Working as an expat in Taiwan entails important decisions for those with wives and children to think about. Moving clear across the globe from Europe to Asia may force the expat to make some sacrifices in terms of family time. With the distance and time difference, it is a challenge to maintain strong family ties for British expats staying in Taiwan for a length of time. Fortunately for some, the companies that the expats work for are are able to make arrangements for their families to join them in their new home.Alien Residence Certificate
As a British national, the first step is to acquire an Alien Residence Certificate or an ARC. Regardless if the employer is Taiwanese or is a foreigner with a residence visa, the subordinates are treated individually and will have to comply with residency requirements. The application for ARC is to be filed with the National Immigration Agency.
For family members who wish to live together with their parents, they can also obtain the same ARC like the expat’s but with a different reason for their stay. Residency can be granted to families who wish to continue their children’s education, travel, or even permanently reside in Taiwan.
Obtaining Permanency in Taiwan
British nationals and their families who decide to obtain legal and permanent residence in Taiwan can only do so if the parent who is working as an expat has completed the mandated five year residency. It is the only time that the family can be petitioned and registered with the Immigration agency for the APRC or Alien Permanent Residency Certificate.
Junior Executives with Start-Up Families
On a sad note, not all foreigners who wish to seek permanent residency in Taiwan can be easily approved by immigration. There still are requirements to be completed such as the following:
1.The age limit on the expat’s wife or husband is set at 20 years old and above. The applicant will have to prove character to be considered for residency.
2.The spouse must have skills or talents that can be utilized by Taiwan. This means that no spouse should be just a stay-at-home parent left to take care of the kids and manage the household while the expat works.
Driver’s License Permit and Public Transport
Now that the British expat has the requirements to expatriate his family to Taiwan, he can already make arrangements for mobility. Public transport is not the only way to get around in Taiwan. Not all expats have the convenience of living or working in a place that is accessible via public transportation. An alternative would be to buy or lease a vehicle to use while the expat is in Taiwan. Taiwan allows all expats to drive for a month through the use of the International Driving Permit.
After the 30 days, they are to apply for a temporary license while waiting for the local license. Taiwan is a right-hand driving city. All vehicles have their driver seated on the right. It is not a problem with all British expats since they share the same driving provisions.
One of the difficulties of a British expat is how his family can save money for gas should they use the car as their primary means of transport. Taiwan is well known for its newly-created railways that have trains that are similar to Japan’s bullet trains. The train fare does not cost much and travel time is faster.
Hartford Group International Taipei 