Living and Working in Taiwan

Living and working in Taiwan

Taiwan is a unique blend of the new and old. This country offers an eclectic mix of a culture rich in tradition and history along with a cosmopolitan environment which attracts people from all over the world. No wonder, many expats are increasingly becoming interested in living and working in Taiwan.

A majority of expats find good paying jobs as English school teachers in Taiwan. Though it is always good to have references, qualifications and experience in the field, they are not an absolute necessity as far as the jobs are concerned except for the well known schools. Most employers look for innovative and creative teachers with loads of enthusiasm. People generally prefer teachers who are reliable and adhere to the timings of the school.

Alien Residency Permit or ARC and a valid work permit are the fundamental requirements for people who want to live and work in Taiwan. You need to be a native English speaker in order to qualify for an ARC for teaching English in Taiwan. A native English speaker is defined as a citizen of countries like South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, UK, Canada and of course the US. Different cities and sectors have different rules as far as applying for ARC is concerned. So, researching on the exact requirements and procedures will go a long way. The best way to get an ARC quickly is to apply through your employer. However, this also means that your ARC is linked with your employment in the school. So, it is important to get another job before you decide to leave the present one so that you don’t lose your ARC. The ARC procedures in most schools require you to sign a contract which lasts for at least a year.

Many teachers also opt for private tuitions which is also a lucrative prospect. These teachers get paid through cash-in-hand and promote their business through the “word of mouth”.

English teachers in Taiwan enjoy good and lucrative salary packages which can range from anything between $500 to $1000 per hour for schools and private tuitions respectively. Overall, the salaries are quite high as compared to the general standard of living However; the increasing competition has led to a reduction in the wages which may reduce further with the influx of more expats into the country.

If you don’t like teaching English, then you can opt for a number of other jobs as well. These include writing educational papers and other books, editing, lending your voice for dubbing, video games and voice overs and even acting in movies and television. Another great way to live and work in Taiwan is to apply for a job in a multinational company in countries like Australia or US or UK and then get transferred to the company’s office in Taiwan.

Depending upon your budget, you can opt for a variety of accommodations ranging from hotels, hostels, home stays and rental accommodations. Though apartments are expensive, splitting costs with a room mate may be an economical option. The prices can range anywhere from NT$3000 for a single room with a shared bath to NT$10,000 in cities like Taipei and Taichung. For your own studio apartment, or apartment with one, two, or three bedrooms the prices will start from around NT$10,000 per month to whatever your budget can afford.

Friendly people, low cost of living, modern amenities and increasing opportunities are making Taiwan a preferred destination for people across the world.