Life in Taiwan: interesting facts and important details. Moving to Taiwan for permanent residence: methods and nuances Higher education institutions in Taiwan

Taiwan Island is located in the Pacific Ocean, 150 kilometers from the People's Republic of China. Formally, it is part of the PRC, but in fact it considers itself a separate state. When the Portuguese arrived on the island in the 16th century, they named it Formosa or the Beautiful Island. Taiwan has retained its beauty to this day, despite the fact that the economy and industry began to develop at an accelerated pace, and the island has become one of the most economically successful regions in Asia. For more than a decade, it has attracted travelers, businessmen and students from all over the world, because life in Taiwan is exceptionally rich and diverse.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in Taiwan

Speaking about the positive aspects of life in Taiwan, the first thing to note is the benevolence and responsiveness of the local population. The culture of behavior of the inhabitants of the island is the first thing that catches the eye of any foreigner. Russians in Taiwan often point out that Taiwanese do not throw garbage on the street, do not take places on public transport intended for the elderly, and even line up at bus stops.

Food deserves special attention. The local cuisine is a unique blend of Chinese, Japanese and Korean culinary traditions. The cult of food reigns here. Instagram and Facebook of young Taiwanese are literally inundated with food photos. Small shops are scattered all over the island where you can buy ready-made food that you only need to warm up (this can be done right in the store).

The only drawback is the very expensive dairy products that are brought from Australia or New Zealand. For example, 100 grams of cheese will cost about 200 rubles. Although, if you are only going to relax in Taiwan, and not move there to live, this will not be a problem.

The main disadvantage of living in Taiwan is the weather. It rains very often here: during the so-called rainy season, tropical showers can last for weeks. In winter, the humidity is very high and quite cold, and there is no central heating in the houses. In summer it is also very humid, which, combined with the heat, creates the effect of a real steam room. However, there are some charms: in the south of the island, even in winter, it is warm enough, so you can swim in the ocean all year round.

High quality of life

In 1987, the country set a course for economic freedom and the democratization of society, and from that moment the rapid growth of the economy began. Now we can safely say that over the years, Taiwan has become a highly competitive country with a developed technology sector.

Taiwan has one of the highest living standards in Asia. There is freedom of the press, affordable medicine, political and economic rights and freedoms. At the same time, it should be noted that the Taiwanese economy is very different from the economic structure of mainland China. At one time, Taiwan benefited from the flight of well-educated wealthy Chinese from mainland China - at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, supporters of the previous Ming Dynasty moved to this island in a short time to survive.

healthcare

overdue loans, unpaid utility bills, alimony or fines from the traffic police. Any of these debts may threaten to restrict travel abroad in 2018, we recommend that you find out information about the presence of debt using a proven service not to fly.rf

The basis of Taiwanese healthcare is insurance medicine.

Established in 1995, Taiwan's universal health insurance program is now considered one of the most effective in the world.

Its characteristic features are active support from the state and a low level of contributions. The amount of the contribution depends on the amount of annual income and the number of so-called dependents in the family (children and the elderly).

Monthly deductions are made by all working citizens. For those who are just starting to work, the amount of the insurance premium does not exceed 5% of the monthly salary. Every citizen of Taiwan who has reached the age of 40 has the right to receive free medical care once a year, and citizens who have reached the age of 65 are entitled to twice a year. Health insurance is voluntary but covers 97% of the population.

Education system

Almost all the inhabitants of the island are graduates, since it is almost impossible to get a job in Taiwan without a higher education.

Children go to school early (ages 4-6) and study for 12 years. After the 9th grade, you can go to work, but few people choose this option, since without completing school education, you cannot enter a higher educational institution. Admission to the university is based on the results of the selection, which is held in the final year of study at school.

The bachelor's degree (4 years) is the most popular, and only half of the students go further to the master's degree (2 years). At the same time, it should be taken into account that training in some specialties requires more time: for example, it takes seven years to study as a doctor. Knowledge of Chinese or English is required to enter the university. Moreover, the choice of the language of instruction remains with the student.

Higher Education Institutions in Taiwan

There are private and public universities on this sunny island, however, both of them are paid for both local residents and visitors. At the same time, you can always take a loan from a bank for education. Sometimes universities offer their own scholarship programs. In Taiwan, the Bologna system of education operates: 4 years of bachelor's and two years of master's degree.

Many local universities have received international recognition and occupy quite high places in various educational rankings. For example, the National Taiwan University is in the top 100 best universities in the world and in the top three universities in Asia.

Moreover, studying here is more like studying at Harvard than at Moscow State University. The following are also very popular: Pedagogical University (Taiwan Normal University, Political University (National Chengchi University), Chenggong University and Tamkang University.

If the purpose of your trip is to study Chinese, you should pay attention to the Pedagogical University (Taiwan Normal University). The best teachers of the country work there, publishing 99% of methodological literature.

If you decide to enter a higher educational institution in Taiwan, be sure to be patient - usually the admission process takes up to six months.

How much does it cost to study in Taiwan

The cost of education varies depending on the institution, but on average, the semester will cost 1,300 US dollars (from 1,000 to 1,670). Of course, a semester at a private university will cost significantly more than at a public one. The same is true for textbooks: materials for studying at a private university will cost an average of $250, while textbooks for a public one will cost only $70.

As elsewhere in the world, Taiwanese students mostly live in dormitories, but there is a division into male and female dormitories. Two to four people can live in one room. More affluent students have the opportunity to rent a room or even an apartment. Read more about real estate prices below.

Real estate prices

Talking about real estate prices in Taiwan, measuring the area in square meters, is not entirely correct. They have their own system of measures. So, the area is measured not in square meters, but in pins (a pin is a square measuring 1.82 by 1.82 meters with an area of ​​​​3.312 sq. M).

According to available data, in 2020 one pin costs an average of $22,650. If we count in square meters, then in the capital of Taiwan, Taipei, 1 meter of housing costs an average of $ 6,851, in the cities of Taoyuan and Taichung a little cheaper - $ 6,666.

How much does it cost to rent a house

Monitoring of rental prices in the capital of the island provides the following information:

• The average monthly rent for a $2 million home is $2,000.
• A room of 12 square meters (with a shared bathroom for four rooms) will cost only $100.
• A one-room apartment without a kitchen will cost an average of $175.
• A one-room apartment with a kitchen will cost about $225 per month.

These prices are relevant for not the most prestigious areas of Taipei. Speaking of other cities, we can safely divide the above figures in two.

How much will it cost to buy a home

Real estate prices in the center of Taipei and in the so-called good areas are two to three times higher than in the rest of the island.

Since 2008, property prices in Taiwan have risen 90% since 2008, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch news agency. For clarity, it will take the average Taipei with a salary of a thousand dollars about 15 years to purchase a one-room apartment in a less than elite area of ​​15 pins.

Residential property tax

According to Taiwanese land law, the annual rent from residential real estate must not exceed 10% of the value of the property. As for foreign citizens who own real estate in Taiwan, they are supposed to annually transfer 1.38% of the current value of the property to the state as real estate tax.

Security questions

Today, Taiwan is considered one of the safest countries in the world - the police here really know their stuff. Also, this country is considered one of the most comfortable for travelers, because it is calm here, and the crime rate is extremely low.

It also makes life easier for travelers that many locals know English, and all signs and signs are necessarily duplicated in English, which greatly simplifies orientation in space for those who do not speak Chinese.

The only thing that a traveler who is going to visit this country should definitely take care of is medical insurance and vaccinations.

So, for example, vacationers are strongly recommended to be vaccinated in advance against yellow fever, which poses a direct threat to human health and life. You should also follow the standard rules: do not drink unboiled water and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

Job Opportunities in Taiwan

Taiwan is rightfully considered one of the world leaders in the production of high-tech products. Such industries as petrochemistry, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, textile industry, financial market, tourism and the service sector as a whole are actively developing here.

Prices in Taiwan

With the exception of real estate, prices for all other goods and services in Taiwan do not “bite” much - $ 500 is enough for a month of modest living for an entire family, including food, rent, clothes, and even education. If you move inland, away from Taipei, the prices there will be even more budgetary: on average, two times lower, so a month of life will cost only $ 250 for the whole family.

A small portion of food from the stall will cost 50 rubles (Russian, of course), a bottle of wine - 250 rubles, rice in bamboo will cost about 135 rubles, and a three-course set meal in a Taiwanese restaurant - from 150 to 200 rubles.

An entrance ticket to the Taipei Zoo costs only 116 rubles, and a ride on the historic Japanese train in Yun Hsien Park costs 193 rubles.

Attitude towards Russians

The attitude of the local population towards the inhabitants of a country is formed for a reason: it usually depends on the geopolitical situation, relations between countries, the characteristics of socio-economic life, and other factors.

Over the past decades, Taiwan has become a very popular holiday destination among Americans and Europeans, but there are still very few Russian tourists here, not to mention the fact that Russian emigrants in Taiwan are generally very rare.

The words "Russia" or "Russian" always surprise the people of Taiwan, so our tourists enjoy increased interest from the local population.

If you strike up a conversation with a local resident, he will definitely ask you about what they eat in Russia and is it true that it is as cold there as they say?

The thing is that for almost half a century, Taiwan and Russia did not have any contact: after the Second World War, ties between the states were broken, and no one was eager to restore them. In 2000, about 90 Russian citizens lived on the island, who unofficially united in a kind of Russian community in Taiwan. Now, of course, there are more of them, but not by much.

15 facts about Taiwan: Video

And, finally, the most interesting thing is the restriction of travel abroad for debtors. It is about the status of the debtor that it is easiest to “forget” when going on another vacation abroad. The reason may be overdue loans, unpaid utility bills, alimony or fines from the traffic police. Any of these debts may threaten to restrict travel abroad in 2020, we recommend that you find out information about the presence of debt using a proven non-departure service.

In which he asks Ukrainians living in other countries of the world to tell about their new life. This week Ekaterina Gulenok talks about life in Taiwan.

WHY I MOVED

Before moving, I had a completely arranged life: work in a PR agency, an established comfortable life, frequent travels. But something was missing. This is how the idea of ​​a second higher education arose. I did not consider Europe and America, I decided to stay in the Eastern Hemisphere, namely, in Taiwan - there is education in English and a state scholarship.

It took a year to prepare - I collected and certified papers, passed exams. All this time I was tormented by doubts, but in the end I bought a big yellow suitcase, put my things in it and flew to Formosa (from the Portuguese “beautiful island” - this is a former colony of Portugal).

Fears and adaptation

At first it was difficult: you don’t know anyone how and what to eat - it’s not clear, the climate is difficult - high humidity, frequent rains, and in the fall, when I arrived, it was also very hot. In addition to everything, the scholarship requirements made me nervous - at the end of the semester you must have at least 80 points (100 point system). Then I realized that I get 85-92 points in all subjects without any problems, and I stopped thinking about it.

But most of all I was worried about earthquakes. Taiwan is located in a seismically active zone, so the island shakes quite often.

Serious earthquakes have not happened for a long time, but the walls shake once or twice a month.

Living on the island do not attach any importance to this, and foreigners eventually get used to not hiding under the table every time everything around starts to vibrate. But I consistently unsubscribe to my parents after each such case - our Internet media sometimes write about earthquakes in Taiwan, and it is important for me to inform my home that everything is in order with me.

About prices and purchases

Grocery shopping is my big passion and one of my favorite things to do in Taiwan. Throughout the island, chains of small convenience stores are very developed: convenience stores, milk, sandwiches, sweets, snacks, personal care items and household items. There are several such chains, and the density of 7/11 stores, for example, is the highest in the world.

Clothes are the cheapest to buy in the night markets, but I never got around to it. Very often, clothes are not measured, and the styles are very specific - Taiwanese inherit Korean and Japanese street fashion, and this is an amateur aesthetic. So, in terms of clothing shopping, conservatism, unusual for me in other areas, manifested itself: I prefer familiar mass-market brands. Clothing prices are comparable to ours, but shoes in the same Aldo and Nine West are much more expensive.

Studying at the University

I don't go to university every day. It's a completely different system here. In the semester, the student chooses 3-4 subjects, each of which - once a week. At the same time, studying takes a lot, independent work and preparation for lectures are 2/3 of the work. Working on a government scholarship is strictly prohibited. This ban even applies to university practice (if it is not mandatory) and unpaid volunteer projects.

How friends are made

Taiwan is a special place. Virtually no one sees the island as their final destination - people don't come here to stay forever. As a rule, this is some intermediate point on the way from one goal to another. People communicate with each other not because they have a lot in common and some kind of spiritual connection, but because for a number of reasons they ended up at the same time in the same place. And when the link temporarily disappears, the relationship will dissolve by itself. Nobody regrets it.

Taiwan gave me a couple of close people, but in general, the older you are, the less new real friendships happen - everyone has their own world. It doesn't matter if it's Taiwan or Ukraine.

Is it easy to become

I do not believe in assimilation, and in the case of Asian countries, this is simply impossible - you will always be a stranger, a wonderful creature from another world. As elsewhere, interracial marriages happen here - among the younger generation, for example, it is prestigious to create families with representatives of the Caucasian race. There is also a category of expat men who marry Taiwanese women (the reverse trend - a foreign woman to marry a Taiwanese - is less pronounced).

There is an opinion that Taiwanese women are capricious and very demanding wives, they don’t bother around the house, but “in the load” the newly-made husband gets a considerable number of relatives with whom you need to maintain relations.

The Taiwanese are friendly and helpful, but our worlds are so different that it is almost impossible to integrate into this culture. Expats here, as a rule, "huddle in packs" and communicate with their own circle. The Russian-speaking community, as elsewhere, in Taiwan is quite extensive.

New gastronomic habits

Taiwanese are very fond of bakeries and coffee houses - the trend of inheriting Western traditions is very strong here. Taipei is considered the coffee capital of Asia, and the coffee here is really delicious. But the abundance of bakeries does not save - the bread here is very different from the one we are used to. It is too airy, sweet and, in my opinion, tasteless.

In Taiwan, I gave up meat - it happened somehow naturally. There is an abundance of vegetables, fruits and herbs all year round, always fresh seafood. The most popular drink is soy milk. Asians began to consume cow's milk not so long ago, respectively, it is difficult here with milk. Cheeses are only imported and very expensive. So I also switched to soy milk and tofu. Of course, it cannot be eaten in its pure form, but it is quite possible to cook it.

The language barrier

Many people in Taiwan speak English. Those who studied abroad (and there are many) speak it perfectly. But in general, you should not count on full-fledged communication. There is a certain stratum of expats who have been living here for years and from the Chinese lexicon they get by with only “Ni Hao” and “Xie Xie” (“hello” and “thank you”). I studied Chinese at the university and my knowledge is enough for the everyday level of communication. However, I avoid telephone conversations.

mentality

It so happened that the Taiwanese live under the same roof with their parents for a very long time, and they, in turn, protect children from all the problems of the outside world. Children do not help their parents with the housework, they never wash the dishes after themselves, and in transport even old people jump up as if stung, giving way to children of almost adolescence.

When they go to university and move to a hostel, they do not know how to turn on the washing machine, they try to fill it from a bucket and leave food to rot in the common refrigerator.

At first, this annoyed me, and in the second year of my life I moved to a separate apartment, so as not to shudder every time I open the common refrigerator in the hostel and not be the only person on the whole floor who sometimes cleans it.

But the Taiwanese are kind. Often complete strangers helped me with a variety of problems. They sincerely delved into tasks that were not always clear to them, wasted their time and, if they could not help themselves, found someone else.

Taiwan has shown me that people are good. I learned to believe in them, and this is perhaps one of the main gifts of the island.

Standard of living

Taiwan is a developed capitalist country (albeit with a controversial status). There is a fairly high standard of living. A salary of about $1,000 for an office worker is considered very low. As a rule, it is rather 1500$. It’s enough to live on, if you don’t rent an apartment - rent, as well as buying a home, is expensive

Not pursuing large purchases as obviously impossible, Taiwanese are simply obsessed with smaller-scale shopping. The cult of consumerism reigns here - from night markets to Louis Vuitton. Moreover, every local girl has a Louis Vuitton bag here. This is a kind of must have - regardless of the status of the owner, she just has to be. There is no counterfeit, everything is original.

They also do not spare money for education - a very large percentage of young people receive a bachelor's degree in America. They are friends with America at the political level, and this extends to all spheres of life.

Weekends

On weekends, locals like to barbecue. But this has little to do with our trip “to barbecues”. The Taiwanese go to the embankment (the river crosses the entire city and flows into the ocean in the north), take out their small barbecue and fry micro-kebabs. It is allowed to do this in strictly defined places and seasonally.

My schedule allows me not to tie active leisure to the weekend, and this is a big plus - I manage to avoid queues and crowds - from cinema to national parks. When I set a day off for myself, I like to explore new places: I go to the mountains, walk in parks, go to some small picturesque town near Taipei, or come to the ocean.

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If a person always lives in the same cultural environment, then he unconsciously believes that the rest of the world lives exactly the same way. He will think, for example, that tanned skin is beautiful, and pallor is a sign of sickness; that stilettos for work are okay, but spanking is crazy. They even tell him ten times that in Asia girls whiten their skin, although the Western man in the street will be surprised, he will not fully believe in it. It will be too different from his experience.

In my opinion, Asia is interesting precisely because it lives by its own standards (and especially beauty), although it periodically succumbs to the influence of the West, it even processes Western trends to its own taste.

Tatyana Trosheva is a Russian model and student in Taiwan. Like me, he personally observes the peculiarities of Asian fashion, but unlike me, he also takes part in all this action.

Tatyana has been living in Taiwan for three years now, studying management for a doctorate, and in her free time she shoots commercials for Taiwanese and Chinese brands.

How would you characterize the style that is most popular in Taiwan, and maybe in Asia in general? And what do you think of him?

As I see, and I know from the Taiwanese, they are very fond of everything Japanese and Korean - sushi, ramen (Japanese noodles), short haircuts, cartoon characters and clothes. Things are sold very well, if somehow applies to these countries!

I think "kawaii" (from Japanesekawaii- cute, adorable- this is cute and unusual for Europeans, and since we live in Taiwan, we should adapt at least something from local preferences. I like the food, and the clothes too.

What surprised you the most about the clothes of the locals when you arrived in Taiwan? Have any of your stereotypes been broken?

Taiwanese style is more sporty, homely and generally casual compared to Hong Kong or Japan. I think it's because of the humid climate and calm environment on the island.

I had no particular stereotypes about Asia and Taiwan in particular, simply because I knew little about traditions and culture, but I understand much more now.

What do you think is the difference between the ideals of beauty in the West and in Asia?

Asians prefer a touch of childishness, while Europeans prefer femininity.

Models from Russia and Eastern Europe in general are incredibly popular in Asia and Taiwan in particular. How can you explain it? And generally speaking , Is there a chance for a model famous in Asia to get to Europe?

It seems to me that in Europe they prefer a different type of face, body shape, hair color, etc. At the same time, many Slavic girls are quite thin, tall, with a doll face, blond hair, mixed European-Asian appearance. And that's exactly what they love here.

In Asia, you can get a lot of low-paying jobs - the most popular is shooting in catalogs. But to become famous, of course, you need to have almost perfect command of the Chinese language.

Name some of our compatriots who have become incredibly popular here.

I know that there is a girl named Larisa from Ukraine, she once starred in a Taiwanese drama (from English drama - Asian soap opera) and became famous.

What is the general development of the modeling business in Asia and will the focus ever shift from Europe to Asia? In your opinion, will Korea, for example, be able to become a trendsetter or will it remain only at the local-regional level?

Probably many years will pass and only then the situation can change. However, I believe that Japan, for example, is already in some sense a trendsetter. In addition, there are many talented designers from Asia on the world catwalks.

Tell me something about the modeling business in Asia (Asian models)? I heard they are generally incredibly popular on the catwalks of the world now. Which is largely due to the growing influence and purchasing power of Asia in general.

I agree that Asia is a giant market and Asian models can help promote the brand in their countries. At the same time, I think that Asian models have some “cosmic” or something, and this in itself is also a current trend.

Can you give examples of successful top models (male and female) from Taiwan or from Asia in general?

I can give one example - Fei Fei Sun, who participated in shows and starred for many global brands Dries Van Noten Louis Vuitton and others.

From myself I will add: Taiwanese Godfrey Gao, model and actor, starred for Louis Vuitton and participates in fashion week in Milan.

Is there something like Fashion in Taiwan week ?

I know that Vogue Taiwan holds Fashion Night Out, a fashion event not only in Taiwan, but all over the world.

Tatiana has started a blog dedicated to stylerules.co and plans to develop her career in marketing.

While the majority of migrants from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the CIS countries seek to settle in sought-after states like Israel, Canada and the United States, some are considering more exotic options. Indeed, why not settle on a beautiful island in the Pacific Ocean, given that there is everything necessary for life - medical facilities, schools, universities, jobs? If this idea appeals to you, we recommend that you read our article on how to move to Taiwan for permanent residence.

Ways to migrate to Taiwan

This article will not deal with cases of people who are going to move to Taiwan because their relatives live there. The probability that just such a person reads our material tends to zero: in 2020, no more than 1,000 immigrants from the CIS countries received permanent residence in this state, and most of them already live with families in the north and northeast of the island (settlements of Taipei and Hualin).

Most often, Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians move to Taiwan by issuing the following types of visas:

• student;
• working;
• business (business visa);
• visa for property owners.

Migration for work in Taiwan

To gain a foothold on the island of Taiwan as an employee, you need to take care of finding a job in your native state. The main problem faced by immigrants from the CIS is the language barrier: to get a position, you need to know not only English, but also Chinese. The official language is Putonghua, which must be distinguished from Chinese dialects.

The second problem is competition, because in Taiwan, where there are 23.5 million inhabitants in 2020, about 11.6 million work. an employee with more than 10 years of experience will lose his position, which is only 4%.

One way or another, a foreigner is most likely to take place in Taiwan as:

To obtain a residence permit or permanent residence in Taiwan, you need to have at least two of the most important documents. This is, firstly, a notarized copy of the contract with the boss, and, secondly, a work permit.

Migration by education

Another great opportunity to get a coveted visa is to enroll in a local university or college. For 2020, there are 157 educational institutions in the country where you can get secondary specialized, higher, second higher education or a candidate / doctoral degree. In most of these institutions, migrants from any country who are fluent in English or Chinese can study - you can choose any for training. Here is a table of the best universities where a visitor can enter, for example, from Russia or Ukraine.

overdue loans, unpaid utility bills, alimony or fines from the traffic police. Any of these debts may threaten to restrict travel abroad in 2018, we recommend that you find out information about the presence of debt using a trusted service

Most of the professors of Taiwan's largest universities have completed advanced training courses in the United States, so the quality of education in the Asian country is high. Another plus is the relatively low tuition fee: it rarely exceeds $ 1,000 per semester and only reaches $ 3,000 in some cases. Finally, a successful graduate of a Taiwanese college or university can easily stay in the country at work, and here it is not far from obtaining citizenship.

Business migration

If you have started a successful business and a partner in Taiwan is interested in your business, you can also apply for a visa at the embassy. Just do not confuse the types of VISITOR visas - they are single or multiple. Single-entry visas are issued so that the entrepreneur can attend negotiations or participate in an exhibition of achievements. Such a trip may be useful for a career, but will not bring you any closer to obtaining a residence permit or permanent residence.

But already having received the coveted status, you can start opening your own business. It should be recognized that the Taiwan authorities encourage young entrepreneurs: not so long ago, the tax on their activities was reduced to 17%, and some companies are completely exempt from deductions for the first five years. The country ranks 22nd in the world in terms of prosperity index, and the rapid development of the economy since 2020 is referred to as the “Taiwan miracle”.

Migration for property owners

Finally, visa and residence permit status are relied upon by foreigners who decide to purchase real estate. Alas, to get hold of an apartment even in a small town, you will need a lot of money, since since the late 2000s, a conspiracy of developers has come into force in Taiwan, which the authorities cannot cope with, and real estate prices are growing by leaps and bounds: more than 90% from 2008 to 2020 So, m2 of new housing in Taipei now costs about $7,000.

But rent, paradoxically, is cheap here.

A small apartment on the secondary housing market can be rented for $125 per month.

In a word, a great option for those who came to the country to study or do business, but not in order to apply for a visa.

To come to Taiwan and see the options, you need to get an invitation from a specialist from a real estate agency or at least one owner of secondary housing. Remember that foreigners can only buy residential property in Taiwan - and then only one property. By the way, in order to conclude a contract with you, the seller must have the right to buy a home in your country - this is called the "rule of reciprocity."

Visa to Taiwan

If you fall into at least one of the categories described above, you have every chance of moving to Taiwan for permanent residence. To do this, you need to complete the preliminary preparations: receive, as mentioned above, an invitation from a business partner or boss, a certificate of enrollment in a university, etc. and go to the consulate with a package of documents.

The cost of a single entry visa is about $26, a multiple one - $32, not including indirect costs (such as photo printing). Despite the fact that relatively few people from the CIS go to Taiwan, you can get a document in every country - Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and others.

Features of obtaining a residence permit and permanent residence in Taiwan

Did you go to the consulate, collect the necessary documents, get a visa and apply for a primary residence permit (or, as it is sometimes called, ARC)? Then you should know that this status, issued on the basis of admission to study / work, ends after 1-3 years of stay in Taiwan (depending on the terms of the contract), and it should be renewed. And keep in mind that if you lose your place at a university or company, you need to immediately go home.

To avoid such problems, it is better not to renew the residence permit, and after 1-3 years of study/work, find a place in the office and apply for permanent residence - aka APRC. The holder of this status has the right to get officially settled in several different places. But here, too, there is a nuance: you will definitely need to live on the territory of the state for at least 183 days a year, otherwise you will be deprived of your status.

Citizenship for visitors from the CIS

Those who left the CIS countries, lived in Taiwan for more than 5 years (even with interruptions when they had to return to their homeland) and reached the age of 20, can attend to obtaining citizenship. This method is called the acquisition of citizenship by naturalization. In addition to age and length of stay in the country, a migrant must:

• provide for himself (official employment);
• have real estate, at least rentable, and property necessary for normal life;
• have a spotless reputation (even an administrative offense can interfere).

Have you issued all the certificates of the presence of property, the absence of a criminal record and others? Then you need to renounce your previous citizenship and apply as a stateless person.

However, in accordance with new rules approved by the Ministry of the Interior (MIA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on March 24, 2020, certain categories of foreign citizens - professionals with a high level of qualification - can acquire citizenship of the Republic of China (Taiwan) without renouncing their original citizenship. as required by the previous version of the Citizenship Act. The new rules apply to foreigners who have lived in Taiwan for at least five years and who have certain qualifications in the fields of arts and culture, economics and business, science and technology, education, sports, and "other" (the latter category includes a number of activities that are not covered by the above categories). ).

This decision clearly demonstrates the efforts made by the government of the Kyrgyz Republic to create conditions for attracting more highly qualified foreign specialists to Taiwan and realizing their abilities here on a long-term basis.

A little about the features of life in Taiwan

Those who are worried about the arrangement of everyday life in Taiwan can breathe a sigh of relief. The infrastructure is developed even in small towns, most of the processes up to the queues in banks and clinics are automated, the cost of goods from the consumer basket is about the same as in Russia and Ukraine, and salaries are many times higher.

On average, each permanent residence status holder and citizen receives $920 per month.

The mentality of the people of Taiwan is unusual for immigrants from the CIS: people here are very calm and balanced, somewhat distant. Those who return to Russia or Belarus are struck by how emotional they are at home. Foreigners are treated well here, and Taiwanese are also tolerant of representatives of all religions, confessions, people of different beliefs and non-traditional sexual orientations (LGBT marriages are allowed in the country).

15 facts about Taiwan: Video

And, finally, the most interesting thing is the restriction of travel abroad for debtors. It is about the status of the debtor that it is easiest to “forget” when going on another vacation abroad. The reason may be overdue loans, unpaid utility bills, alimony or fines from the traffic police. Any of these debts may threaten to limit travel abroad in 2020, we recommend that you find out information about the presence of debt using a trusted service

The island of Taiwan, which is part of the People's Republic of China but stubbornly considers itself a separate state, is located in the Pacific Ocean, and is separated from the PRC by a distance of 150 kilometers. can be for a different period, which will depend on the purpose of your trip. The capital of Taiwan is the city of Taipei. Due to the geographical location, there is always a lot of rainfall - there is even a rainy and hot season that falls in the summer months from June to August, then it is replaced by frequent typhoons in September.

Evening view from the mountain to Taipei

But the weather is not a problem, because in addition to the climate, Taiwan has something to attract not only tourists, but also future residents. How good is life on the island? Definitely yes!

The Taiwanese economy in 2020 lives mainly due to three main sectors: the service sector, agriculture and industry, with the largest share being service - about 60% of Taiwanese are engaged in the provision of services, industry is in second place with 35%.

The national currency of Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD), 1 US dollar is equal to 32 Taiwan dollars. It is interesting to note that Taiwan is not just a region that has successfully overcome poverty (no more than 1% of citizens live below the poverty line), but also an island with excellent development and employment prospects.

This is what Taiwanese dollars look like

It is not for nothing that many researchers note that the Taiwanese economy is in excellent condition and is not going to give up its positions. This positive trend attracts foreigners - despite the specter of a global crisis, it is more than possible to find a job on the island, but - subject to a sufficient level of education.

All this information in total gives a rather attractive picture and suggests that the standard of living in Taiwan is extremely high, and, importantly, it is accessible even to ordinary citizens, regardless of the distance of the settlement from the center, and, therefore, makes Taiwan very tempting to move to permanent residence .

Industry

Separately, it is necessary to talk about the most dynamically developing sector of the Taiwanese economy, namely the industry, which is represented by small and medium-sized enterprises, although, of course, there are also large organizations here.


The focus of business is more on scientific, intellectual developments, specifically on the production of electronics and the development of information technologies. This is also facilitated by the widespread strengthening of the prestige of higher education.

The list of relevant industries is as follows:

• Electronics (MediaTek, Asus, Gigabyte Technology, HTC);
• Energy (the main source of resources is oil, imported from the Middle East). The regulatory company is Taipower, there are three nuclear power plants, alternative energy sources are being developed;
• Food & Beverage (Uni-President is popular in Asia for dairy products and snack drinks);
• Manufacture of products from plastic and polymers;
• Military-industrial complex;
• Textile production;
• Aerospace developments.

Security questions

Interestingly, this is one of the safest and most comfortable countries for travelers, which the locals are very proud of: firstly, the police do their job flawlessly.

Secondly, most of the locals speak English, and all the names written in hieroglyphs are duplicated in Latin, which greatly simplifies moving around cities and provinces.

The only real concern is health insurance and vaccinations against certain diseases, such as yellow fever, which can be life threatening. The recommendations common to all Asian countries remain in force: do not drink tap water, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

Education

Without higher education, it is almost impossible to get a job on the island of Taiwan, so all the inhabitants of the island are almost without exception literate people and graduates.

Tamkang University building in Taiwan

The stages of preschool and school education take a period of 12 years, from 4-6 years old children go to school, after the ninth grade you can already go looking for a job, but few make this choice: only after graduating from school, having received a full education at this level, you can go to university .

Admission is based on the results of selection in the final year of study at school. Bachelor's degree (four-year education) is common, but some specialties require a lot of time, so future doctors study for seven whole years. To enter the university, you need to know the Chinese language, and speak it fluently. Sometimes this becomes an insurmountable barrier for many international students.

Prices on the island

No question worries people who are ready to move more than prices. How much money do you need to live happily?

Street food market in Taipei

Prices in the country do not bite too much, for example, having an income of $ 350 is enough for a modest life in the capital for the whole family, and this amount includes the cost of food, housing, clothing and even education.

If you move inland, the amount of money needed to meet the same needs will be almost half as much, about $ 170 will cost a month in Kinmen.