Where I Can Live
Flag of Taiwan

Asia · Mandarin · updated 2026-10

Moving to Taiwan: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $1,400 a month to live in Taipei, and a family of four about $3,100, including rent. Taiwan usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 3 yrs, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is limited. You can move here without a job offer through the Employment Gold Card.

Monthly budget
$1,400
Very low cost
Safety
75
Very safe
Stability
76
Very stable
Family
77
Excellent
Main city
Taipei
Language
Mandarin
Permanent residence
3 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Limited
Digital nomad visa
No
What can your passport do in Taiwan?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
Open the interactive index →

Cost of living in Taiwan, per month in US$

One person
$1,400
Family of four
$3,100
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Taipei centre
$550
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$1,000
Estimate
Price level
55
US = 100
Income per person
$2,917
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Some values for this country are estimates (no World Bank data).

Safety

Safety score
75
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.8
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.70
Rule of law+1.20
Control of corruption+1.00
Government effectiveness+1.30
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (76/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
77
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
n/a
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
n/a
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
80.2 yrs
at birth
Health spending
n/a
per person / year
Education spending
n/a
of GDP

Gold Card holders' families get residence, and adult children can get job-seeking visas.

Visa & residence routes

Talent
Employment Gold CardOpen work and residence permit for professionals earning NT$160,000/month or with recognised expertise. No job offer.
Job offer
Work permitWith a Taiwanese employer.
Investment
Entrepreneur visaFunded or innovative business.

Some passports also get: Working Holiday visa for young people.

Who gets easier access to Taiwan

Taiwan is not part of a free-movement area in the index.

Working Holiday visa for young people (18 nationalities)

Working Holiday visa for young people.

Flag of AustraliaAustraliaFlag of AustriaAustriaFlag of BelgiumBelgiumFlag of CanadaCanadaFlag of the Czech RepublicCzech RepublicFlag of FranceFranceFlag of GermanyGermanyFlag of HungaryHungaryFlag of IrelandIrelandFlag of JapanJapanFlag of LuxembourgLuxembourgFlag of the NetherlandsNetherlandsFlag of New ZealandNew ZealandFlag of PolandPolandFlag of SlovakiaSlovakiaFlag of South KoreaSouth KoreaFlag of SwedenSwedenFlag of the United KingdomUnited Kingdom

Visiting: 67 passports can visit visa-free, 4 with an electronic travel authorisation, 3 get a visa on arrival, 17 can apply for an eVisa and 107 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
3 yrs
3 years for Gold Card holders, 5 normally
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Limited

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: goldcard.nat.gov.tw/en

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Taiwan?

About $1,400 a month for one person and $3,100 for a family of four in Taipei, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $550 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,000. Prices are 55% of US levels. Taiwan is the 29th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Taiwan safe to live in?

Taiwan scores 75/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 22nd of 76. The homicide rate is 0.8 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Taiwan politically stable?

Taiwan scores 76/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 22nd of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Taiwan good for families?

Taiwan scores 77/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 26th of 76. Life expectancy is 80.2 years. Gold Card holders' families get residence, and adult children can get job-seeking visas.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Taiwan?

Usually 3 yrs of legal residence. 3 years for Gold Card holders, 5 normally.

How long until I can become a citizen of Taiwan?

Usually 5 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: limited.

Can I move to Taiwan without a job offer?

Yes. Employment Gold Card: Open work and residence permit for professionals earning NT$160,000/month or with recognised expertise. No job offer.

Similar countries in Asia

See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Taiwan can move