Out of America

At a glance

Cost of living: 60; US = 100
Safety: 88; 0–100
Healthcare: 80; 0–100
English: Moderate

Official languages

Mandarin Chinese

Climate

Subtropical with hot, humid summers and mild winters in the north. The south is tropical. Typhoon season runs July–October. Taipei can be rainy in winter. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons.

Entry paths

Visa types available to foreign nationals. Not all will fit every profile — log in for a personalised shortlist.

Employment Gold Card

Taiwan's Employment Gold Card is a combined work permit, residence visa, and alien resident certificate for high-skilled professionals in tech, finance, law, education, and other fields. It requires demonstrating a monthly salary of NTD 160,000+ (~$5,000 USD) and grants 1–3 years of stay without a job offer requirement. Taiwan offers excellent healthcare, safety, food, and a vibrant expat community — particularly for tech professionals.

Initial: 36 mo From $5,000/mo income

Path to citizenship

Permanent residency: 5 years; earliest after legal residency
Citizenship: 5 years; earliest after legal residency

Americans abroad here

Estimated US population: ~20,000
Overall expat scene: Moderate

International schools

Adequate

Getting there

From NYC: ~16.0h
From LAX: ~12.0h

Universities we track

National Taiwan University QS #65

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