Taiwan: all programs

Taiwan in brief

Taiwan is an island in East Asia off the coast of China with about 23 million people. The capital is Taipei, a metropolitan area of about 7 million with its suburbs. Taiwan is one of the world's centres of semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, with high incomes, safe cities and strong healthcare. The language is Chinese, and the currency is the New Taiwan dollar, about 31.8 to the US dollar in 2026.

Taiwan suits highly qualified, well-paid professionals, tech start-up founders and families who want a calm and safe life in Asia. Tension in relations with Beijing is worth bearing in mind as the island's main external risk.

How to move in 2026

• Gold Card - an open work and residence permit for 1 to 3 years for professionals with high pay or recognition in their field; no employer is needed. One route is an average salary from 160,000 Taiwan dollars a month, about $5,100, and the job can be in any country.
• Entrepreneur visa - for 1 year, renewable for 2 more; one ground is investing from 1 million Taiwan dollars, about $31,500, in your own innovative company, venture funding from 2 million or government grants from 3 million. Details are on the page Taiwan start-up visa.
• Investor - a separate route to permanent residence for investing from 15 million Taiwan dollars, about $472,000, in a profitable company with 5 jobs for Taiwanese citizens for 3 years.
• Employment - the employer obtains the permit.
• Study - language courses and universities give student status.

Russian citizens need a visa, so documents are prepared before travel through a Taiwan representative office. We handle the choice of route, documents and filing end to end.

Permanent residence and citizenship

Permanent residence is granted after 5 consecutive years with more than 183 days on the island in each; the period is shorter for Gold Card holders and some professionals. Naturalisation usually requires 5 years of residence, a Chinese language test and renouncing your previous citizenship, with an exception for highly qualified foreigners recommended by the government.

Taxes

You become a tax resident after 183 days in a year. Resident income tax runs from 5% to 40% on a scale, corporate tax is 20%, and the business tax, the local equivalent of VAT, is 5%. Newly arrived professionals pay tax on only half of income above 3 million Taiwan dollars a year, about $94,400, for 5 years. For a company set up under the entrepreneur visa we work out the tax burden at the business plan stage.

Property

Foreigners buy homes on a reciprocity basis, if Taiwanese citizens are allowed to buy property in their country. Taipei prices are among the highest in Asia relative to incomes, so most newcomers rent. A property purchase gives no right of residence. We source and check properties on the page property in Taiwan.

Business and accounts

A foreigner first obtains foreign investment approval, then registers the company and pays in the capital. Banks usually open a personal account once you have a resident card. We help with company registration, a business account and a personal account.

Cost of living

• Rent in Taipei - a one-bedroom flat costs around 20,000-35,000 Taiwan dollars a month, about $630-1,110.
• Food - night markets and local cafés are very cheap; imported groceries cost more.
• Transport - metro and buses on one card, cheap and punctual; the high-speed train runs the length of the west coast.
• Healthcare - national insurance makes doctor visits inexpensive.

Where to live

• Taipei - jobs, international schools and the best hospitals; foreigners like green Da'an and quiet Tianmu. More in the Taipei guide.
• Hsinchu - the science park and centre of chip manufacturing, an hour from the capital.
• Taichung - a mild climate, industry and housing cheaper than Taipei.
• Tainan - the old capital with temples and the island's most famous street food.
• Kaohsiung - the southern port city, warm and affordable.

Work and economy

The economy rests on exports of chips, electronics and equipment, and the island hosts the world's largest contract chipmakers. Foreigners are hired in engineering, research, finance, gaming and English teaching. Salaries are lower than in Japan and Singapore, but so are taxes and living costs, and invited professionals get a tax break for the first 5 years. Taoyuan International Airport is 40 minutes from Taipei by express train, and Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore are about 3-4 hours away.

Practicalities

• Climate. Subtropical: +30 to +35 and high humidity in summer, typhoons from July to October, and a mild, rainy winter.
• Earthquakes. Frequent, and buildings are designed for seismic loads.
• Language. Chinese with traditional characters; English is understood in offices and among young people.
• Healthcare. Resident card holders join national health insurance, immediately if employed and otherwise after a waiting period.
• Schools. Taipei has American, European and Japanese schools; local schools teach in Chinese.

Who Taiwan suits

Pros: safety, strong healthcare and national insurance, a tech economy, cheap food and transport, and a Gold Card not tied to an employer. Cons: the language barrier, humid summers, typhoons and earthquakes, expensive housing in Taipei, renouncing your previous citizenship on naturalisation and foreign policy risks. Taiwan suits professionals and tech founders who value quality of life and safety. Write in the chat and we will choose a route that fits your qualifications or business.