Job Discussion Forums

[jo3box3r]

Just curious on how everything works in taiwan- I know in thailand people have to do like border runs every once in a while.. So I am not sure how taiwain works. My friend said that - he went down there and the company sponsered him and how he has a work visa? - not sure I want to be working under the table or not or you think that should be fine?

[brian]

In order to work legally you will need to make at least a one year commitment. Most people arrive on a 60 day visitor visa, travel around, visit some schools, and then find a job. Once you have signed a contract and received your work permit you can then transfer your visitor visa over to a resident visa. You then get your Alien Resident Card and are legal to work. If you take longer than 60 days to get all of this organized then you may need to leave the country, but provided you are on the ball you should find that you can process everything without the need to do a visa run.

It is best to bring your original documentation with you as some schools will require this. Don't give them the originals, just let them view the original and make a copy of it. You keep the originals yourself.

You will need:
1. A passport from an approved English speaking country.
2. At least a bachelors degree from an accredited university.
3. A good personality, suitable for teaching the level of the students that you are applying to teach.

You will get:
1. A work permit to work in Taiwan for the length of your contract.
2. A resident visa with multiple re-entries.
3. An ARC for the length of your contract term, which acts as ID card for foreigners.
4. Compulsory health insurance.

In the past some people have advocated working illegally, however improvements in the way that things are done here have pretty well nullified most of the advantages that were suggested by the proponents of working illegally. You would be far better off to become fully legal.

That's pretty much it.