Taipei, Feb. 8 (CNA) The Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, which marks a milestone in Taiwan's recruitment of talent has officially come into effect, according to the National Development Council (NDC) Thursday.

The act relaxes visa, employment, stay and residence regulations for foreign professionals while improving their treatment in the areas of insurance, tax and retirement, according to the NDC.

Lin Chih-mei (林至美), head of the NDC's department of human resource development said according to the attributes of foreign professionals the new law categorizes them as "Foreign professional," "Foreign special professional" or "Foreign senior professional."

"Foreign professional" means a foreign national engaging in professional work in Taiwan.

"Foreign special professional" refers to a foreign professional who possesses special expertise needed by Taiwan in science and technology, economics, education, culture, the arts, sport or other fields, as announced by the relevant central competent authority.

"Foreign senior professional" means a senior professional needed by Taiwan as prescribed in Subparagraph 2, Paragraph 3, Article 25 of the Immigration Act.

According to the NDC, one of the main focal points of the act is the relaxation of work, visa, and residence regulations, including for foreign freelance artists who are now allowed to obtain work permits without applying through an employer.

The act also eases provisions governing the stay or residence of parents, spouses and children, so that when senior foreign professionals apply for permanent residence in Taiwan, their spouses, minor children and disabled adult children are also eligible, according to the NDC.

The Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals was passed on Oct. 31 last year and took effect Thursday.

(By Chen Cheng-wei and William Yen)