Taiwan
Taiwan (Republic of China) · Capital: Taipei
A high-income democracy and the linchpin of the global semiconductor supply chain, with excellent safety and healthcare and an open-work 'Employment Gold Card' for professionals.
Migration statistics
Who is arriving
Top source countries and the make-up of recent arrivals into Taiwan.
Policy overview
2 visa routes into Taiwan
Eligibility, fees, processing times and whether each route leads to permanent residence.
Employment Gold Card
TalentTW-GC
A 1-3 year combined work permit, residence and re-entry permit with open work rights.
Eligibility
- Qualify in one of several talent fields (e.g. salary, tech, science)
Document checklist (8 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
TW-WP
Employer-sponsored work permit plus an Alien Resident Certificate.
Eligibility
- Job offer
- Degree + experience
Document checklist (10 items)
Core
Professional
Background
Economic context
The numbers behind the move
Pay reflects the local market in Taiwan, what you'd typically earn there, not your current salary.
Skill shortages
Sectors actively recruiting from abroad
Where Taiwan needs foreign talent most, and what those roles pay.
Semiconductors & electronics
TSMC and the chip supply chain create relentless engineering demand.
Software & hardware
Hardware-software and IoT firms compete for engineers.
Recent changes
What's changed lately
Recent policy changes that affect migrants, newest first.
No policy changes recorded in the last 90 days. The intelligence agent is monitoring.
Quality of life
What living there feels like
Taipei
Capital & tech HQAn ultra-convenient, safe capital with great food, transit and the bulk of jobs.
- Cost index
- 74
- 1-bed rent
- $900
- Quality
- 84
Hsinchu
Science Park (TSMC)Home to the science park where TSMC and the chip industry are headquartered.
- Cost index
- 66
- 1-bed rent
- $700
- Quality
- 80
Kaohsiung
Southern port cityA sunnier, cheaper, more spacious southern port city.
- Cost index
- 58
- 1-bed rent
- $550
- Quality
- 80
Safety & climate
The reception you can expect
How welcoming the public and political mood is, how safe it is, and how geopolitically stable the country is right now.
Anti-migrant sentiment
trendWelcoming to skilled foreigners; cross-strait tension with China is the dominant risk factor.
Higher = more hostile public/political climate.
Geopolitical stability
A composite of governance, security and regional-risk signals. Higher means a more predictable environment for settling long term.
Higher = more stable.
Safety
One of the safest places in the world, with very low violent crime.
Higher = safer (crime index 16/100).
Where to live
Which Taiwan city fits you?
Cities matched to who you are, career, family, retirement, study or remote work. We flag the ones to consider and the ones to approach with care.
Taipei
Convenient & friendly
An ultra-convenient, safe capital with great food, transit and the bulk of jobs.
Hsinchu
Engineer town
Home to the science park where TSMC and the chip industry are headquartered.
Kaohsiung
Warm & spacious
A sunnier, cheaper, more spacious southern port city.
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