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Working in Taiwan
Capital: Taipei
Largest city: New Taipei City
Population: 23.3 million (2012 estimate)
Currency: New Taiwan Dollar
Language: Chinese
Taiwan, which was discovered through western eyes by the Portuguese, is a densely populated nation made up of thriving cities, great tourism opportunities and a lush environment.
Being an island country in close proximity to China and Japan, Taiwan is a relatively easy destination to organise travel into.
A Buddhist country, Taiwan was the first constitutional republic of Asia. The island is surrounded by China to the west, Japan to the east and the Philippines to the south.
Taipei is the capital and economic and cultural centre in Taiwan, while New Taipei is the most populous city in the country.
The Working Holiday program between Australia and Taiwan was setup to encourage cultural exchange and closer ties between the two countries by allowing young people to have an extended holiday funded by short-term employment.
Under the arrangement, Australians aged between 18 and 30 are allowed to travel to Taiwan for a working holiday for up to 12 months.
Tourism Video
Taiwan’s Working Holiday visa summary
Visa: Working holiday
Age: 18 to 30
Length of stay: 12 months
Application fee: $100
Processing time: 1-2 weeks
Requirements / Eligibility for a Working Holiday in Taiwan includes:
If you want to travel to Taiwan under Working Holiday arrangements there are basic eligibility requirements. These include:
Hold an Australian passport
Meet health and character requirements
Be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of applying
Have no dependent children accompanying you
Have a return ticket, or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare
Have sufficient funds for the first part of the holiday (at least $3500)
Permitted to work a maximum of 3 months with any one employee.
Emergency
General emergency numbers: Fire / ambulance 119 Police 110 Oversea operator 100
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) encourages that Australian travellers to Taiwan register with the Department, whatever the reason for their travel. Registration can take place online or at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.
In Taiwan, you can obtain consular assistance from the:
The Australian Office, Taipei 27th and 28th Floor, President International Tower 9-11 Song Gao Road Taipei, 110 Telephone: (886 2) 8725 4100 Fax: (886 2) 8789 9599 Website: www.australia.org.tw Email: consular.taipei@dfat.gov.au
In a consular emergency, travellers unable to contact the Embassy can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 in Australia.
Embassies of Taiwan in…
Argentina N/A
Australia Taiwanese Representative Office in Canberra, Australia Unit 8, Tourism House 40 Blackall Street Barton ACT 2600 Ph +61 2 6120 2000 / 25 F +61 2 6273 0748 Web: www.teco.org.au
Austria Taiwanese Representative Office in Vienna, Austria Wagramer Strasse 19/11.OG 1220 Vienna Ph +43 1 212 4720 F +43 1 212 4720 86 Web: www.taiwanembassy.org/at/
Bangladesh N/A
Belgium Taiwanese Representative Office in Brussels, Belgium Boulevard du Regent 40 1000 Bruxelles Ph +32 2 511 0687 F +32 2 551 1789 Web: N/A
Brazil Taiwanese Representative Office in Brasilia, Brazil SHIS QI 09, Conjunto 16, casa 23 Lago Sul CEP 71625-160,Brasilia D.F. Ph +55 61 3364 0221 F +55 61 3364 0234 Web: www.taipeinobrasil.hpg.lg.com.br
Canada Taiwanese Representative Office in Ottawa, Canada 45 O’Connor Street Suite 1960 World Exchange Plaza Ottawa Ontario K1P 1A4 Ph +1 613 231 5080 F +1 613 231 8491 Web: www.taiwan-canada.org
Chile Taiwanese Representative Office in Santiago, Chile Apoquindo 3001, Piso 5 Las Condes Santiago Ph +56 2 362 9772 F +56 2 431 0137 Web: N/A
China N/A
Costa Rica N/A
Cyprus, Republic of N/A
Czech Republic Taiwanese Representative Office in Prague, Czech Republic Evropska 2590/33c 160 00 Praha 6 Ph +420 233 320 606 F +420 233 326 906 Web: www.taiwanembassy.org/cz/
Denmark Taiwanese Representative Office in Copenhagen, Denmark Amaliegade 3, 2nd floor 1256 Copenhagen K Ph +45 3393 5152 F +45 3393 2235 Web: www.taiwanembassy.org/dk
Estonia N/A
Finland Taiwanese Representative Office in Helsinki, Finland Aleksanterinkatu 17, 4th Floor 00100, Helsinki Ph + 358 9 6829 3800 F +358 9 6829 3806 Web: www.roc-taiwan.org/fl/
France Taiwanese Representative Office in Paris, France 78, rue de l’Universite 75007 Paris Ph +33 1 4439 8820 / 30 F +33 1 4439 8812 Web: www.roc-taiwan.org/fr
Germany Taiwanese Representative Office in Berlin, Germany Markgrafenstr. 35 10117 Berlin Ph +49 30 20 36 10 F +49 30 203 611 01 Web: N/A
India Taiwanese Representative Office in New Delhi, India 88, Panchsheel Park Vasant Vihar New Delhi 110017 Ph +91 11 4607 7777 F +91 11 4107 2246 Web: www.taiwanembassy.org/IN/
Indonesia Taiwanese Representative Office in Jakarta, Indonesia Gedung Artha Graha,12th and 17th Floors Sudirman Center Business District JL Jenderal Sudirman Kav. 52-53 Jakarta 12190 Ph +62 21 515 1111 F +62 21 515 3939 Web: www.teto.or.id
Ireland Taiwanese Representative Office in Dublin, Ireland 8 Lower Hatch Street Dublin 2 Ph +353 1 678 5413 / 5580 F +353 1 676 1686 Web: www.taiwanembassy.org/ie/
Italy Taiwanese Representative Office in Rome, Italy Via Panama 22, P.1 Int. 3 00198 Roma Ph +39 06 884 1362 F +39 06 884 5772 Web: N/A
Japan Taiwanese Representative Office in Tokyo, Japan 20-2, Shirokanedai 5-chome Minato-Ku Tokyo 108-0071 Ph +81 3 3280 7811 F +81 3 3280 7934 Web: www.roc-taiwan.or.jp
Latvia Taiwanese Representative Office in Riga, Latvia World Trade Center, Room 602 2 Elizabetes Street Riga 1340 Ph + 371 6732 0610 F +371 6783 0125 Web: www.taiwanembassy.org/lv/
Malaysia Taiwanese Representative Office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 9.01 Level 9, Amoda Building 22, Jalan Imbi 55100 Kuala Lumpur Ph +60 3 2142 6417 F +60 3 2142 3906 Web: N/A
Malta N/A
Mexico Taiwanese Representative Office in Mexico City, Mexico Paseo de la Reforma 1945 Col. Lomas de Chapultepec C.P. 11000 Mexico D. F. Ph +52 55 5596 1612 F +52 55 5251 0960 Web: N/A
New Zealand Taiwanese Representative Office in Wellington, New Zealand Level 21, 105 The Terrace P.O. Box 10-250 Wellington Ph +64 4 473 6474 F +64 4 472 2430 Web: www.taiwanembassy.org/nz
Norway Taiwanese Representative Office in Oslo, Norway Haakon VII’s gate 1, Second Floor P.O. Box 1563, Vika 0118 Oslo Ph +47 2311 1730 F +47 2311 1731 Web: www.taiwanembassy.org/NO/
Poland Taiwanese Representative Office in Warsaw, Poland 4th Fl., Koszykowa St. 54 00-675 Warsaw Ph +48 22 630 8438 F +48 22 630 8431 Wed: N/A
Singapore Taiwanese Representative Office in Singapore, Singapore 460 Alexandra Road #23-00, PSA Building Singapore 119963 Ph = 65 6278 6511 F +65 6278 9962 Web: N/A
Slovakia Taiwanese Representative Office in Bratislava, Slovakia Mostova 2 81102 Bratislava Ph +421 2 5825 3220 / 9 F +421 2 5825 3225 Web: www.roc-taiwan.org/SK
Slovenia N/A
South Korea N/A
Spain Taiwanese Representative Office in Madrid, Spain C/Rosario Pino 14-16, Piso 18 Dcha. 28020 Madrid Ph +34 9 1571 4729 F +34 9 1570 9285 Web: N/A
Sweden Taiwanese Representative Office in Stockholm, Sweden Wenner-Gren Center, 18tr Sveavagen 166 113 46 Stockholm Ph +46 8 728 8513 F +46 8 315 748 Web: www.roc-taiwan.org/SE/
The Netherlands Taiwanese Representative Office in The Hague, the Netherlands Van Stolkweg 23 2585 JM, The Hague Ph +31 70 346 9438 F +31 70 360 3836 Web: www.taiwanembassy.org/nl/
Turkey Taiwanese Representative Office in Ankara, Turkey Resit Galip Cad. Rabat Sok. No16 G.O.P. Ankara Ph +90 312 436 7255 F +90 312 447 8465 Web: N/A
United Kingdom Taiwanese Representative Office in London, the United Kingdom 50 Grosvenor Gardens London SW1W OEB Ph +44 20 7881 2650 F +44 20 7730 3139 Web: www.roc-taiwan.org/uk/
United States Taiwanese Representative Office in Washington, the United States 4201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. Washington D.C. 20016 Ph +1 202 895 1800 F +1 202 363 0999 Web: www.taiwanembassy.org/US/
Uruguay N/A
Tax System
Income tax in Taiwan is levied on the earnings in the country for both residents and non-residents, including expats living in the country. Foreigners residing in the country for less than 183 days are considered non-residents. The tax year in Taiwan is the same as the calendar year. The tax system in Taiwan operates on a progressive system, with the rates as follows:
Income
Tax rate
Progressive difference
0 – 500,00
5%
0
500,001 – 1,130,000
12%
35,000
1,130,001 – 2,260,000
20%
125,400
2,260,001 – 4,230,000
30%
351,400
4,230,001 +
40%
774,400
Bank Account
To open a bank account in Taiwan as an expat, most banks will ask for several pieces of documentation, including: passport or identification, proof of employment and proof of address. Each bank account will usually include a debit card and option to open a savings account.
The major banks in Taiwan include: Bank of Taiwan, Taipei Fubon and Taishin Bank. Many foreign banks are also located in Taiwan, such as Citibank and HSBC.
Working in Taiwan
Teaching English is an excellent option for expats in Taiwan on a working holiday. According to TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language), there is a demand for English tuition in Taiwan due to use of the language in business and tourism. Salaries for English teachers are not high in Taiwan, but would assist in supplementing a working holiday.
Communication
Taiwan is well serviced by telecommunications and has several mobile phone providers for expats to choose from. The major telecommunications companies in Taiwan are:
Chunghwa Telecom
Far Eastern Telecommunications
KG Telecom
Far EasTone
To sign-up for a phone contract in Taiwan, applicants will need to provide several forms of identification, such as a passport, proof of address and proof of employment.
