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The 'Working Holiday' Programme – Taiwan

The agreement between the Warsaw Trade Office in Taipei (presently Polish Office in Taipei) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Warsaw (presently Taipei Representative Office in Poland) on a cultural and educational exchange programme for young people came into force on 1 December 2014. The duration of the stay is 12 months, and the period devoted to study may not exceed 6 months, as may the period of employment. Programme participants will be exempt from the obligation to obtain a work permit (it may only be temporary). In subsequent years, new editions of the programme will start on 1 January each year.

Benefits of participating in the Programme

The Programme is aimed at people aged 18 to 31 and allows them to travel to Taiwan for up to one year. Participation in the Programme will allow participants to combine leisure with work. It is a solution for people interested in learning about the culture and lifestyle of Taiwanese residents and allows them to start or continue learning, for example, Chinese, with the possibility of taking up paid work, which is additional to the main tourist and cultural purpose of their stay. Participation in the Programme allows for paid employment without the need to apply for a work permit.

Conditions for participation in the Programme

Polish citizens and residents of Taiwan who meet the following conditions may apply to participate in the Programme:

  • they meet the criteria specified in the immigration regulations of Poland and Taiwan;
  • they are at least eighteen (18) years of age, but have not yet reached the age of thirty-one (31) at the time of applying for a visa;
  • they are not accompanied by dependents;
  • they have not previously participated in the Programme.
  • they have a valid passport issued by the competent authorities of Poland or Taiwan no earlier than ten years prior to submitting the visa application, with at least two blank pages, which will remain valid for at least ninety days after the end of the planned stay;
  • they have a return ticket, a ticket for onward travel or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket, and sufficient funds to support themselves during the initial period of their stay;
  • they have purchased comprehensive health insurance covering hospital care and compensation for accidents at work for the entire duration of their stay;
  • they will demonstrate during the visa procedure that their main purpose is to stay for leisure, and that taking up employment is an additional purpose;
  • they will pay the required fees for processing the visa application;
  • they have their place of residence in Poland or Taiwan, respectively;
  • they can demonstrate knowledge of English at least at a communicative level.

Under the Agreement, the annual limit for visas under the Taiwan Working Holiday Programme is 200 (one hundred) visas.

Visa procedures for citizens of the Republic of Poland

Polish citizens wishing to participate in the Programme should submit a complete set of documents in person at the Taipei Representative Office in Poland. They may be asked to provide additional documents, give additional information or be invited for an interview if necessary.

Documents required to apply for a visa:

  • a valid return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one
  • sufficient financial means to support themselves during their stay (confirmed by a bank account statement)
  • full insurance coverage for the duration of the stay, including work accidents, medical care, all expenses and hospitalisation
  • proof to the Taipei Representative Office in Poland that the main purpose of the trip is tourism and that work is secondary
  • a passport issued no earlier than 10 years prior to the date of application, with at least two blank pages, valid for at least 90 days from the date of departure from Taiwan, together with a photocopy of the page with the biometric photo
  • a completed and signed visa application form, two colour passport photos taken within the last 6 months

More information on the programme can be found on the website of the Taipei Representative Office in Poland and on the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Visa procedures for Taiwanese citizens

Applications to participate in the Programme should be submitted to the Polish Office in Taipei. Applicants must meet certain requirements, in particular:

  • meet all criteria specified in immigration regulations and policies;
  • be at least 18 years of age and no more than 31 years of age on the date of application;
  • have no dependents who would accompany them;
  • hold a Taiwanese passport valid for at least 15 months;
  • hold a valid return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one (at least NTD 20,000), as well as sufficient funds to cover living expenses at the beginning of the stay (at least NTD 18,600 per month);
  • have comprehensive insurance covering the full cost of medical treatment and hospitalisation (at least EUR 30,000) for the entire duration of the stay;
  • demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English;
  • submit a travel plan written in English.

For detailed information, please contact the Polish Office in Taipei, address: Suite 1601-1602. No. 333, Keelung Road, e-mail: taipei.wbh.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl.


Contact details

Taipei Representative Office in Poland

Address: ul. Emilii Plater 10/53, 00-113 Warszawa, Poland

Tel.: +48 22 213 00 60

Website: https://www.taiwanembassy.org/pl_pl/index.html


Polish Office in Taipei

Address: TWTC/ITB Suite 1601-1602, Nr 333, Keelung Road, Taiwan

E-mail: taipei.wbh.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl

Website: https://poland.tw/web/tajwan/

 

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