Teach English in Taipei

With huge demand for TEFL teachers and excellent quality of life, Taipei stands out as an Asian capital and a global city.

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If you love fast-paced, energetic cities, Taipei could be your answer. Taiwan’s capital is everything you could hope for from a modern Asian city, with sleek city views and skyscrapers blending with historic sites like Hsing Tian Kong and Lungshan Temple.

As a TEFL teacher, Taipei will only spoil you for choice, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re new or experienced. Both public and private schools need teachers – and in big numbers. If you don’t fancy a traditional school teaching job, Taiwan’s giant economy and close ties to China mean plenty of Business English jobs, too.

In this article, we’ll talk about salaries, opportunities, and other vital aspects of teaching English in Taipei, a fascinating Asian city.

Teaching English in Taipei: an overview

Taiwan’s Bilingual 2030 project indicates what the country is trying to achieve with English, and it makes sense - as a major trading port, Taiwan already has a significant presence in the global economy. English is the language of business, so the agenda is clear: improve standards and perform even better internationally.

TEFL teachers can earn highly competitive salaries in Taipei, and the cost of living is low, meaning they can save money while teaching English abroad. The level of English proficiency in Taipei is strong, although fluency remains low. This just means that a small number of Taiwanese people who speak English in Taipei can speak it at a high level.

Demand for English is higher in Taipei than in the rest of Taiwan, mainly due to business and tourism. There’s a significant need for qualified TEFL teachers across state, private, and international schools and universities, while tutoring is also popular.

Requirements for teaching English in Taipei

So, what do you need to start teaching English in Taipei?

Native English speakers

A native level of English is essential. Taiwan’s visa requirements are stricter than those of some competing TEFL destinations, so non-native English speakers will need to have teaching experience and a degree from an English-speaking university.

TEFL certificate

If you want to teach English in Taipei, you need a TEFL certificate – the industry standard is 120 hours of training.

Taiwan is a competitive market, so having an Advanced TEFL certificate can put you in the driver’s seat for well-paid jobs. In Taiwan, Advanced TEFL certification in Teaching Young Learners is a plus, as is a qualification in Business English.

Teaching without a degree

Generally speaking, you can’t teach English in Taipei without a bachelor’s degree. The only exception is if you have a two-year associate degree along with TEFL certification or a teaching licence.

Occasionally, you’ll hear about TEFL teachers working in buxibans (cram schools) without a degree. These teachers work on temporary visas, renewing from Hong Kong or another nearby country. We can’t emphasise this enough - don’t do it, as it could lead to a hefty fine and deportation.

If you have a master’s degree (and a TEFL qualification!), you could be a top candidate for some of Taiwan’s best-paid teaching jobs. International school teachers in Taipei usually have at least a master's and a teaching license, while private schools typically ask for advanced academic qualifications, too.

Teaching with no experience

You can find teaching jobs abroad without experience in Taipei - as a whole, Taiwan is a welcoming environment for new teachers, with thriving expat communities, networking opportunities, and jobs. Public schools and buxibans are the best places for inexperienced ESL teachers to find work.

Important: Teaching positions in international and private schools usually require a bachelor's degree and some teaching experience.

Visa and work permit process

You'll need a Taiwanese work visa and residence permit to live and work in Taipei. To gain both a work visa and a permit, you must:

Hold a bachelor's degree (in any subject).
Be a native English speaker.
Have a passport from an English-speaking country like the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand.
Pass a criminal background check.
Pass a medical check.

If you’re 18-35 and want to work in Taipei for the short term, you can apply for a working holiday visa, which lets you live and work in Taiwan for up to one year. If you want to stay longer, you’ll need to apply for a work visa and residence permit.

Salary and cost of living of English teachers in Taipei

Here's our salary and cost of living guide for this exciting Asian capital.

English teaching salary

According to our research, English teachers in Taipei earn TWD 72,667 (£1,730 / $2,227) monthly, on average. Salaries in public and private schools vary, while factors including qualifications and experience will affect wages. For part-time positions or private tutoring, the hourly rates range from TWD 600 - 1,000 (approximately $18 - $31 USD/£15 - £25) per hour.

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Taiwan	72,436 TWD £1,725 GBP $2,220 USD		September		Sometimes		Under 65

Other benefits

Even in public schools, you can expect to receive some extra benefits, which can include:

Paid holidays
Flight reimbursement
Housing stipend/accommodation
Performance bonuses
Health insurance
Accident cover
Team-building/away days
Mandarin classes

Cost of living

Teaching English in Taiwan is surprisingly cheap, especially compared to other top TEFL destinations like Japan and South Korea.

According to Numbeo, a typical one-bedroom apartment in central Taipei costs about £574 / $779. If you're willing to flat-share,we've seen monthly rents in Taipei as low as TWD 4,500 (£111 / $150). Basic utilities cost about £62 / $84 per month.

In terms of everyday costs, a meal at a cheap cafe usually costs under £5 / $7, while a dinner for two at a reasonably-priced restaurant costs around £30 / $40.

Check out our cost of living table to see what you’ll spend in Taipei.

Restaurants	TWD	USD	GBP
Inexpensive restaurant meal
Domestic beer (0.5 litre)
Regular cappuccino
Water (0.33 litre)
Markets	TWD	USD	GBP
Regular milk (1 litre)
Loaf of white bread
Regular eggs (1 dozen)
Apples (1 kg)
Transportation	TWD	USD	GBP
One-way ticket (local transport)
Monthly pass (regular price)
Taxi start (normal tariff)
Gasoline (1 litre)
Utilities	TWD	USD	GBP
Electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage (for a regular apartment)
Regular prepaid monthly mobile tariff with 10GB+ data
Internet (60 Mbps, unlimited data, cable/ADSL)
Clothing and shoes	TWD	USD	GBP
Pair of jeans (Levis 501 or something similar)
Summer dress in a chain store
Nike running shoes (mid-range)
Men's leather business shoes

Download our teaching English in Asia guide

Types of teaching opportunities in Taipei

There are loads of English teaching jobs available in Taiwan's capital.

Taiwanese children in public and private schools learn English from an early age. Public schools usually teach English in the third grade, but private and international schools teach it from kindergarten onwards.

Cram schools (private language schools) are popular. Though tutoring for school-age students is banned in China, it isn't in neighbouring Taiwan. Additionally, adult professionals want to learn from English teachers. Demand is usually for teachers from a native English-speaking country, but many students won't state a preference if you have credentials.

Culture and customs in Taipei: key facts

Here are some key facts about teaching English in Taiwan's exciting capital:

Safety
Heritage and festivals
Social skills are everything
Taipei's food scene is amazing!

Safety

Taipei is one of the safest major cities in the world, with low crime levels and a strong sense of community. You shouldn’t have trouble zipping around the city on reliable, easy-to-use public transport.

Heritage and festivals

If you’re interested in politics and citizenship, you’ll find Taipei and the country as a whole interesting. The country regularly polls its citizens on identity, and though there are clear links between Chinese and Taiwanese culture, ESL teachers need to know the difference.

From a language perspective, Taiwan's true identity can be slightly confusing. The most commonly spoken language is Mandarin. However, Taiwanese Hokkien can be heard in large parts of Taiwan, especially in Taipei, alongside other world languages.

Taiwan and China also have some festivals in common, including the Lunar New Year. Celebrations like the New Taipei City Lantern Festival and the Mid-Autumn/Moon Festival are essential dates on Taipei's social calendar.

Social skills are everything

Saving face (Mien-Tzu), avoiding conflict, and following social conventions are everything, and Taiwanese people pride themselves on being respectful and polite. Many social cues in Taiwan come from the Confucian tradition.

Tip: In Taiwan, shake hands with someone lightly when you meet them.

Taipei's food scene is amazing!

If you’re looking for real Taiwanese food, get to the city’s night markets, such as Ningxia Night Market, Shillin, Roahe Street, and Nanjichang. There’s something for everyone: countless tofu options, bubble teas, Taiwanese Mee Sua (a noodle dish), and meat dishes like Ji Roun Fan.

These markets are the heart of Taipei’s food scene and are a great place to hang out when teaching English in Taiwan's capital. You'll generally find other ESL teachers at the famous night markets if you're looking for a social scene.

Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program

If you want to start teaching English in Taiwan, the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program (TFETP) is for you. TFETP is a government initiative that puts qualified TEFL teachers in public schools in Taiwan, including in the capital city, Taipei.

Requirements

To be eligible for the Foreign English Teachers Program, you must:

Have a TEFL certificate (120 hours or more)
Be a native English speaker (or a passport holder from an English-speaking nation)
Hold a bachelor’s degree (any subject)
Pass a criminal background check.

Teaching experience is not mandatory. That said, if you have experience, it can support your application.

Salary and benefits

Your salary as a TFETP teacher depends on your level of degree:

Bachelor's: NT$67,840 - 88,800 (£1,628 - £2,131 / $2,110 - $2,763).
Master's: NT$75,680 - 98,780 (£1,816- £2,370 / $2,354 - $3,073).
PhD: NT$78,990 - 104,020 (£1,895 - £2,496 / $2,457 - $3,236).

Bonuses include:

Flight reimbursement (one economy class flight)
Housing allowance.
Performance bonuses.
Overtime pay.
Transport reimbursement.
Health insurance.

Key information

TFETP placements can be anywhere in Taiwan, so you're not guaranteed a place in Taipei. However, Taiwan is 1/7th the size of the UK, so you’ll almost certainly be able to experience the capital city!

Your role as a TFETP teacher is to work alongside local teachers to deliver the best possible English lessons in public schools.

Teaching English in Taipei: key takeaways

As an international English teaching destination, Taipei is hard to beat.

Teaching salaries are lucrative, and it's also a spotless city with low crime levels and well-maintained public amenities. Whether you’re a brand-new teacher with qualifications or you’re searching for your next role, Taipei could be precisely what you need.

Here’s what you need to know:

Requirements: A bachelor’s degree, a TEFL certificate (minimum 120 hours), and a clean criminal record. Experience is valuable, but not always necessary.
Salaries: English teachers in Taipei typically earn around TWD 72,667 per month (around £1,730 / $2,227). Try private tutoring to top up your income!
Benefits: Teaching benefits in Taiwan can include flights, housing allowances, holidays, and health insurance.
Teaching program: The Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program (TFETP) is a popular route into public schools and provides structured support, fantastic perks, and professional development opportunities.

Taipei is an amazing place to teach English with its exciting culture, delicious food, and friendly locals. Teaching English in Taiwan can be rewarding, and Taipei offers an ideal first stop on your journey around this small but powerful country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Teaching English in Taiwan's capital city is an ideal opportunity for qualified TEFL teachers. Here are some of the top questions about teaching English in Taiwan and Taipei:

Q. Can I teach in Taipei without a degree?

You can’t teach in Taipei without a degree long-term. To get a visa, you'll need a bachelor's degree in any subject.

Q. What is the visa process for teaching in Taipei?

To meet Taiwanese visa requirements, you'll need a degree, be a native speaker of English (or from a country where English is the official language), pass a criminal background check, and undergo a medical exam. Teachers need to start their visa applications well before moving.

Q. Is a TEFL certification mandatory for teaching in Taipei?

To land an English teaching job in Taipei, you'll need a TEFL certificate - the industry standard is 120 hours of training.

Q. Is a medical examination required for teaching in Taiwan?

A medical exam is part of the visa application process for entering Taiwan. You must pass this exam to gain entry.