Taiwan with Kids: Taipei, the Two-Year Nomad Visa and the Catch for Families (2026)

Taipei Was Our First Taste of Asia

About 15 years ago, long before Louie and Leo came along, Marty and I had two long stopovers in Taipei. One was on the way to Australia, the other on the way back.

Neither of us wanted to spend a whole day in an airport. So both times, we left the terminal and saw as much of the city as we could.

It was one of my very first tastes of Asia. I remember being so curious about everything: the signs I couldn’t read, the scooters, the temples squeezed between modern buildings. 🇹🇼

So here’s where this guide comes from. Our own experience is two days in Taipei as a couple, a long time ago. Everything about living in Taiwan as a family (visas, schools, costs and neighbourhoods) is researched, and we’ve checked it against official sources wherever we can.

The short answer for families: Taiwan now offers a digital nomad visa of up to two years. It’s safe and well organised, with excellent public transport. The catch is that the visa doesn’t cover children or partners, so a family needs a plan for every passport before booking anything. We explain it in the visa section below.

Our Two Days in Taipei

We did what most stopover travellers do: a city bus tour that squeezed the highlights into a few hours. It wasn’t slow travel. It was a tasting plate.

Taipei 101 was the obvious first stop. Up until 2010, it was the tallest building in the world. Looking down over the city, I remember how much green there was around the edges, with mountains right behind the high-rises.

Longshan Temple is the moment that stayed with me most. It was my first time in a busy working temple, with incense, offerings and people praying in the middle of an ordinary day. Coming from Queensland, I’d never seen anything like it.

We finished at one of the famous night markets. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you which one. I remember a big sign out the front and a lot going on, which probably says everything about how overwhelming and exciting it all was.

The Honest Bit About the Food

Taiwan has a big reputation for food, and for vegetarian food in particular. Yet the food didn’t win me over on those stopovers, and it’s not the thing pulling us back now.

That might just be because we didn’t know where to look. Taiwan has a strong Buddhist vegetarian tradition, and packaged vegetarian food has been labelled by category since 2009. A stopover spent mostly at a night market isn’t a fair test. If we went back, finding the vegetarian restaurants would be one of our first jobs. Our vegetarian family travel guide has more on where it’s easy, and where it isn’t.

What We’d Do Differently Now

With two kids, we wouldn’t base ourselves in central Taipei. We’d use the city for a few days, then look further out for somewhere with more space and nature close by.

The flights would look different too. Long-haul travel with a toddler is its own adventure, as we found out on our 24 hours of flying with Leo.

Where Families Could Base Themselves in Taiwan

We haven’t lived in any of these places, so treat this as a starting point for your own research. Each option suits a different kind of family, and each comes with trade-offs.

🏙️ Taipei: The Easiest Landing Pad

Taipei is where most families would start. The metro is clean and easy to use with a pram, and most stations have lifts. The city also has the widest choice of international schools, clinics and English-speaking services in Taiwan.

Families often look at Da’an, close to Da’an Forest Park, or Tianmu, which has a long-standing international community. Weekends could mean the Maokong Gondola, the hot springs in Beitou or the hiking trails of Yangmingshan National Park.

Taipei Trade-offs

• Works well: schools, healthcare, transport and an easy first few weeks
• Works well: nature is close, with mountains on the edge of the city
• Harder: rents are the highest in Taiwan, and apartments are small
• Harder: summers are hot and humid, and winters can be grey and drizzly

🚲 Taichung: More Space for Less

Taichung sits in central Taiwan, about an hour from Taipei by high-speed rail. Rents are lower than in the capital, and the city feels more spread out.

As a cycling family, this is the city that catches our eye. Giant, the bike brand, is based in the Taichung area, and the Houfeng and Dongfeng bikeways are popular family rides. Sun Moon Lake, with its lakeside cycling path, is a common day trip from the city.

The National Museum of Natural Science is a good rainy-day option. Rainbow Village is still open, but many of its original murals were painted over in 2022, so it looks quite different from older photos.

Taichung Trade-offs

• Works well: lower rents than Taipei and more room to move
• Works well: bike paths, museums and easy trips into the mountains
• Harder: air quality is often poorer in winter and spring, partly due to the nearby coal-fired power plant
• Harder: fewer international schools and a smaller expat community

🌾 Taitung: Slow Living on the East Coast

Taitung is on Taiwan’s quieter east coast, between the mountains and the Pacific. Indigenous culture is a big part of life in the region, and the pace is much slower than in the west.

Families come for surf beaches, rice fields, hot springs and the summer hot air balloon festival in Luye. It suits families who homeschool or worldschool and want plenty of outdoor time.

Taitung Trade-offs

• Works well: space, nature and a calmer pace for young kids
• Works well: a real chance to learn about Taiwan’s Indigenous cultures
• Harder: very few international schools or coworking spaces
• Harder: travel to Taipei and the west coast takes much longer

⛰️ Hualien: Mountains Meet the Sea

Hualien sits between the Pacific and the cliffs of Taroko National Park. It’s a small city with markets, parks and a strong outdoor lifestyle.

The region was badly hit by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in April 2024. Parts of Taroko Gorge have reopened, including short sections around Lushui in early 2026. Several well-known trails, including Shakadang and Zhuilu Old Road, are still closed. Check the Taroko National Park website for current access before you plan a visit.

Hualien Trade-offs

• Works well: beaches, rivers and mountains within easy reach
• Works well: lower living costs than Taipei
• Harder: the region sits on an active fault zone, and earthquakes are common
• Harder: limited schools, coworking and English-speaking services

What Family Life Could Look Like in Taiwan

It’s easy to picture how our days might look. We both love to cook, but Marty is the one who gets most inspired by a market. He’d come home with something new and work out what to do with it.

Louie, at nine, would probably be disappointed to learn that baseball, not football, is the big sport in Taiwan. Leo, at two, would be happy anywhere there’s a park and a snack.

A realistic week would mix work, learning and getting outside. Mornings for work and schoolwork, afternoons for parks, museums or a short train ride somewhere new. That’s roughly how our homeschooling days already work.

Daily life would also come with new routines. In many Taiwanese neighbourhoods, rubbish trucks play music as they arrive, and residents bring their sorted rubbish out to meet them. Leo would love that.

What Works for Families in Taiwan, and What Doesn’t

On paper, Taiwan ticks a lot of boxes. Here’s what stands out from our research, along with the fine print.

Safety and order. Crime rates are low, and public spaces feel well looked after. Natural hazards are the bigger risk, so learn what to do in an earthquake or typhoon.

Transport. Metros, buses, trains and high-speed rail make life without a car realistic in the cities. That’s a big plus with a pram.

Healthcare. The standard of care is high. The catch is that nomad visa holders can’t use the national insurance scheme, so you pay through private cover.

Learning everywhere. Temples, night markets, museums and festivals make everyday learning easy. Mandarin is all around you, which is a gift for curious kids.

Nature close by. Mountains, hot springs and coastline are rarely far from the cities.

The visa. Two years is a real option for the main applicant. For families, though, the rules around kids and partners need careful planning.

Renting a Family Home in Taiwan

Most families in Taiwan’s cities live in apartments. They’re usually compact by Australian or Dutch standards, so check bedroom sizes and storage carefully.

The main local listings site is 591, which is in Chinese. Browser translation helps, but a Mandarin-speaking agent or friend makes viewings much easier. Short-term furnished rentals and serviced apartments cost more but are simpler for a first month.

What to Know Before You Sign

• By law, a residential security deposit can’t be more than two months’ rent
• Many landlords prefer leases of a year or more, so short stays narrow your options
• Ask who pays electricity, and how it’s charged, because air-conditioning bills climb in summer
• Check for a dehumidifier, as many homes struggle with damp and mould in the humid months

Family tip: look for a place within walking distance of a metro station, a park and a traditional market. Those three things shape daily life with kids more than the apartment itself.

Working Remotely from Taiwan

Internet in Taiwan’s cities is fast and reliable. Numbeo lists home broadband of 60 Mbps or more at around €25 a month in Taipei, and a mobile plan with 10 GB or more at about €15. See how Taipei compares in our internet rankings for nomad families.

The government’s Nomad Taiwan office runs hubs in Taipei and Kaohsiung, where remote workers can drop in and ask questions. Taipei also has plenty of cafés and private coworking spaces, so check current options near where you plan to stay.

Time Zones and Work Rules

Taiwan is on UTC+8. That’s two hours behind Brisbane, which makes Australian clients easy. Europe is harder: a morning meeting in the Netherlands lands in your late afternoon or evening.

The digital nomad visa only allows work for employers or clients outside Taiwan. You can’t take on Taiwanese clients or a local job on this visa.

👉 See our full guide: Remote Work for Digital Nomad Parents

Schooling and Homeschooling in Taiwan

Taiwan’s public schools teach in Mandarin. They can be a great immersion option for families staying long term, but enrolment usually depends on your residence status, so ask the local education bureau first.

International Schools

International schools are mostly in Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung and Kaohsiung. Numbeo’s average for an international primary school in Taipei is about €14,900 a year per child, with a wide range either side. Places at the best-known schools can be competitive, so contact them well ahead.

Our international schools directory covers what to ask before you enrol.

Homeschooling and Worldschooling

Taiwan has a formal home education framework, set up under its 2014 experimental education laws. Taiwanese families register their children through their local education authority.

The rules for foreign families on short stays are less clear. The homeschooling advocacy group HSLDA reports that foreign nationals aren’t required to register, but we haven’t found an official English source confirming it. If you plan a long stay, check with the local education bureau. Our worldschooling legal guide explains the bigger picture.

Childcare for Little Ones

Private full-day preschools in Taipei cost about €590 a month on Numbeo’s figures. Bilingual Mandarin-English preschools are common, which could be a gentle way in for a toddler like Leo.

👉 See our full guide: Education and Childcare for Digital Nomad Families

Healthcare and Health Insurance in Taiwan

Taiwan’s healthcare is high quality, with modern hospitals and clinics in every city. Many doctors in Taipei speak some English, though it’s less common outside the big cities.

Why Insurance Matters So Much Here

Taiwan’s National Health Insurance covers foreigners who hold a residence certificate (ARC) and have lived in Taiwan for six months, according to the National Health Insurance Administration. The digital nomad visa is a visitor visa, not a residence permit, so nomad families sit outside that system.

Instead, the visa requires proof of health and full hospitalisation insurance for your whole stay. Make sure every family member is covered, including any children on visa-free entry. Our health insurance guide for nomad families compares the options.

Everyday Health

Most locals boil or filter their tap water. Air quality varies by season and region, so a free air quality app is useful before a big outdoor day. Check which travel vaccinations your family needs before you go.

Discover more about Health and Wellness for Digital Nomad Families

Getting Around and Family Days Out

Public transport is one of Taiwan’s big strengths. The high-speed rail runs down the west coast, linking Taipei to Kaohsiung in under two hours. Local trains and buses cover most of the rest, including the scenic east coast line.

An EasyCard works on metros, buses and many trains, and you can top it up at convenience stores. It’s worth buying one as soon as you land.

Family-Friendly Ideas

• In Taipei: the National Palace Museum, the Maokong Gondola, Beitou’s hot springs and Yangmingshan National Park
• Central Taiwan: cycling around Sun Moon Lake and the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung
• East coast: beaches, rivers and the open sections of Taroko National Park
• Festivals: the Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival

Weather shapes everything here. Summers are hot and humid, and typhoons mainly arrive from about July to October. Our month-by-month guide to family travel can help you pick a season.

Taiwan Visas for Families: The Big Catch

This is the section to read twice. Taiwan’s digital nomad visa is generous for one adult, but families need to plan for every passport.

Last checked: 9 October 2026, using official Taiwanese government sources. Visa rules change, so always confirm before you apply.

Visa-Free Entry: 90 Days

Australian, Dutch and other EU passport holders can enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 90 days, according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Your passport needs at least six months’ validity, and you need a return or onward ticket. For most nationalities, this stay can’t be extended.

It’s a good way to test Taiwan before committing to anything bigger.

The Digital Nomad Visitor Visa

Taiwan launched its digital nomad visa in January 2025. Since 1 January 2026, holders can stay up to two years in total. The visa is first granted for six months, then extended in six-month steps, according to the National Development Council.

The official requirements include:

• A passport from a visa-exempt country
• An annual salary of at least US$40,000 in one of the last two years if you’re 30 or older, or US$20,000 if you’re 20 to 29 (or a nomad visa from another country)
• An average bank balance of at least US$10,000 a month over the past six months
• Proof of remote work, such as a contract and CV
• Health and full hospitalisation insurance for your whole stay

The council says processing takes about 14 to 20 working days. You can apply at a Taiwanese overseas office, or from inside Taiwan at least 10 working days before your visa-free stay ends.

The Catch: Partners and Kids

The visa is issued to one person. The official pages we checked don’t set out a route for dependants, and advisers report that each family member must apply for their own visa.

That matters because a partner without their own qualifying income can’t get a nomad visa. Children can enter visa-free for 90 days, but that doesn’t stretch to a two-year stay. Before you book, contact your nearest Taipei Economic and Cultural Office and ask exactly which visa each family member needs.

Taiwan isn’t alone here. Our guide to nomad visas that won’t let your kids come covers other countries with the same problem. For visas that do include families, see Digital Nomad Visas by Country.

Tax: The 90 and 183-Day Lines

Taiwan’s tax rules depend on how long you stay. According to the National Immigration Agency:

• Under 90 days a year: pay from a foreign employer isn’t taxed in Taiwan
• 90 to 182 days: you must file a Taiwanese tax return on pay for work done while in Taiwan, even if it’s paid from abroad
• 183 days or more: you become a Taiwanese tax resident

Get professional advice before a long stay, especially if you still have tax ties to Australia or the Netherlands.

The Employment Gold Card

The Employment Gold Card is an open work permit and residence permit for qualified professionals. It’s harder to get, but it’s a residence route rather than a visitor visa, and it includes options for family members. Check the Gold Card office for current family rules.

Discover more: Visa Options for Digital Nomad Families

Finding Community in Taiwan

Taiwan has fewer nomad families than Thailand or Bali, so expect to work a little harder to find your people. The upside is that the families you do meet are often staying longer.

The Nomad Taiwan office lists events for remote workers on its website. Language exchanges, Mandarin classes and international school events are other natural ways in. Local expat parent groups on Facebook can also help, so search by city once you know where you’re heading.

Our worldschooling hubs directory lists family communities across Asia, including Taiwan.

Family tip: keep showing up at the same park, market or class. Regular faces turn into friendships faster than one-off meetups.

Practical Tips Before You Go

• Arrival card: fill in Taiwan’s online arrival card within seven days before you land
• SIM cards: buy one at the airport or a telco shop; you’ll need your passport
• Money: cards work in most shops, but markets and small eateries often prefer cash, and convenience stores have 24-hour ATMs
• Vegetarian food: look for 素 (sù) on signs and menus, and check the vegetarian category on packaged food
• Weather alerts: follow official typhoon and earthquake warnings, and keep a small emergency kit at home
• Layers: the mountains are much cooler than the cities, even in summer

Culture, Temples and Musical Rubbish Trucks

Standing in Longshan Temple all those years ago, I didn’t understand most of what I was seeing. That’s exactly what made it memorable. Temples in Taiwan are busy, everyday places, and kids can learn a lot just by watching quietly.

Culturally, Taiwan blends Chinese, Japanese and Indigenous influences with a very modern identity. Festivals like the Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat Festival are family-friendly ways to see that up close.

Recycling is taken seriously. Households sort rubbish into general waste, recycling and food scraps, then hand it to the collection truck when the music plays. It’s a daily lesson in sustainability that kids remember.

Family tip: let the kids lead. Ask questions, try the snacks and join in where it’s welcome.

Discover more: Travelling Sustainably as a Digital Nomad Family

The Honest Challenges of Living in Taiwan

Taiwan has a lot going for it, but it isn’t the easy option for every family.

The Visa Catch

This is the biggest one. A two-year visa for one parent doesn’t solve the problem for the rest of the family. Sort out every family member’s status before you commit to a lease.

Cost

Taiwan costs more than most of Southeast Asia. A Taipei family budget is roughly double our month in Da Nang. If cost is your main driver, our Thailand vs Vietnam comparison may be more useful.

Language

Our boys are growing up with Dutch and English, so a third language doesn’t scare us. We’ve seen how quickly kids pick up words when they hear them every day. Mandarin would be a big step up, though. It’s harder for us as parents, and outside Taipei we’d expect to lean on translation apps a lot.

Air Quality, Heat and Natural Hazards

Air quality dips in winter and spring, especially in central and southern Taiwan. Summers are hot and humid, typhoons arrive mainly from about July to October, and earthquakes are part of life. None of these are deal-breakers, but they shape when and where you live.

Fewer Nomad Families

The family nomad scene is smaller than in Thailand or Bali. If community is high on your list, plan how you’ll find it before you arrive.

Taiwan with Kids: FAQs

Can my children stay in Taiwan on my digital nomad visa?

Not as dependants. The digital nomad visa is issued to one person, and advisers report that each family member needs their own visa. Children can enter visa-free for 90 days on Australian or EU passports, but that won’t cover a longer stay. Ask a Taipei Economic and Cultural Office before you book.

How long can a family stay in Taiwan?

Visa-free entry allows up to 90 days for Australian and EU passports. The digital nomad visa allows the main applicant up to two years, in six-month steps. Every other family member needs their own legal basis to stay that long.

How much does it cost a family to live in Taipei?

Based on Numbeo data checked in October 2026, a family of four could expect about €3,700 a month outside the centre, or about €4,250 centrally. That includes rent and everyday living costs, but not school fees or health insurance.

Is homeschooling legal in Taiwan for foreign families?

Taiwan has formal home education laws for its own citizens. Advocacy group HSLDA reports that foreign nationals aren’t required to register, but we haven’t found official English confirmation. For long stays, check with the local education bureau.

Do digital nomads pay tax in Taiwan?

It depends on your days in Taiwan. Under 90 days a year, pay from a foreign employer isn’t taxed. From 90 days, you must file on pay for work done in Taiwan, and from 183 days you become a tax resident. Get professional advice.

Is Taiwan easy for vegetarian families?

On paper, yes. Taiwan has a strong Buddhist vegetarian tradition, and packaged food uses vegetarian labelling categories. Our own experience on stopovers was more mixed, mostly because we didn’t know where to look. Look for the character 素 (sù).

What’s the best time of year to visit Taiwan with kids?

Spring and autumn are generally the most comfortable. Summers are hot and humid, and typhoons arrive mainly from about July to October. Winters are mild, but northern Taiwan can be grey and damp.

Our Takeaways

Taiwan was one of the places that first made me curious about Asia, and that curiosity hasn’t gone away. It’s safe, clean and easy to get around, and the two-year visa makes it a much more realistic base than it was a few years ago.

It isn’t at the top of our list yet, though. The visa catch for kids is a real hurdle. Costs in Taipei sit well above Vietnam or Thailand. And I’m not yet convinced the food would suit how our family eats.

If you’re thinking about Taiwan, we’d suggest testing it first. Spend a few weeks on visa-free entry, see how your kids handle the language and the heat, and get proper advice on visas for every family member. Then decide.

We’d love to go back one day with Louie and Leo and see it through their eyes. Maybe this time we’ll find the vegetarian food everyone talks about. 🌏

Keep exploring: our Asia guide for nomad families, Japan with kids, South Korea for nomad families and all our family destinations.