My boyfriend (from the Republic of Ireland) and I are hoping to move in January to Taipei in order to teach English. We will both have Bachelor’s degrees by the time we arrive.
When I was looking at visa requirements, I was worried about the police check. People seemed to suggest that the police check has to come from the country of your issuing passport. Both my boyfriend and I carry Republic of Ireland passports but I technically live under the jurisdiction of the U.K. in Northern Ireland. The police in the Republic will not issue me a police check certificate as I do not live there, and the police in NI would issue one marked with the fact it is from the U.K. government. Would this still be OK for visa purposes?
Also, does anyone have any advice specific to irish / northern irish expats in Taiwan, especially in teaching positions?
Every Irish teacher I’ve met in Taiwan claimed to be British. I guess it is easier to find teaching jobs that way, and most Taiwanese don’t know the difference anyway.
You don’t have to live in ROI to get a police clearance cert. If I was you I would just apply at the station that your boyfriend is applying at. The application form does ask for an address in the state. You could consider giving your boyfriend’s address.
Another option would be to call the taiwan representative office in Dublin and ask them what to do.
Thanks!
I was under the impression you had to be a ROI resident in order to get the police check, thanks for the advice!
I’ve tried to call the embassy in Dublin but the guy there didn’t speak much English at all. All I managed to get out of him was “please do not come without an appointment please. work visa sixty euros” and he seemed very panicked when I called. Maybe I will try again.
The website states " A Police Certificate is issued by the Superintendent in the District where the relevant applicant resides, or formerly resided, in the Republic of Ireland. Please go to our [Station Directory] to find out who your District Superintendent is." I took this to mean that I had to be resident for a police check. I don’t even have a PPS (social security/national insurance number) in the Republic.
Is there a real reason for this? I wasn’t aware that there was any real difference made between English speaking nationalities, that might complicate things
They ask for dates that you resided. But you don’t have to be currently resident. And I don’t think there is a minimum length of residency. So just give a short period of time that you were resident at your boyfriend’s address?
No unfortunately not. I live in Northern Ireland & the place is about an hour away in the Republic of Ireland - right now we have pretty high restrictions & fines on intercounty travel so whenever those are lifted I will pay a visit in person if it’s still necessary.
While you’re waiting for that, you could bother her majesty’s local police for a certificate and hand this in at the TECO.
Also in Germany you can apply for one online. I don’t know if this is a European thing. Maybe the ROI has something similar.
