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Interested in moving to Taiwan? Here’s what you need to know:
🇹🇼 Taiwan at a Glance
- Location: Small island in East Asia (Western Pacific).
- Population: 23.9 million people.
- Size: 35,980 km² (13,892 mi²)—not huge, but packed with character.
- History:
- Formosa: Originally “Beautiful Island” to Portuguese explorers.
- Aboriginal Roots: First inhabited by Austronesian aboriginals.
- Chinese Settlement: Ethnic Chinese began settling in the late 1600s.
- Colonial Times: Ruled by Japan (1895-1945).
- Modern Era: Became home of the ROC after Chinese civil war (1949).
- Recognition: Only a handful of countries recognize Taiwan as independent.
- Aboriginal Population:
- 14 major tribes — about 530,000 people.
- Austronesian ties: Linguistic and genetic connections to peoples across SE Asia and Oceania.
- Nicknames: Ilha Formosa (“Beautiful Island”), bǎodǎo (“Treasure Island”).
- Economy:
- Asian Tiger: One of the Four Asian Tigers, famous for rapid industrial growth.
- Tech Giant: Electronics and IT = 40% of industry; world leader in semiconductors (over 90% of the world’s cutting-edge chips made here).
- Resilient: Bounced back from 1997 & 2008 financial crises.
- Salaries: Averaging 40,000-60,000 TWD/month, higher in the tech sector.
🏠 Living Essentials
- Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NTD).
- Languages:
- Official: Mandarin Chinese.
- Local Dialects: Taiwanese Minnan (73.3%), Hakka (12%), Aboriginal languages (1.7%).
- Religions: Buddhist (35.3%), Taoist (33.2%), Christian (3.9%), Yiguandao (3.5%).
- Ethnic Makeup: Han Chinese (98%), Taiwanese Aborigines (2%).
- Major Cities: New Taipei City, Taipei (capital), Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung.
🤔 Why Choose Taiwan
- Affordable Living: Lower cost than Japan, China, or Korea.
- Amazing Food:
- Night markets open till 2 AM in cities.
- 24-hour convenience stores everywhere.
- Gender Equality: Strong reputation for women’s rights and workforce opportunity.
- Friendly Vibes: One of the friendliest countries in Asia; even non-English speakers are welcoming.
- Top-Notch Education:
- World-class universities (some courses in English).
- Cheap tuition (especially compared to the West).
- Generous scholarships, grants, and loans for internationals.
- Education system ranks 19th globally.
- Natural Wonders: Rivers, mountains, and plains await—perfect for outdoorsy types and researchers.
- Healthcare:
- Excellent & affordable (including cosmetic procedures).
- National Health Insurance covers over 99% with low co-pays.
- Great Weather: Subtropical climate, 22–30°C (72–86°F) year-round.
- City Life & Nature: Never a dull moment in urban areas, plus easy access to beaches and countryside for relaxation.
⚠️ Taiwan Challenges
Note: these are common expat complaints, and may not apply to you.
- Expensive Housing: Real estate prices in big cities rival Tokyo’s.
- Old Buildings: 1 in 9 apartments is 50+ years old; some landlords reluctant to rent to foreigners.
- Natural Disasters:
- Frequent earthquakes due to active tectonic plates.
- Typhoons are an expected part of life (any season).
- Rainy Season: May–September, with heavy annual rainfall (2,500 mm).
- Salary Issues: Entry-level salaries are relatively low, except in tech.
- Work Life: Overtime is normal; workplace is often stressful and hierarchical.
- Cultural Differences: Personal topics (like family and salary) are common conversation—can feel intrusive if you’re not used to it.
- Immigration Restrictions: Residency and access to social benefits require meeting very strict criteria.
🛂 Taiwan Visa Guide
- Visa-Exempt Entry: Nationals of 43 countries can visit Taiwan without a visa (stay: 30–90 days max, depending on your passport).
- Landing Visas: Available for Bruneian, Turkish, and Macedonian passport holders.
- More Info: Check the official Taiwan Visa-Exempt entry website for details.
Common Types of Visas:
- Visitor Visa:
- Up to 6 months for transit, tourism, family visits, business, conferences, short-term study/work, and more.
- Validity:
- For nationals with reciprocal visa deals: as per the agreement.
- Others: generally 3 months to 1 year.
- Extensions: Some holders can extend their stay.
- Fees & stay duration: Vary by nationality and situation.
- Resident Visa:
- For stays over 6 months.
- Initial validity: 3 months—must apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and Re-entry Permit within 16 days of arrival.
- Stay duration: As long as your ARC is valid.
- Working Holiday Visa (Youth Mobility):
- Ages 18–30 (some exceptions: Canada/Slovakia/Hungary—max age 35; Czech Republic—max age 26).
- Funds required: At least NT$100,000 (~US$3,400).
- Australia: Work for same employer up to 6 months.
- UK: Must apply for a residence permit within 15 days of arrival.
- Previous holders: Can’t apply again.
- APEC Business Visas:
- Temporary Residency:
- For APEC members working, investing, or providing services.
- Staying over 6 months? Apply for a resident visa + ARC after arrival.
- Short-Term Business Visitor:
- For APEC country business visitors staying less than 6 months.
- Not needed if you’re from Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, US (visa-exempt countries).
- Temporary Residency:
- Digital Nomad Visa:
- Stay up to 6 months.
- Must be from a visa-exempt country.
- Show you have:
- Proof of digital nomad visa from another country, or,
- Income:
- Ages 30+: USD 40,000+ (any of last 2 years)
- Ages 20–30: USD 20,000+ (any of last 2 years)
🛬 Residency and Citizenship
Permanent Residency:
- Qualify after 5 years legal stay (3 years for certain professionals), with 183+ days per year spent in Taiwan.
- Also possible by marriage to a Taiwanese citizen, or as a child of a Taiwanese parent.
- Special talent or big contributions? You may qualify sooner.
- Financial requirements:
- Monthly income double the minimum wage (NT$27,470/month), or
- Assets over NT$5 million.
Citizenship:
- Case-by-case process; takes time!
- Must have 5 consecutive years in Taiwan (183+ days/year).
- Requirements:
- Clean criminal record
- Proficient in Mandarin Chinese
- Basic knowledge of laws/regulations
- Professionally skilled
- Financially self-sufficient
- Pass naturalization exam (70+/100)
- Update: New rules may require Hong Kong/Macau residents to:
- Reside for 4 years before applying for permanent residency (was 1 year).
- May not get citizenship after permanent residency.
💼 Business in Taiwan
- Step-by-step:
- Get a work permit (Council of Labor Affairs—about 5 days).
- Register company name & reserve with Ministry of Economic Affairs (NT$300; takes 2–4 weeks).
- Create a company seal.
- CPA audit report required.
- Incorporation & tax registration: Submit to MOEA and get a taxpayer ID.
- Business license: Apply at local office.
- Insurance:
- Register for National Health Insurance, Labor Insurance, and pension.
- Skip Labor Insurance if you have fewer than five employees.
- Other tips:
- Opening a bank account: 1 day to 1 month
- Tax registration: 2–3 weeks (includes a quick interview)
- Total timeline: Usually about 11 weeks if all goes smoothly
📚 Helpful Resources
- National Immigration Agency – Your go-to official source for up-to-date info (English available).
- 104.com.tw – Taiwan’s #1 job portal, with comprehensive industry coverage suitable for locals and expats
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