Your first 90 days in Taiwan: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Stale guidance is the trap: countless sites still say the ARC window is 15 days — the amended Immigration Act made it 30 days from entry (2024); late applications still draw escalating fines under the Act.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) at a National Immigration Agency service centre
Within 30 days of entry on a resident visa (extended from 15 days in 2024)
Passport, resident visa, photo, and NT$1,000; about 10 working days to issue; Gold Card holders skip this — the card is visa and ARC in one.
Get your UI Number (Unified Identification Number) on the ARC
Doubles as the tax ID — used for filing, banking, NHI, and phone contracts.
Printed on the ARC at issuance; the new format matches citizen IDs, so most online systems accept it.
Open a bank account
Passport + ARC (some banks add a second ID and a personal chop/seal); the post office (Chunghwa Post) is the classic first account. US persons sign FATCA paperwork everywhere; Wise bridges the ARC wait.
Enrol in healthcare
NHI enrollment becomes mandatory (and available) after 6 months of continuous residence — immediate for those employed by a Taiwanese employer; private insurance covers the waiting period.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign license + IDP commonly covers 30 days; longer stays need the IDP validated at a Motor Vehicles Office (up to a year) or a full conversion — US reciprocity varies by state (some exchange outright, others test).
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Taiwan?
Add your email for new Taiwan guides and a heads-up when the arrival rules or figures change. We never file anything ourselves.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Taiwan: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Taiwan?
ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) at a National Immigration Agency service centre — Within 30 days of entry on a resident visa (extended from 15 days in 2024). Passport, resident visa, photo, and NT$1,000; about 10 working days to issue; Gold Card holders skip this — the card is visa and ARC in one. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the UI Number and do I need one?
UI Number (Unified Identification Number) on the ARC is Taiwan's personal tax/ID number. Doubles as the tax ID — used for filing, banking, NHI, and phone contracts. Printed on the ARC at issuance; the new format matches citizen IDs, so most online systems accept it.
Can I drive in Taiwan on a US license?
A foreign license + IDP commonly covers 30 days; longer stays need the IDP validated at a Motor Vehicles Office (up to a year) or a full conversion — US reciprocity varies by state (some exchange outright, others test). Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Taiwan?
NHI enrollment becomes mandatory (and available) after 6 months of continuous residence — immediate for those employed by a Taiwanese employer; private insurance covers the waiting period. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Taiwan's system treats foreign residents.