Work Holiday Scheme Questions as a German

Taiwan Moving to Taiwan
1

I am a 18 year old teen from Germany and I am fascinated by Taiwan. I have come across the Working Holiday Scheme where people like me can visit Taiwan for up to one year, to experience Taiwan’s culture. I will be 19 if I went, this will be right after I would be done with Highschool.

I have read a few posts about other peoples tips and experiences, but I have noticed that many of these people have completely different expectations or goals with this one year program. Personally, I just want to finally get the chance to visit Taiwan, especially since this visa gives me the chance to work in Taiwan! The work should just cover my expenses for the year (this includes money spend on freetime).
I have never been to Taiwan, so I don’t really have the experience to tell if it is even possible for me to do that?
My English is fluent, and I will be learning traditional Mandarin for over a year until my departure, but most likely not enough to be really conversational. There are a lot of jobs in the tourist and service sector, but I have also heard of many people on Work Holiday Visa’s who worked in cram schools (buxiban/補習班)?
Again, I am not really sure if I even have the necessary qualifications to work in these cram schools, but I did read that you make more money there compared to the service sector jobs?

I planned on moving somewhere other than Taipei and the more expensive areas of Taiwan, but I will have to see where I can fit in better, since some work places even offer a place to live in. Or maybe the money gained from my jobs should just serve as extra cash on top of my monthly allowance, but I do still hope I can make it with only limited money from home.
Luckily I also have a bunch of friends who are from Taiwan or visit it often, so I won’t be entirely on my own!

If you have any other advice or experience feel free to share it with me!

2

Welcome to Forumosa!

I wonder what kind of job(s) you expect to get in Taiwan as a person without a university degree and without (yet!) having functional Mandarin?

Guy

3

I’d say check your expectations about what kind of atmosphere you want to live in.

Taiwan doesn’t have a big tourist atmosphere like maybe having a working visa in australia would have.

Taipei especially is a working city people rushing around busy working but there is a good opportunity lots of foreigners. Most that age will either be working or going to school and then meeting up night and weekends.

The further south you go the more relaxed atmosphere.

If you have some ideas of where your friends will be or where the jobs are you could get better information.

4

First off, what a great way to enter adulthood!

I think it is a great idea and experience. But just a forewarning that the way Taiwan sells the WHV is not particularly in line with reality.

I am Australian and my first time in Taiwan was on WHV.

The main issue is that (excluding UK citizens) WHV holders are not entitled to an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC for short) which is used for everything that requires ID. Including but not limited to, getting a job, opening a bank account, getting a driver’s licence.

You can get a Unified ID number from immigration which in theory is equivalent to an ARC when presented with your passport for ID purposes.
In practice, you will be turned away by all service staff. In my case, I ended up being able to do all those things but I had to become a Karen and argue constantly. It was exhausting.

In terms of getting a job at a buxiban teaching English, if you’re English is fluent then you could probably land a job tomorrow. Or maybe a week as you aren’t from a native English speaking country.

But while I was on WHV I could not get a job to hire me legally no matter how hard I tried.
All employers convinced themselves that I was working illegally because I did not have an ARC even though they had my visa in their hand. WHV holders aren’t common in Taiwan and business owners do not care to educate themselves or be compliant.

I also never had to rent an apartment alone so that may be another hurdle you have to face.

In saying that life is never easy so it would be a good way to prepare yourself for your 20s and 30s :rofl::rofl:

Lots of positives in Taiwan as well, it’s convenient, better geographical location (compared to Australia), great public transport, low cost of living. I ended up in Taiwan for 4-5 years all up and even naturalised so it ain’t all bad. You just need to be prepared and have a strong back bone, don’t let desk warmers push you around or deny your entitlements.

5

Oh also qualifications to teach English at a buxiban - there are none.

You only need qualifications if they are sponsoring your work permit and ARC which you wouldn’t be eligible for anyway unless you hold a passport from a country where English is an official language and even then I believe you need to be 20+

Teaching English at a buxiban would likely be the easiest job to get

I could not speak a word of mandarin when I first entered Taiwan and I still do not have a university degree - and am edging ever so close to my mid thirties

My WHV time in TW was in my mid twenties