Taipei, Nov. 4 (CNA) The Taiwan government said Friday it is planning to ease regulations on the residency of children of foreign nationals working here, after a German who has worked in Taiwan for 18 years complained his children cannot apply for permanent residency in Taiwan.



Ralph Jensen, a German who works as a software engineer in Kaohsiung, said in a letter to the United Daily News on Thursday that he has permanent residency in Taiwan but that his children could not apply for it after the age of 20 despite being born in Taiwan.



Thus, Jensen said, his children had to leave Taiwan and work in another country after they reached the age of 20, forcing the family to be apart.



In response to the case, the Ministry of the Interior explained that children of foreign nationals working in Taiwan can apply for an extension of residency after the age of 20, if they meet the requirements.



If their applications are approved, they will be granted a three- year extension. With a second extension of three more years, they can remain in Taiwan for up to six years, according to the existing provisions of the Regulations Governing Visiting, Residency, and Permanent Residency of Aliens.



The ministry added that it is working to amend the Immigration Act to allow children of foreign nationals in Taiwan to apply for permanent residency after they have stayed in the country for a certain period of time.



The government is also thinking about canceling the rule requiring a foreign national who holds a permanent residence certificate to stay in Taiwan for at least 183 days per year or have their permanent residency canceled, the National Immigration Agency said.



That rule could be changed to revoking permanent residency only if the holder leaves Taiwan for five years or more, as an incentive to attract more foreign talent to stay in Taiwan, the immigration agency said.



Another possible move, the agency said, addresses a regulation requiring a foreign national who hopes to apply for a residence certificate in Taiwan must file the application within 15 days of arrival. The agency said it is planning to expand it to 30 days.



(By Claudia Liu and Elaine Hou)

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