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Introduction

Whether you’re a teacher looking for a career break or you’ve graduated and need to get some experience before going back to university, working in Taiwan as an expat can be a perfect choice. However, there’s not always much information about how to go about doing it.

Here, we’ll look at why teaching English is such a popular option and then look at the different jobs available for foreigners, along with some of the pros and cons of doing them. We will focus mainly on jobs in Taiwan, so if you want something more general, you might want to try this guide.

Taiwan is one of Asia’s economic powerhouses, which means it needs a lot of people to work in the factories that produce electronics and other goods. However, it’s also investing heavily in research and development, which means schools need teachers who are up to date with the latest teaching methods.

All this has made Taiwan a popular destination for people looking to teach English. There’s no shortage of demand for good teachers because there are both public and private schools throughout the island, but English is mostly taught as a second language. Does that sound interesting to you?

Well, we have compiled this article to meet your requirements. This way, if you’ve been surfing the internet to get the right information about working in Taiwan as an expat in today’s world, look no further. We will walk you through the jobs available, requirements, and many more. Read further to get the full details!

Requirements to Work in Taiwan as an Expat

Taiwan is one of the most popular countries for expats to work because it’s not only a great place to make money but also has a lot of opportunities for those looking to build their skills and experience. If you want to find out whether you can work in Taiwan as an expat, here are the requirements you’ll need.

A Degree

The first requirement you’ll need is a degree. If you’re an expat coming from the west, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem as many Taiwanese universities accept international students and degrees. The only downside to studying in Taiwan is that your school needs to be government authorized to issue degrees which means if it’s not licensed, you may not be able to work in Taiwan with your degree.

A Police Record Check

In Taiwan, it’s needed to obtain a working visa, and you’ll need this before you can begin working, even when doing an internship. It is possible to get the police record check done while you’re still in your home country, but if not, once you arrive in Taiwan, you’ll need to go to the nearest police station and get one done.

A Social Insurance Card

This is something that all employees in Taiwan are required to have; this includes foreigners working there on a working visa. Your employer pays for it, so you don’t need to worry about paying it yourself. However, if you’re planning on resigning and leaving Taiwan, then the money that’s been deducted from your salary for this will be refunded to you.

A Physical Examination Form

You’ll need a medical certificate issued by a government-recognized clinic or hospital, which is basically proof of your health so they can see if you’ve got any medical conditions that may put you or anyone in Taiwan in danger. Also, if you’re planning on getting married in Taiwan, then you’ll need to bring this certificate with you as well.

Proof of Financial Security

This is something your employer will need to see before hiring you. Usually, this means showing them bank statements for the past six months that show you have enough money deposited in your account to live for a year. However, some schools don’t even ask for this and will just hire you if you can show them that you have enough money to last you through your first month of employment.

A Tax Record

This is different from the Social Insurance Card as it’s only needed if you’re planning on staying in Taiwan for at least 183 days (6 months) and working there. It’s also paid by your employer but will be deducted from your salary like the other card. However, this one needs to be taken out before arriving in Taiwan.

A Work Permit

If you’re planning to work, your best course of action would be to hire a recruitment agency that specializes in recruiting expats for companies over in Taiwan; they’ll help with the paperwork and make sure you have everything you need to be able to work there safely and legally. Luckily, once you’ve got everything you need and your working visa is all sorted, you’ll be able to start work as soon as possible.

Benefits of Working in Taiwan as an Expat

I’m sure you’ve already heard a lot about how great it is to live and work in Taiwan, and I don’t want to bore you by going over the well-known pros of working here. You can read more about this in our previous article about living in Thailand as an expat. Some great benefits of working in Taiwan which aren’t often mentioned include the following.

1)    No Work Visa Required

Did you know that you can come to Taiwan and work on an ARC (Alien Resident Card), validating your status in the country with no visa required? This is completely legal; it’s what English teachers do all the time. And if you’re currently in Taiwan on a tourist visa (yes, you can do that too) but want to change your status, you should know that no work visas are required for citizens of most first-world countries.

 This means Australians, Americans, Canadians, and other first-world nationalities don’t need to jump through the hoops that other foreigners and Taiwanese people do. The ARC process is straightforward, and no work visa gives you the same rights as a Taiwanese citizen: you can study in Taiwan (a lot of teachers go for Chinese classes at their local college), possess a household registration, open a bank account, buy property, apply for loans as well as travel to many more countries than just Hong Kong.

2)    Cheap Medical Care

For a country with a developed economy, Taiwan’s medical costs are incredibly low. You can see a doctor at one of many reputable clinics for as little as 70NT (about $2). The cost of medicine is also very cheap in Taiwan, making it much more affordable to get your prescriptions filled than in many other countries. You can also purchase cheaper health insurance from overseas, saving you a lot of money.

3)    No winter

Did you know that Taiwan has no winter? This is one of our favorite things about living here. The seasons are very different from those in Europe and North America. In fact, some people who come to Taiwan for the first time find it difficult to believe there’s any winter here at all!

4)    Competitive Salary

Whilst Taiwanese salary statistics can be a little misleading due to the various taxes and added benefits involved; you’ll still find that your take-home pay will be much higher than in many other countries. Additionally, teaching jobs are not limited to English teachers: there’s a huge demand for teachers of French, Spanish and Japanese, amongst other languages.

5)    Cheap Real Estate

Did you know that your salary will go much further in Taiwan than in many western countries? The cost of living, including rent on real estate, is very cheap compared to home. A 100 square meter (about 1100 square feet) apartment in a central location can be rented for as little as $400 per month. If you plan on staying long-term and want to buy, property prices are also very cheap compared to other developed countries.

6)    A Safe Environment

Taiwan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, ranking 111th in the world according to CIA statistics. While violent crime does happen here, it’s rare, and Taiwan is generally very safe. As the saying goes, you’re more likely to get hit by lightning than mugged in Taiwan.