Nationals of several countries are able to go to Taiwan (officially known as the Republic of China (ROC)) and stay for up to a year as part of a Working Holiday Scheme.
Foreign nationals who receive a Working Holiday Taiwan Visa, as the name suggests, are allowed to work during their stay, which may not exceed 1 year.
This article will detail the eligibility criteria, conditions, requirements, and application process of a Working Holiday Visa for Taiwan.
Who is eligible for a Working Holiday Taiwan Visa?
You are eligible for a Working Holiday Visa for Taiwan if you are a national of the following countries:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Czech Republic
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Japan
- Korea
- Luxembourg
- New Zealand
- Poland
- Slovakia
- The United Kingdom
In addition to your nationality, you must also fulfill certain other eligibility criteria, such as:
- You must be between 18 and 30 years of age at the time you submit your application
- Exceptions:
- For Canada, Slovakia, and Hungary nationals, the maximum age is 35
- For nationals of the Czech Republic, the maximum age is 26
- You must be living in your country of nationality at the time of application
- You must never have received a Working Holiday Visa for Taiwan previously
- You must have at least NT$ 100,000 (or its equivalent in your country’s currency) to cover your living expenses during your stay in Taiwan
- You must be able to prove that your primary reason to visit Taiwan is to holiday, rather than to work (work must be an “incidental” reason)
- Exceptions:
Conditions of the Working Holiday Taiwan Visa
If you receive a Working Holiday Visa for Taiwan, you must adhere to certain conditions, including:
- You cannot work for the same employer for longer than 3 months
- This does not apply if you are from Korea, Japan, Canada and the U.K.
- If you are from Australia, you may work for the same employer for up to 6 months, but no longer.
- If you will work in technical or professional jobs, you must meet the adequate qualification and laws of registration for practice as required by the Taiwan government.
- You are not allowed to enroll in full-time formal courses in any Taiwanese educational institution. You are only allowed to enroll in Chinese language courses, and even then, the study period must not be longer than 3 months.
- You will not be allowed to bring any dependents with you to Taiwan.
- You will not be eligible for National Health Insurance, unless you are from the UK.
- You cannot apply to turn the Working Holiday Visa into another type of Taiwan visa.
What are the requirements of a Taiwan Working Holiday Visa?
When applying for a Working Holiday Visa for Taiwan, you must have several supporting documents such as:
- The Working Holiday Taiwan Visa Application Form.
- Your passport, which must be valid for at least another year
- Two recent pictures of yourself, which:
- Are 2-inch x 2-inch
- Are taken within the last 6 months
- Proof of a roundtrip flight ticket, or alternatively, proof you have the financial means to buy it.
- Proof of sufficient financial means to cover at least the initial period of your stay. You must have at least NT$ 100,000 (or its equivalent in your country’s currency)
- Proof of health insurance covering the entire duration of your stay in Taiwan.
- If you are from Australia or Canada: Health Certificate issued by a doctor in your country.
- An outline of your planned stay in Taiwan. You must be able to prove your main purpose is not to work but rather holidays.
- Any additional documents that the Taiwanese diplomatic missions may require you to submit.
How to Apply for a Taiwan Working Holiday Visa?
You have to apply for a Working Holiday Visa for Taiwan at a Taiwanese diplomatic mission in your country. The application process for a Working Holiday Visa for Taiwan is as follows:
- Collect the required documents.
- Submit them at the Taiwanese diplomatic mission in your country.
- Pay the visa fee.
- Wait for the visa to be processed. You may also be asked to enter a visa interview.
- If your visa is approved, you must collect your passport with the visa affixed to it.
- You may enter the country within one year of issuance of the visa (three months for UK nationals).
- If you are from the UK: Apply for a residence permit within 15 days of entering.
Exceptions:
Canadian citizens may also apply for a Working Holiday Visa even from inside Taiwan.
What are the Working Holiday Taiwan Visa Fees?
Taiwan visa fees are as follows:
If applying at a Taiwan Diplomatic Mission Overseas:
- Single-Entry Visitor Visa: US$50
- Multiple-Entry Visitor Visa: US$100
- Single-Entry Resident Visa: US$66
- Multiple-Entry Resident Visa: US$132
If applying in Taiwan:
- Single-Entry Visitor Visa: NT$1,600
- Multiple-Entry Visitor Visa: NT$3,200
- Single-Entry Resident Visa: NT$2,200
- Multiple-Entry Resident Visa: NT$4,400
What is the Validity of a Working Holiday Taiwan Visa?
The Working Holiday Visa for Taiwan is issued for a maximum of 180 days (six months) and it is a multiple-entry Taiwan Visitor Visa. Before your visa expires, you must apply to renew it for another 180 days. This makes the overall time you can spend in Taiwan on a Working Holiday Visa a maximum of 12 months.
Exception: Nationals of the UK will receive a single-entry visa valid for up to three months, and will have to obtain a residence permit within 15 days of arrival.
Extending a Working Holiday Taiwan Visa
You must apply to extend your 180-day multiple-entry Working Holiday Visa at least 15 days before it expires at a local office of the National Immigration Agency in Taiwan. You may extend your visa for another 180 days maximum.
If you are from the UK, your residence permit valid will be valid for up to one year, which means it cannot be extended.
Once you have spent 12 months in Taiwan, you are not allowed to apply for another extension.
Do You Need a Residence Permit for a Working Holiday Taiwan Visa?
Unless you are from the UK, once you arrive in Taiwan with a Working Holiday Visa, you do not have to apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). Your visa will be valid for six months, after which you may apply to extend it.
If you are from the UK, after you enter Taiwan with your Working Holiday Taiwan Visa, you must apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) from the National Immigration Agency within 15 days. The ARC will be valid for one year and non-extendable.
Do you need a work permit for a Working Holiday Taiwan Visa?
No, you do not. If you receive a Working Holiday Visa for Taiwan, you do not have to apply for a separate work permit before or afterward as you would for a Taiwan Work Visa. The Working Holiday Visa automatically allows you to take up work and is regarded as a work permit.