Moving here on Working Holiday questions

Taiwan Moving to Taiwan
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Hello, I’m from Australia and considering very soon getting the working holiday visa for Taiwan. I’m currently in Japan on this same visa but this place is a nightmare trying to do anything and honestly its a miserable place so I’m considering returning home to get the Taiwan wh visa. I’ve been to Taiwan before in 2018 and for memory everything was easy, money talks basically and little to no red tape or stupid messing around.

What I’m mostly wanting to know is how easy is it to rent a property here? Ideally in Keelung area, something either modern interior or something semi modern at least. I know that the tourist sim at the airport comes with phone number so I can then make line account. Also from what I’ve heard some banks allow opening account on this visa. Also is it possible to just pay via credit card or cash to the landlord? What about guarantor fees or something because I don’t know anyone here. What bank balance in savings is required for renting, here in Japan its too high, one of the reasons I can’t stay.

Just hoping to get some advice on what to expect here to know if here is suitable, I’m not too keen on going to places like Philippines or any of those 3rd world countries unless it’s only choice.

Thanks for help

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I imagine you could find something not too expensive in Keelung. Usually you have to sign a one year lease and put down two months as a security deposit. Many landlords will happily take cash, probably not able to set up payment with a credit card though.

No minimum bank balance, just pay the rent on time. If not, the LL has two months of deposit. So when you rent a place here, you have to have 3 months of rent up front. 1st month’s rent (obviously) and two months for the security deposit. You’ll get it back after you complete a lease, which would be for a year. Are you planning to stay at least that long?

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Renting is easy, use Facebook to see if there are people subletting or looking for roommates, and 591 tw for basically everything else. Not common to find short-term without knowing someone though. Two months’ deposit with a one-year contract is standard. Another half a month’s rent goes to the agent.
You can definitely open a bank account on a WH visa. You can actually get one on a 90-day visa-free if you go to the NIA and get a notarized paper. The more difficult part will be convincing the bank employees, they often worry that an unemployed short-term foreigner will do strange things or show up on an audit, so smile and be persistent.

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I’m Australian and my first time and year in Taiwan was on a WHV. My complaints about the program are scattered all over this site.

I would recommend any other visa type that provides an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) if you are eligible.

I don’t know what it’s like in Japan but getting anything done in Taiwan is a nightmare as well.

Bank accounts - you will need to get a ‘record of ID’ from NIA and take that with your passport to a bank to open a bank accounts. But banks in Taiwan are stupid. They will mostly just refuse to open account. The post office bank is usually the easiest to deal with. Not that they’re easy, just easier.

Employers will convince themselves they’re hiring you illegally even with your visa in their hand so if you care about following the law and having your money on the books, that won’t happen. Actually finding and getting a job is easy. You could walk into a cram school and have a job with in 15 minutes if you’re semi lucky.

You will not be able to get a phone contract in your name. Impossible.

I also had to fight for the 6 month extension that Australians are eligible for and is written i to Taiwanese law just because the NIA staff didn’t feel like doing it.

Getting a drivers licence you will also need your record of ID, and passport, but you will also have to argue even harder with them than the banks to get your drivers licence.

It’s nothing like Taiwanese who do working holidays in Australia.

In saying that I was able to open bank accounts and get my drivers licence but it was painful. I could never get an employer to hire me on the books or get a phone number in my own name.

I rented with a Taiwanese person but it wasn’t much of an issue. Easier than renting in Australia actually.

If you have an Advanced Diploma, or Associates Degree, + TEFL or a bachelor’s you can get a cram school to sponsor your work permit and get an ARC

Otherwise Gold Card if your income is high enough.

There are some other options too but those are the easiest

Only Brits should do WHV in Taiwan because they get an ARC which solves most (but not all) problems.

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An Australian (from a high wage country) coming to Taiwan (proudly a low wage country) on a working holiday visa, wanting to live in Keelung 'cause that will be better than life in Japan . . .

The best I can say, viewing this plan from a distance, is that it would possibly make a great reality show series. :popcorn:

Guy

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Good experience for a young person in their early to mid twenties not settled on a career yet though :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

My first stint in Taiwan was someone saying to me ‘wanna come to Taiwan with me for a year?’
And I said ‘yeah why not?’ :rofl:

Oh youth

I stupidly thought that Taiwan WHV would be the same as all the foreigners coming to Australia on WHV. And I didn’t discover Forumosa until 6 months in either

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…why?

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Keelung rocks. People there rock. Shame about the rain though.

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Cyberpunk aesthetics

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Don’t worry, forumosans will get a 30% discount on the first season when released.

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…Keelung? Really?

I dunno. This seems more Cyberpunk than Keelung. Or Taiwan for that matter.

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Where’s this, manila? Keelungs gritty alleyways and hills make it look like mini Chongqing

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Close! Mandaluyong. Not bad!

MRT Guadalupe Station

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It has rocks.

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My son also want to go to Australia after his service end, because his friend asking him to join for a year. As mom, just take a deep breath just say ok it was not so far and adding you know most jobs are farmers.

At the back of my mind i’m worried but everything would be ok.