Moving To Taiwan From The UK

Moving to Taiwan

If you are moving to Taiwan, whether to Taipei, Kaohsiung or Tainan, Britannia Movers International has the expertise and the local knowledge to tailor the move to your individual needs.

	Importing Personal Effects to Taiwan Used household effects must be imported within six months of shipper’s arrival in Taiwan. The shipper must hold a residence visa, and produce his passport with immigration entry stamp, as well as embarkation card with arrival and flight information. Nearly all electrical items are subject to both duty and tax at various rates, and only one of each major item can be imported. New items are all taxable. An import permit is required for alcohol, and high duties and taxes will be applied. To assist us with the completion of customs formalities, please let us have a copy of your passport (and visa if applicable). The required documentation will be supplied to you on arrival.
	Prohibitions and Restrictions In general it is in your interest not to import the following items: Firearms & ammunition Inflammable goods & substances Plants & plant material Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise Narcotics and dangerous goods Offensive materials Alcohol & Tobacco
	Transit Times Sole use containers take an average of 6 – 7 weeks. Crated consignments may take longer, on average between 8 and 10 weeks.
	Bar Coding All Groupage consignments will be bar coded before they are loaded into the shipping container. This will ensure that no items are left at origin.
	Domestic Pets Britannia can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Find out more about pet transport.
	Moving Motor Vehicles to Taiwan Import is subject to local restrictions and duties between 71% to 83% will apply. An import permit is required. Shipment is not recommended.
	International FX When you are making international payments for individuals you can benefit from IFX expertise in seeking the best possible rate, whether you are sending or receiving foreign currency. IFX can help to protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments. IFX offers : International payments Regular Overseas Transfers Prepaid Currency Card Forward Contracts More info on the IFX website.

Moving to Taiwan with Britannia

Your Move to Taiwan with Britannia – Britannia can offer you a door to door service to Taiwan, and can either ship your effects by sole use container, or for smaller shipments in a wooden crate. In addition we can offer a door to door shipping service to Taipei. Our agents in Taiwan will arrange customs clearance, and deliver and unpack the effects, including removal of debris on day of delivery.

Additional Removal Services – Britannia can provide a variety of additional removal services when moving to Taiwan. We are authorised to provide insurance,can arrange storage prior to delivery, and can also take care of your pet transport.

If you are interested in moving to Taiwan, find out your removal costs, and read more about our international removals.

Living in Taiwan

Also known as Ilha Formosa – Beautiful Island, an expression used by Portuguese sailors when they first set eyes on the island, Taiwan is a beautiful and technologically developed country. Although it has not yet become particularly popular among expats, and is not among the top tourist destinations in Asia either, it is a culturally rich country, which can offer a variety of business and professional opportunities, and can also boast a strong economy.

Taiwan is located in the Western Pacific off the southern coast of mainland China, and is bordered by the East China Sea, the Taiwan strait that separates it from the Asian continent, and a number of  islands. The eastern part of the island is characterised by stunning mountain ranges, making the country one of the world’s highest islands, while you’ll find mostly rolling plains in the West. Taiwan has a developed high-income economy, and is one of the Four Asian Tigers. Its economy is highly industrialised, with leading technologies such as nanotechnology, communications and biotechnology.

Whether you are looking for new opportunities, or new cultural experiences, Taiwan can be the perfect expat destination. Taiwanese culture in the 21st century combines elements from traditional Chinese and Japanese culture with Western influences. Although the country’s relationship with mainland China is somewhat rocky, Taiwan is in general a stable and developed country that can offer a host of exciting experiences.

Interesting Facts About Taiwan

• With a population of 22 million, Taiwan is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
• Mandarin Chinese is the officially recognised national language in Taiwan and is spoken by most of the residents.
• Most of the Taiwanese population are adherents of Buddhism, and Taoism. Confucianism, a philosophy dealing with secular moral ethics also plays an important role in Taiwanese culture.
• The first woman ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize is from Taiwan.
• Taiwan has the highest mountain in south east Asia, the Jade mountain, which is nearly 4000 metres above sea level.

Tips About Moving to And Living in Taiwan

• If you plan to settle down permanently in Taiwan, and work, you’ll first need to obtain a work permit. It is illegal to work on a Visitor Visa, so you’ll need to obtain a work permit, usually with the help of your employer. Once you have a work permit, you should also apply for a resident visa and ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) if you are planning to stay in Taiwan for more than 6 months, to study, for professional reasons or to join your family.
• There are a number of international schools in Taiwan that follow the American, British or other European systems. You’ll mainly find these in major cities, such as the capital, Taipei, Kaoshiung, or Hsinchu.
• The cost of living in Taiwan will greatly depend on your location and lifestyle. Living and housing costs in Taipei are relatively high compared to some rural areas for example. Living costs will generally not be as high as in the UK.