Some foreign graduate students may not have to write a dissertation to graduate in the future. (File photo/Wu Chiang-chuan)

Taiwan's Council for Economic Planning and Development said on Sept. 17 that graduate students in certain fields will be able to graduate without writing a dissertation, while more bans against international students will be lifted to entice foreign talent to the nation.

"We are also planning to encourage foreign universities to establish their branches or a new university in Taiwan. For overseas students, they will not have to stay for a consecutive 183 days to keep their permanent residency," said Chen Hsiao-hung, deputy chairwoman for the council.

Chen said that the proposal will be submitted to the Presidential Office on Sept. 27.

When the amendment is carried out, an overseas student will be able to keep their permanent residency as long as they have stayed in Taiwan for five years.

An anonymous officer described the new rule as "the easiest immigration law in the world."

"We need to do something to re-boost the economy. We cannot stick to the old rules when they do not work anymore," Chen said.

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Chen Hsiao-hung　　陳小紅