A family member passed away and I need to go home — what do I do?
Migrant workers with a family emergency abroad — different with vs. without an employer
If you have a family emergency and need to return home, first, don't panic. The most important difference is whether you still have an employer or are between employers (no current employer) — the steps and the risks are completely different. Always confirm your situation before you leave, so it doesn't affect your eligibility to return to Taiwan. Time limits and residency effects differ for each person, so be sure to call 1955 in your language to confirm your own situation before leaving.
Related Subsidies & Protections
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First confirm your current status: do you still have an employer, or are you between employers (no current employer)? This determines every step that follows.
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【With employer】Request bereavement leave and report your departure to your employer and broker; agree on a return date to avoid being treated as absent without leave.
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【With employer】Confirm that your ARC (residence permit) and work permit remain valid while you are away; bring your ARC, passport, and employment contract.
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【No employer / between employers】Higher risk: your residency is tied to your job, and being away too long can affect your residency or your transfer time limit. Before leaving, you must contact your former broker or the Immigration Agency to clarify your situation.
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【No employer】Check your ARC validity (red text on the card means you are in the transfer period), and first handle any money owed to you (e.g. refund of forced savings).
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Either way: time limits and residency effects vary by person — before leaving you must call 1955 in your language to confirm your own situation. Do not skip this step.
Related Subsidies & Protections
1955 Foreign Workers' Advisory and Protection Hotline
A 24-hour free service hotline provides assistance with migrant worker wage disputes, occupational accidents, personal safety, and escape and asylum cases, and supports multilingual services including Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, and English.
Free legal aid for foreign migrant workers
Migrant workers in Taiwan who encounter issues such as wage disputes, occupational injuries, wrongful dismissal, or personal safety problems can apply to the Legal Aid Foundation for free legal consultation or litigation representation — without any fees.
Mandatory savings refund for foreign migrant workers
Some employers or intermediaries arrange mandatory savings for migrant workers in accordance with contracts. When the contract expires or is terminated early, the migrant workers have the right to withdraw all savings and interest, and the employers may not arbitrarily withhold them.