From tech visas to ‘gold card’, scholarships: Fast track to working in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan

TOKYO – Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are aggressively competing for global tech talent, facing a severe labour crunch in their IT, artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors.To power their high-tech engines, the three economies are tearing down administrative red tape and deploying a two-pronged strategy: pathways to fast-track residency for seasoned professionals, and scholarships to secure the brightest young talent before they graduate.Attracting professionalsJapanThe Highly-Skilled Professional (HSP) visa uses a points-based framework that evaluates education, work experience, annual salary, and age. Catering to academic researchers, IT engineers and business executives, this offers a fast-track to permanent residency in as little as one year – down from the previous 10-year requirement.Five municipalities in Japan – Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Kumamoto, Miyagi and Sapporo – are offering fast-track “Engineer Visas”, which slash processing times from three months to about 20 days on average.South KoreaThe K-Tech Pass, also known as the F-2-T Visa, is an ultra-fast residency pathway for top-tier global talent in advanced industries like artificial intelligence, semiconductors and biotechnology. A long-term visa may be granted in as little as two weeks, granting full employment rights for spouses and visas for parents and helpers. Those eligible may also receive tax breaks of up to a 50 per cent cut on their income tax for up to 10 years.TaiwanThe Taiwan Employment Gold Card combines a resident visa, work permit, Alien Resident Certificate and re-entry permit. It is not tied to a single employer, allowing specialists to switch jobs or freelance, while holders who meet certain criteria may be eligible for a 50 per cent tax exemption on their income above NT$3 million in the first five years. Holders may apply for permanent residency after three years.Securing the student pipelineJapanThe flagship Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) scholarship is for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The award covers full tuition, round-trip airfare, and a monthly stipend ranging from 120,000 yen (S$950) to 148,000 yen depending on the degree level. Applicants can go through the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in their home country, or apply through eligible universities that have recommendation quotas.Private institutions such as Keio University and Waseda University in Tokyo, as well as the Fukuoka Institute of Technology, also administer their own scholarships.South KoreaThe flagship Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) covers both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. It includes full tuition, round-trip airfare, medical insurance, and a monthly stipend of between 900,000 won (S$785) and 1.5 million won depending on the degree level. Recipients must complete a fully-funded one-year intensive Korean language programme.Tech conglomerates, such as Samsung Electronics and LG Group, partner South Korea’s premier research institutes Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) to offer corporate-funded sponsorships.TaiwanThe International Industrial Talents Education Special (INTENSE) Programme is a joint government-industry initiative that ties financial aid to guaranteed work in Taiwan upon graduation. The government pays for tuition and miscellaneous fees for a maximum of two years, with participating companies offering a monthly stipend of at least NT$10,000 (S$400). Students get paid internship opportunities, and must serve a bond for a period equivalent to their scholarship duration after graduation.This story is part of our Asian Insider feature on East Asia’s tech talent chase. Read more about the situation in Japan and South Korea.Walter Sim is Japan correspondent at The Straits Times. Based in Tokyo, he writes about political, economic and socio-cultural issues.