There are various methods of qualifying for an ARC, including undertaking sanctioned employment with a work permit, joining family members (including parents, children and spouses) who are themselves legal residents in the Republic of China, undertaking missionary work, investing in a local business, or studying at an approved institution.

[2] The document itself is a plastic credit card-sized card with an embedded integrated circuit containing confidential personal data,[3] and costs the applicant NT$1,000 per year.

[4] The electronic ARC cards replaced a paper version in 2007–8, and were intended to "not only bring new convenience to foreigners but would also contribute to the government's anti-forgery and anti-terrorism drives.

[6] There is also an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (Chinese: 外僑永久居留證; pinyin: Wàiqiáo Yǒngjiǔ Jūliú Zhèng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gōa-kiâu Éng-kiú Ki-liû-chèng), or APRC available.

Other conditions apply, including meeting minimum salary or assets requirements, and a criminal record check carried out in the applicant's home country.

[7] The fee for an APRC is NT$10,000, and the holder must either remain in the country for 183 days per year or else arrange an exemption with the National Immigration Agency in order to maintain permanent residency.

With the stated aim of attracting exceptional foreign professionals to Taiwan, the government established an Academic and Business Travel Card (Chinese: 學術與商務旅行卡; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ha̍k-su̍t í Siong-bū Lú-hêng-khah) in 2009.

The previous format has hindered foreign nationals from carrying out such matters as online shopping, ticket booking, hospital registration, and so on.

The European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT) has repeatedly drawn this situation to the attention of government agencies in its annual Position Papers.