Let's talk about moving to Taiwan.
Moving with kids to Taiwan: nuances
Advantages of Raising Kids in Taiwan:
Challenges of Raising Kids in Taiwan:
- Safety: Taiwan is known for its high level of safety, offering a secure environment for families.
- Friendly Locals: The local population is exceptionally friendly and helpful, especially towards families with children. Acts like giving up seats on public transportation or presenting small gifts to kids are common.
- Abundance of Kid-Friendly Activities: Taiwan boasts numerous parks, museums, play centers, and family-friendly attractions in Taipei and throughout the country.
- Public Transportation: The convenience of not needing to drive is a significant perk, and all MRT stations are air-conditioned and stroller-friendly. Children under 6 ride for free.
- Excellent Healthcare: Taiwan provides great hospitals, including maternity centers, and a reliable national health care system.
- Convenience Stores: The prevalence of convenience stores makes it easy to access snacks, water, or warm up a milk bottle.
- Language Exposure: Kids have the opportunity to learn Mandarin.
Challenges of Raising Kids in Taiwan:
- Limited Space: Apartments tend to be small, and having a yard is uncommon.
- Air Pollution: Concerns about air quality, which may not be ideal for children's respiratory health.
- Pedestrian Safety: Traffic does not always yield to pedestrians, causing challenges when walking with kids.
- Sidewalk Conditions: Not all streets have sidewalks, and some may be uneven or occupied by parked scooters, making stroller navigation difficult.
- Hot and Humid Summers: The summer weather can be extremely hot and humid.
- Education Challenges: Most local schools teach in Mandarin, and options for English schools are limited and often expensive.
- Competitive School Environment: Schools can be highly competitive, with a significant workload, especially in junior high and high school.
- Attention to Foreign-Looking Kids: If your kids appear foreign, they may attract attention, including people taking photos, which can be both positive and occasionally annoying.
- Perception as "Foreigners": Despite being born in Taiwan and speaking Mandarin, your kids may be consistently labeled as "foreigners" at places like playgrounds.
Moving to Taiwan from the USA
Moving to Taiwan from the USA can be an exciting but challenging process. To ensure a smooth transition, consider the following key aspects:
Basic Information:
Work and Employment:
Healthcare:
Housing:
Visa and Registration:
Citizenship:
Approval depends on the purpose of stay.
Rights differ from those of citizens.
Rare for foreigners to obtain citizenship.
Recent exceptions for select foreigners with significant contributions.
Basic Information:
- Capital: Taipei
- Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
- Language: Chinese, Taiwanese
- Population: 23,603,049
- Timezone: GMT+8
- Dialing Code: +886
- Emergency Number: 112
- Driving: On the right side
Work and Employment:
- Work Permit: Essential for employment; valid for 3 years.
- Job Opportunities: Lucrative job market, especially in multinational companies and technical sectors.
- Salaries: Relatively high compared to the cost of living.
- Industries: Strong emphasis on trade, commerce, and science parks.
Healthcare:
- Excellent healthcare accessibility.
- Complete population coverage.
- Short or nonexistent waiting times.
- Low costs with a nominal fee for certain services.
Housing:
- Renting: Generally affordable, but prices vary by location.
- Taipei vs. Kaohsiung: Taipei has higher rental rates; Kaohsiung is more budget-friendly.
- Options: Single rooms, apartments, or peaceful suburban living.
- Challenges: Initial difficulty in finding accommodation without local language skills.
Visa and Registration:
- Visa Types: Resident, visitor, working holiday, diplomatic, courtesy.
- Resident Visa: Valid for 3 months; stay duration tied to Alien Resident Certificate (ARC).
- ARC Application: Essential identification; process takes 10 working days.
- Re-entry Permit: Required if planning to travel out of the country.
Citizenship:
- Alien Resident Certificate (ARC):
Approval depends on the purpose of stay.
Rights differ from those of citizens.
- Citizenship in Taiwan:
Rare for foreigners to obtain citizenship.
Recent exceptions for select foreigners with significant contributions.
Moving to Taiwan from UK
When relocating to Taiwan from the UK, several key considerations should be kept in mind. Personal effects must be imported within six months of arrival, requiring a residence visa and specific documentation. Notably, electrical items are subject to duties and taxes, and restrictions apply to the quantity of imported items. Prohibited items include firearms, inflammable goods, and narcotics.
Transit times vary, with sole use containers taking around 6–7 weeks and crated consignments potentially longer at 8–10 weeks. Bar coding is implemented for groupage consignments to ensure a systematic loading process.
For pet owners, specialized pet shippers can assist with documentation and veterinary procedures. However, moving motor vehicles to Taiwan is generally discouraged due to local restrictions and high duties.
Transit times vary, with sole use containers taking around 6–7 weeks and crated consignments potentially longer at 8–10 weeks. Bar coding is implemented for groupage consignments to ensure a systematic loading process.
For pet owners, specialized pet shippers can assist with documentation and veterinary procedures. However, moving motor vehicles to Taiwan is generally discouraged due to local restrictions and high duties.
Moving from Canada to Taiwan
Moving from Canada to Taiwan involves a structured process for obtaining the necessary documents to work and reside in the country. To be eligible for a work permit in Taiwan, individuals must fall under specific categories outlined by the Manpower Development Agency of the Ministry of Labor. These categories include specialists or technical workers in various fields, directors or managers of foreign-invested enterprises, school teachers, foreign teachers in schools, sports coaches, artists, performers, and contract workers.
To initiate the process, the employer in Taiwan must obtain a work permit on behalf of the foreign employee. This can be done online through the Ministry of Labour's Workforce Development Agency (WDA) website or by submitting an application in person or via registered mail to the Agency for Workforce Development of the Ministry of Labor.
Once the work permit is secured, the employee can apply for a Taiwan work visa either abroad at a Taiwanese diplomatic mission or in Taiwan at the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) or its offices. The application requires various documents, including a completed visa application, passport-sized photographs, a valid passport, a health certificate, and the Taiwan work permit.
It's essential to note that all documents must be in English or Chinese, translated by an official translator, and certified by Taiwan's overseas diplomatic mission.
The work visa is initially valid for up to three months, and if the individual plans to work for a more extended period, an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) must be obtained, which can be issued for one, two, or three years. The work visa cannot be extended, but the ARC can be renewed by applying to the National Taiwan Migration Agency at least 30 days before expiration.
For those interested in starting a business in Taiwan, the Entrepreneur Visa offers an attractive option. Eligibility criteria include receiving venture capital investment, obtaining patent rights, residing in a startup incubator or recognized innovation park, winning awards in competitions, participating in foreign entrepreneurship projects, or meeting government innovation subsidy criteria.
To apply for an Entrepreneur Visa, individuals must submit various documents, including the completed visa application, passport-sized photographs, a valid passport, and specific documents related to their business or achievements. The application can be made abroad at a Taiwanese diplomatic mission or in Taiwan at a consular office or its offices.
The initial Entrepreneur Visa is valid for one year, during which the individual must establish their business. After the first year, the visa can be extended twice for a maximum of two years each time, provided certain criteria, such as generating a profit, meeting income requirements, and employing Taiwanese staff, are met.
While a work permit or business visa allows individuals to work or conduct business, obtaining an Alien Residence Permit (ARC) is crucial for a more extended stay in Taiwan. The ARC can be issued for one, two, or three years and must be obtained from a local Taiwan National Migration Agency center. After residing in Taiwan for at least five years with an ARC, individuals become eligible to apply for an Alien Permanent Residence Permit (APRC), which does not expire and does not require renewal.
To initiate the process, the employer in Taiwan must obtain a work permit on behalf of the foreign employee. This can be done online through the Ministry of Labour's Workforce Development Agency (WDA) website or by submitting an application in person or via registered mail to the Agency for Workforce Development of the Ministry of Labor.
Once the work permit is secured, the employee can apply for a Taiwan work visa either abroad at a Taiwanese diplomatic mission or in Taiwan at the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) or its offices. The application requires various documents, including a completed visa application, passport-sized photographs, a valid passport, a health certificate, and the Taiwan work permit.
It's essential to note that all documents must be in English or Chinese, translated by an official translator, and certified by Taiwan's overseas diplomatic mission.
The work visa is initially valid for up to three months, and if the individual plans to work for a more extended period, an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) must be obtained, which can be issued for one, two, or three years. The work visa cannot be extended, but the ARC can be renewed by applying to the National Taiwan Migration Agency at least 30 days before expiration.
For those interested in starting a business in Taiwan, the Entrepreneur Visa offers an attractive option. Eligibility criteria include receiving venture capital investment, obtaining patent rights, residing in a startup incubator or recognized innovation park, winning awards in competitions, participating in foreign entrepreneurship projects, or meeting government innovation subsidy criteria.
To apply for an Entrepreneur Visa, individuals must submit various documents, including the completed visa application, passport-sized photographs, a valid passport, and specific documents related to their business or achievements. The application can be made abroad at a Taiwanese diplomatic mission or in Taiwan at a consular office or its offices.
The initial Entrepreneur Visa is valid for one year, during which the individual must establish their business. After the first year, the visa can be extended twice for a maximum of two years each time, provided certain criteria, such as generating a profit, meeting income requirements, and employing Taiwanese staff, are met.
While a work permit or business visa allows individuals to work or conduct business, obtaining an Alien Residence Permit (ARC) is crucial for a more extended stay in Taiwan. The ARC can be issued for one, two, or three years and must be obtained from a local Taiwan National Migration Agency center. After residing in Taiwan for at least five years with an ARC, individuals become eligible to apply for an Alien Permanent Residence Permit (APRC), which does not expire and does not require renewal.
Moving to Taiwan from Singapore
For your relocation from Singapore to Taiwan, specific documents are required depending on the purpose of your visit and the type of visa you plan to obtain. Typically, the following documents are necessary:
- Passport and Visa: Ensure that your passport is valid for the entire duration of your stay in Taiwan. For visas, you may need an invitation specifying the purpose of your trip and proof of financial means.
- Education and Work Experience Documents: Depending on your profession, you may need to provide diplomas, certificates, and recommendation letters to verify your education and work experience.
- Financial Documents: Submit documents proving you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses in Taiwan.
- Health Insurance: Ensure you have health insurance coverage for the entire duration of your stay.
- Police Clearance Certificate: A police clearance certificate from your country of residence may be required.
Moving to Taiwan on Reddit
Helen from London says: "I recently relocated here on a Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visa, valid for one year, allowing me to work while also exploring and traveling around Taiwan. I'm from the UK (my boyfriend is Taiwanese), but I believe Germany has a similar arrangement for Youth Mobility Scheme visa applications to Taiwan. This visa provides ample time to come, explore Taiwan, assess the potential for long-term living, and work to earn some income. The application process for this visa is also reasonably affordable and straightforward.
In Taipei, there are German-speaking international schools, offering you the option to teach in German if that is your preference!"
In Taipei, there are German-speaking international schools, offering you the option to teach in German if that is your preference!"
