Expat jobs, chosen by hand. Every Monday.
Every Monday, a handful of expat jobs an editor thinks are worth applying to.
What we're doing here.
Most job boards work for the recruiter, not the applicant. For someone moving from Manchester to Taipei, that means thousands of listings — most closed to expats, most written for people already in the country.
We work the other way. Every Monday, an editor publishes the roles worth your time — company vetted, visa checked, description rewritten if the original didn't cut it. If we wouldn't recommend it to a friend, it isn't in the issue.
About expat jobs in Taiwan
Taiwan has become a more prominent destination for professional expats since the introduction of the Employment Gold Card in 2018. Taipei concentrates most opportunities, particularly at the intersection of technology, semiconductors and English-medium education. The market is smaller than mainland China's but generally more approachable and welcoming to foreign hires.
№ 01Sectors hiring UK expats in Taiwan
- Semiconductors — TSMC, UMC, MediaTek and their supply chain all recruit international engineers and specialists
- Technology and startups — the government-backed startup scene has drawn considerable foreign talent
- English-medium education — schools and universities pursuing bilingual instruction
- Design and creative — Taipei has a growing design and creative-industry scene
№ 02Visa routes for UK professionals
- Employment Gold Card — the flagship route: three-year work + residence + open-work-permit in one, for qualifying professionals
- Foreign Special Professional Work Permit — employer-sponsored for specialist roles
- Standard Work Permit — the traditional employer-sponsored route
№ 03Salary and compensation
Taipei technology salaries are lower in absolute terms than Singapore or Tokyo but the market is competitive. Senior engineers and specialists typically earn NT$1.5M–NT$3.5M per year (approximately £37,000–£87,000 GBP equivalent). Cost of living balances this favourably for those without children in international education.
№ 04Cost of living
Taipei is reasonable — a two-bedroom apartment in Da'an or Xinyi runs NT$45,000–NT$80,000 per month. Healthcare is excellent and inexpensive through the National Health Insurance system. International schools cost NT$700,000–NT$1,000,000 per year.
The weekly issue focuses on roles that will support Gold Card or Work Permit applications and are genuinely open to non-Chinese-speaking candidates.