Taiwan Company Registration: 5+ Crucial Steps Every Expat Should Know (Including Indian Document Attestation)
Indian nationals can fully own companies in Taiwan under the Statute for Investment by Foreign Nationals, requiring MOEA Department of Investment Review (DIR) approval, a valid passport, and a Taiwan business visa. No minimum capital is mandatory, but NT$6 million helps secure investor visas allowing residency and family inclusion. The process takes 4-8 weeks and costs NT$300,000-600,000 plus service fees. Taiwan requires full legalization—not apostille—of Indian documents before MOEA submission, including notary, state, MEA (via eSanad), and TECC/TECO legalization plus Chinese translations.
Step 1: Choose Business Structure and Reserve Company Name
- Select Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Company Limited by Shares (CLS) suitable for expats.
- Reserve a unique Chinese company name through MOEA’s online portal; approval usually takes 1-3 days.
- Secure a registered commercial address in Taiwan with lease, owner consent, and tax bills.
Step 2: Documents for MOEA Foreign Investment Approval (Form A)
Submit the following to MOEA DIR for approval (2-4 weeks processing):
- Form A: Official MOEA investment application listing ownership, capital, and business plan.
- Notarized Passport Copies: For all individual Indian investors.
- For Indian Corporate Investors: Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum & Articles of Association (MOA/AOA), shareholder/director registers, board resolutions authorizing Taiwan investment (all fully attested).
- Beneficial Ownership Chart: Showing all owners with >25% stake along with their ID documents.
- Company Name Approval Certificate and Power of Attorney (POA) if an agent is used.
Indian Document Attestation Process (10-12 days approx)
To meet Taiwan’s document legalization standards, Indian investors must complete:
- Notarization: Authenticate documents (passports, company certificates, resolutions) by a State Notary Public where the documents originate.
- State Verification: Get documents verified by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or Home Department for personal documents; commercial/business documents require authentication from Registrar of Companies (ROC) or Chamber of Commerce.
- MEA Attestation via eSanad:
a. Register and upload document scans at eSanad portal.
b.Pay INR 50 per document.
c. Courier originals plus passport copies to MEA offices (Patiala House in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, etc.).
d. MEA authenticates documents with official seal within 3-7 working days.. - TECC/TECO Legalization: a. Submit MEA-attested documents with application form and passport copy to TECC offices (New Delhi for most states; Mumbai for Maharashtra/Gujarat).
b. Processing time is 3-10 working days. - Chinese Translation: All documents must be translated into Traditional Chinese after legalization for MOEA submission.
Step 3: Capital Verification and Bank Account Setup
After MOEA approval, open a preparatory bank account within Taiwan:
- Present MOEA approval letter, passport copies, and POA to the bank.
- Home remit capital funds coded as foreign investment to this account.
- Obtain inward remittance receipt.
- Engage a qualified CPA to issue the Capital Verification Report within 7-10 days.
Step 4: Company Registration with MOEA Department of Commerce
Submit the following to register your company and receive the Unified Business Number (UBN):
- Notarized Articles of Incorporation signed by shareholders/directors.
- Passports and address proof of shareholders/directors.
- Office lease agreement, tax bills, and owner consent letter.
- Capital Verification Report.
- POA if filing via an agent.
Company seals should be engraved after registration approval.
Step 5: Post-Registration Procedures
- Register for taxes (corporate income tax, VAT) at the National Taxation Bureau.
- Apply for any necessary industry-specific licenses.
- Open operational bank accounts.
- Comply with labor insurance and national health insurance if employing staff.
- Maintain annual audits and submissions as per Taiwan regulation.
Step 5: Post-Registration Procedures
- Register for taxes (corporate income tax, VAT) at the National Taxation Bureau.
- Apply for any necessary industry-specific licenses.
- Open operational bank accounts.
- Comply with labor insurance and national health insurance if employing staff.
- Maintain annual audits and submissions as per Taiwan regulation.
Additional Tips and Timeline
- Total time: 4-8 weeks.
- Start Indian document attestation early using the eSanad system for faster MOEA approval.
- Costs: Notarization and legalization vary from INR 5,900 to 12,500 per document; MOEA fees and consultancy costs add up.
- Hiring local Taiwan CPAs or consulting firms is highly recommended to navigate legal, translation, and filing complexities smoothly.
Conclusion
Navigating Taiwan company registration as an Indian national involves meticulous document preparation, from MOEA Form A submissions and capital verification to full attestation via notary, state verification, eSanad MEA, and TECC legalization—ensuring compliance in 4-8 weeks. For seamless execution, partner with Premia TNC (Taiwan) Ltd., a leading global business consulting firm with 20+ years of expertise in company formation, accounting, compliance, and visas across 10 countries, contact Premia TNC for free consultations to handle translations, filings, and one-stop solutions, empowering your business success in Taiwan.
