Moving to Taiwan - How to Immigrate to Taiwan? (2024)

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Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), is a country located in East Asia with a unique natural beauty that boasts beaches, mountains, valleys, and dormant volcanoes. Taiwan has a highly developed market economy, ranking 8th largest in Asia.

This Asian country also offers high living standards and a low cost of living compared to other Western and Asian countries. This has made Taiwan an attractive place for expats from all over the world, becoming home to over 500,000 foreigners.

It is the perfect place if you want to move somewhere safe with great living and working conditions, especially for digital nomads and students.

Do I Need a Visa to Move to Taiwan?

Anyone wishing to move to Taiwan for a period longer than three months needs to apply for a visa to enter the country. In this case, you will need to apply for and obtain a Taiwan resident visa. There are several resident visas that you can apply for depending on the reason why you want to move to Taiwan.

The Taiwan resident visas are issued for long-term stays in Taiwan.

How Do I Move to Taiwan?

To legally move to Taiwan permanently, you are required to apply for a visa that allows you to stay for a more extended periodof time, for example, for one of the following reasons listed below:

Moving to Taiwan to work.
Moving to Taiwan to study.
Moving to Taiwan for family reunification.

After you retrieve your visa, you will also need to apply for a residence permit, known as Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). A residence permit is required to allow you to remain in the country for a more extended period of time and can be issued for one, two, or three years. The applications for residence permits are submitted at the local service center of the National Immigration Agency.

Moving to Taiwan to Work

Individuals that want to work in Taiwan and already have a job offer from an employer in Taiwan need to get both a work visa and a work permit to be allowed entry into the country.

Before applying for a Taiwan work visa, you need to complete the following:

Moving to Taiwan to Study

Foreign nationals who wish to move to Taiwan to pursue their studies in a Taiwanese educational institution need to get a student visa. However, before starting the application process for a student visa, you must already be accepted by a Taiwanese university.

Taiwan issued different student visas that you can apply for depending on your case:

Taiwan student visa for full-time foreign students (Ph.D., MA, BA, high school or below).
Taiwan student visa for international exchange students.
Taiwan student visa for overseas Chinese students wishing to study in Taiwan.
Taiwan student visa for foreigners wishing to learn Mandarin Chinese.

Once your student visa is approved, you are allowed to travel to Taiwan.

However, since your student visa will only be valid for three months, you will also need to apply for a residence permit (Alien Resident Certificate) within 15 days of arriving in the country.

Moving to Taiwan for Family Reunification

If you have a family member residing in Taiwan and want to join them, you need a Taiwan join family visa. This type of visa is issued for long-term stays; however, not everyone is eligible for this type of visa.

You can apply for a join family visa if you are the spouse of a Taiwanese citizen or a minor child/grandchild of a Taiwanese citizen. The applications for a family visa are submitted at the Taiwanese diplomatic missions (embassy or consulate) in your home country.

After arriving in Taiwan with a family visa, you need to apply for a residence permit. You will also be allowed to work and study in Taiwan.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Moving to Taiwan?

Here are the pros and cons of moving to Taiwan:

Pros	Cons
High-quality healthcare— Taiwan’s healthcare system also ranks in the top 10 for most efficient healthcare in the world. The country offers high levels of care at reasonably low costs, with modern facilities and qualified medical staff.	Crowded cities— with a population of around 23 million people, Taiwan is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Taipei City has the highest population density in Taiwan, so you should avoid moving there if you do not like crowded places.
Low living costs— Taiwan is an affordable place to live in, especially if you come from a big city, you will find Taiwan very cheap. The estimated costs for a single person living in Taiwan are around €1000 to €1200 per month for necessities and rent.	Language barrier— although around 20% of people can speak English at a certain level, the official language of Taiwan is Mandarin. You can find English-speaking people in the capital city, Taipei, but if you relocate to other places, you will find it hard to accommodate without speaking Mandarin.
High living standards— Taiwan offers its citizens high life quality and standards. The country ranks high in the quality of life index and belongs to the top ten for many related factors.	Risk of natural disasters— Taiwan is vulnerable to natural hazards, especially tropical cyclones, which occur from May to November and creates road blockages and landslides.
Education— Taiwan has a well-developed educational system that includes several study stages. The country has 46 universities and is one of the top-performing countries in reading literacy, mathematics, and sciences.	Air pollution— this has been a major problem for Taiwan and its residents. The main source of air pollution in Taiwan is the burning of organic matter and fossil fuels.
Work opportunities— Taiwan has a great job market for many professions and offers many options for expats that want to work there. The country is in high demand for skilled workers, and issues work visas for individuals that meet the qualifications for such job positions. Taiwan also offers digital nomad visas for individuals that want to work there remotely.
Public transport— Taiwan is praised by locals and tourists for its amazing public transportation. Each big city in Taiwan offers excellent and convenient public transportation for the residents. There are five urban transit systems in the country, with Taipei having one of the highest-rated systems in the world.
People— one of the best things about moving to Taiwan is the welcoming and friendly locals. Taiwanese people are some of the friendliest in Asia, especially when it comes to foreigners. They will try to go out of their way to make you feel welcomed, comfortable, and part of their community.
Safety— Taiwan is considered one of the safest countries in the world. Whether you move there solo or with family, you will feel safe. The crime rate in Taiwan is one of the lowest, and violent crimes are uncommon.

How Long Do I Need to Live in Taiwan to Win Citizenship?

Foreign nationals that are current holders of the Alien Resident Certificate can be eligible to apply for Taiwanese citizenship only if they have resided in the country legally for at least five consecutive years (three if their partner is a Taiwanese) and more than 183 days per year. If this requirement is fulfilled, you can get a Taiwan Alien Permanent Certificate (APRC).

This process of winning citizenship is known as citizenship by naturalization. However, there are multiple pathways to Taiwanese citizenship, such as:

Citizenship by Birth.
Citizenship by Descent.
Citizenship by Marriage.

Does Taiwan Allow Dual Citizenship?

Taiwan recognizes dual citizenship, but only for Taiwanese-born citizens. This means that you can keep both the Taiwanese citizenship and another citizenship without having to renounce one of them, only if you are born to ethnic Taiwanese and mainland Chinese origin.

If you win citizenship by naturalization, you will be required to renounce your current citizenship unless you work in a reserved occupational field.

Can I Bring My Personal Belongings to Taiwan?

When importing personal goods purchased overseas to Taiwan, you must go through the Red (Goods to Declare/Customs Service) Channel. There is no limit on the amount of goods you can import to Taiwan.

You can bring your personal goods to Taiwan duty-free. However, if the items exceed the amount required for duty-free importation, you need to declare your goods. To bring your goods duty-free in Taiwan, your personal items must be in a reasonable quantity, and their value must be less than NTD20,000.

Items listed below are prohibited from entering Taiwan:

Alcoholic beverages.
Ammunition.
Indecent books, magazines, pictures, and other articles.
Communistic material.
Drugs, Prescription, and Non-Prescription.
Electronic equipment.
Fabrics & fabric samples.
Films: 8mm, 16mm & 35mm.
Laser discs.
Medical samples.
Military equipment.
Phones/modems.
Radioactives.
Tapes, audio, and video cassettes.
Others.

Can I Move to Taiwan With Pets?

Taiwan allows you to bring your furry friends (dog, cat, or ferret) via air cargo or carry-on as long as they meet the import requirements. However, not everyone can import their pets to Taiwan, depending on the country they come from. For example, cats and dogs from Bangladesh cannot enter Taiwan, nor can they transit their way into the country.

Before starting the import process, you (the owner) must apply for an import permit at least 20 days before the pet’s arrival in Taiwan, or your pet will not be allowed to enter the country. Once your permit is approved by the Bureau of Foreign Trade, you should make a reservation for a post-entry quarantine space.

To import your pets (cat, dog, or ferret) to Taiwan, you need to fulfill the following requirements:

Cats and dogs must be at least 90 days old before arriving in Taiwan.
Your pets must be vaccinated with inactivated vaccines against rabies.
Your pets must be accompanied by a certificate signed by a veterinarian that they have the anti-rabies vaccine.
Your pets must undergo a rabies titer test of at least 0.5 IU/ml rabies antibodies in the blood not less than 90 days and not more than 1 year before their arrival.
Your pets must have a health certificate.

Under Taiwanese law, the following dog breeds are banned from entering Taiwan:

Pit Bull terriers:
- American Pit Bull Terrier.
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
- American Staffordshire Terrier.
Japanese Tosa.
Neopolitan Mastiff.
Dogo Argentino.
Fila Braziliero.
Mastiffs.

Most Popular Areas in Taiwan for Expats

Here are some of the most popular places for expats to move to in Taiwan:

New Taipei.
Tainan City.
Taipei City.
Taichung City.
Taoyuan City.

New Taipei

New Taipei is an ultra-modern city and one of the most popular places in the country to move to. Located in northern Taiwan, New Taipei is home to more than 4 million inhabitants, making it one of the most populated cities in Taiwan.

New Taipei is known for its museums of tea culture, pottery, and ceramics. The city is rich in cultural resources and hosts a variety of cultural events. Some of the must-see attractions in New Taipei city include the Yehliu geopark, Shifen waterfall, Jiufen old street, etc.

The city has excellent public transport links and is a great place for individuals that move to Taiwan to study or work, as well as for families.

Tainan City

The southern part of Taiwan, is home to the oldest city on the island and the birthplace of Taiwan. Tainan is known as the city of temples as they dominate around the country. The city is a popular destination for tourists that like a quick getaway and want to visit a place full of colors and culture.

Besides its historical and cultural attractions, Tainan also boasts a stunning natural landscape and delicious cuisine. Taiwan has a well-developed expat community due to the low living costs, safety, and living standards it offers. The city is a cheaper alternative than Taipei and New Taipei and is also perfect for people that want a fresh start.

Taipei City.

Taipei is considered the best place to live in Taiwan. The city is a top choice for expats looking to work, especially digital nomads, as it offers many great job opportunities. While living in Taipei, you will have plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to do.

The city also has an excellent healthcare system and gives access to healthcare facilities to all its residents. It has a vibrant atmosphere that attracts expats from all over the world.

However, Taipei can be expensive. In fact, it is the most costly place in Taiwan. The estimated costs of living in Taipei for a single person are around €800 per month, without including the rent, which can cost an average of from €300 to €2200 depending on the size and location of the apartment.

Taichung City

Lovers of art and culture must move to Taichung city to see numerous museums, cultural venues, and art installations or find a job in the art industry. The city is located in central Taiwan and is the second most populous city, with almost 3 million inhabitants.

Taichung offers great living standards and low costs of living, a vibrant nightlife, and a shopping experience similar to that of Tokyo or Manhattan. Usually, expats moving to Taichung choose to reside in the West District or Xitun, so if you want to be part of an expat community, these two areas should be on top of your list.

In Taichung, you will enjoy the warm subtropical climate and the beautiful beaches near the region that is perfect for spending your summer days.

Taoyuan City

Taiwan has a city for every kind of person, and Taoyuan city is the perfect place for food lovers. So give it a chance to Taoyuan if you want to enjoy and taste delicious local and traditional dishes. Taoyuan city is ideal for individuals looking for a more laid-back lifestyle with low costs and good living conditions.

Most foreigners living in Taoyuan come from Southeast Asia; however, Taoyuan has a large expat community from all over the world. You will also see that English is widely spoken in Taoyan, so you will have an easier way to adapt there than in other cities when other languages are not spoken.

Taoyuan is characterized by mild to warm winters and hot summers, so this is the right place for you if you are not a fan of cold weather.

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