 From my personal experience, banking in Taiwan as a foreigner can be a painful and confusing experience. To help foreigners choose the best banking options and have a more pleasant banking experience in Taiwan, we have created this Taiwan Bank Comparison. If you are stuck with a terrible bank in Taiwan, chances are there are…(read more)
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In an effort to treat foreign residents equally, Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior responded to complaints of foreign residents by changing the ARC Uniform ID numbering system to match the format used by Taiwan citizens. Because of this, every foreigner must change their ARC number the next time they change or update their ARC card starting Jan. 1 2021. So what do you need to do after your ARC number has changed?
Buying a house in Taiwan can be confusing and stressful. It is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. To even consider buying a house in Taiwan, you have probably lived here for years, so many of the things I will mention in this blog may not be new to you.
I have spent quite a few years looking for houses and saving money for a down payment, as well as figuring out all the costs and other factors involved in purchasing the right house. Also, I recently just bought a house in Taipei in 2021. I have created this guide and FAQ to help people understand the buying process, finding the right house, and saving the right amount of money needed to make a move. For our blog covering our actual experience buying a house, see this blog here. For our blog covering our actual experience renovating a house, see this blog here. The following is my personal insight as an American looking for houses mainly near Taipei City. 
CTCB Bank office building in Nangang, Taipei
Taiwan's working environment can be confusing to those who are learning about this topic for the first time. There is a different work culture here than in other countries, and expectations in the workplace are not the same. In this blog, we will answer some frequently asked questions about working in Taiwan.
Foreword: Please note that in the following blog I will share my personal views. As you can tell, I am biased and I prefer American work culture. Overall, I think Taiwan's work culture is stuck in the past, is based on a manufacturing economy, and needs to improve to accommodate modern office work. My views are based on my experience of working in very traditional Taiwanese work cultures over ten years in Taiwan. Not every Taiwanese company has these problems and some foreigners in Taiwan are lucky to work for companies with more western oriented work culture, but according to my experience with others working in Taiwan as normal employees (not on secondment assignments) the following will be true. How are communication styles different between Taiwan and the West? Taiwanese communication style is more indirect, formal, and hierarchical, while American communication style is more direct and informal. In Taiwan, it is customary to show respect to authority figures and senior colleagues by using formal titles and deferential language. Direct confrontation is also avoided, and criticism is often delivered in an indirect manner. In contrast, Americans tend to be more direct in their communication style, often speaking their mind freely and openly expressing their opinions. Hierarchy is another area where Taiwanese and American work cultures diverge. In Taiwan, hierarchy is deeply ingrained in the culture, with respect and deference paid to those in positions of authority. 
As a foreigner in Taiwan, if you have preschool-aged children it could be a stressful experience to try to find an appropriate place for your child to go to school. Luckily foreign children have some priority when it comes to the public preschool lottery. Also, some preschools also have government subsidies. In this blog, we will give you a general overview of the preschool system in Taiwan.
Please note that the below information is only a general overview and details may vary for each school. I am giving this advice based on my experience as a foreign parent of two children who have gone through preschool in Taiwan. The numbers below were taken from the government website. For the latest information, please check the government website. Taiwan monthly child stipend for children 5 and under: 5歲幼兒就學補助 First, let me start off by telling you that there is a monthly stipend for children of Taiwan citizen parents who are aged 5 and under, and are not enrolled in preschool. For the first child, the stipend is 5,000 NT, for the second child 6,000, and for the third child, it is 7,000. Once you enroll your child in public or government-sponsored preschool, this subsidy stops. |
Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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