Country guide — Asia-Pacific
Expat insurance and health insurance in Taiwan
In short
In Taiwan, affiliation to the national health insurance scheme (NHI, National Health Insurance, administered by the National Health Insurance Administration) is mandatory for any foreign national holding a residence permit (ARC, Alien Resident Certificate): an employee hired by a local company is enrolled from the date of hire, while a non-employee (dependant, retiree, Gold Card holder without a local employer, unemployed student) must enrol after 6 months of continuous residence. CLEISS currently lists no social security agreement in force between France and Taiwan: no coordination of rights, either for health or retirement, unlike Japan or South Korea. The NHI covers most care with a co-payment that varies according to the level of facility consulted and whether a referral letter exists (from 50 NTD at a clinic to 420 NTD at a medical centre without a referral). The France-Taiwan working holiday visa requires proof of medical insurance (illness, hospitalisation, repatriation) in the visa application, as for South Korea. In the absence of any France-Taiwan coordination mechanism, voluntary CFE membership and/or private insurance are particularly recommended for all profiles, including seconded employees.
Key figures
- 2,897 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 (+0.28% year-on-year).
- Life expectancy at birth: 80.77 years in 2024 according to Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior (official Taiwanese data, as the World Bank does not publish a separate indicator for Taiwan).
- Health spending per capita: USD 2,438 in 2022 (latest available year), according to Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW).
Local healthcare system
A universal, mandatory health insurance system, managed by the NHIA (National Health Insurance Administration), under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). The general contribution rate stands at 5.17% of salary in 2026, split for an employee between the employer (60%), the employee (30%) and the state (10%); a non-employee contributes according to a flat scale specific to their category (around 2,247 NTD per quarter for a person without local employment, an amount that can vary depending on the situation).
The outpatient co-payment depends on the level of the facility consulted and whether a referral letter is presented: with a referral, from 50 NTD at a clinic/district hospital to 170 NTD at a medical centre; without a referral, from 50 NTD at a clinic to 420 NTD at a medical centre. Emergency care applies a flat fee of 400 NTD (regional hospital) to 750 NTD (medical centre). Hospitalisation applies coinsurance of around 10% of the contracted rate for an acute-care bed for a stay of under 30 days (≈5% for a chronic-care bed), with caps depending on length of stay.
Legal and visa obligations
- General requirement: an employee hired by a local company affiliated with the NHI is enrolled from the date of hire, with no waiting period. A non-employee holding an ARC (dependant, retiree, Gold Card holder without a local employer, unemployed student) must enrol after 6 months of continuous residence: a stay outside Taiwan of under 30 days does not reset the count, a longer stay does reset it.
- France-Taiwan working holiday visa: proof of medical insurance covering illness, hospitalisation and repatriation for the whole length of stay is required in the visa application — see our working holiday visa insurance. Once 6 months of continuous residence are reached (absent immediate local employment), NHI affiliation also becomes mandatory.
- Student: mandatory NHI affiliation after 6 months of continuous residence with an ARC, unless prior coverage is linked to local employment — see our student insurance abroad for the waiting period.
- Seconded employee: absent a social security agreement between France and Taiwan, no secondment certificate can be issued to keep affiliation to the French scheme during the assignment. Cover must be arranged from departure (CFE and/or private insurance), until any NHI affiliation via a local employer.
- Failure to enrol: according to the NHIA, contributions owed since the eligibility date are billed in full, along with a fine; no benefits are paid before full payment, and an unpaid file can be sent for forced collection.
Cost of some medical procedures
Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.
| Procedure | Public sector | Private sector |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation (clinic, with NHI and referral letter) | Flat co-payment of 50 NTD (≈€1.5) | rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed |
| Specialist consultation (medical centre/teaching hospital, with NHI) | 170 NTD with a referral letter (≈€5); 420 NTD without a referral (≈€13) | ≈1,500 NTD per half hour at an international clinic for foreign patients without NHI (≈€46), e.g. NTUH |
| Emergency care | NHI co-payment of 400 NTD (regional hospital) to 750 NTD (medical centre) (≈€12-23) | rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed |
| Night of hospitalisation | NHI coinsurance ≈10% of the contracted rate for an acute-care bed (stay <30 days), ≈5% for a chronic-care bed, capped depending on length of stay | rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed |
| Ambulance (emergency, no. 119) | Free for a standard emergency call-out (public service, Fire Department) | Free (public service); additional charges possible beyond 12 km without transport to the emergency department |
Social security agreements with France
CLEISS currently lists no social security agreement in force between France and Taiwan: Taiwan does not appear on the official list of countries that have signed a bilateral agreement with France, and CLEISS's country sheet on Taiwan mentions no coordination scheme. Unlike Japan or South Korea, whose agreements coordinate at least disability, old-age and survivor risks, no coordination exists with Taiwan, either for health or retirement.
- No secondment certificate can therefore be issued to keep an employee affiliated to the French scheme (including health) during an assignment in Taiwan.
- For any profile (locally employed, self-employed, retiree, student), voluntary CFE membership and/or private insurance should systematically be considered, alongside or pending mandatory NHI affiliation.
- Periods worked in Taiwan are not counted toward French retirement absent an agreement, unless voluntary CFE contributions are made.
Which insurance for my profile
General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.
| Profile | Regulatory constraint | Points of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday visa | Proof of medical insurance required for the visa; mandatory NHI affiliation after 6 months of continuous residence (unless locally employed) | Check that the policy covers illness, hospitalisation and repatriation for the whole length of stay |
| Student | Mandatory NHI affiliation after 6 months of continuous residence, unless prior coverage is linked to local employment | Supplementary private insurance remains necessary during the waiting period |
| Seconded employee | No secondment certificate possible (no CLEISS agreement): cover to be arranged independently from departure | Take out CFE and/or private insurance before departure, from day one of the assignment |
| Locally employed | Mandatory NHI affiliation from the date of hire, via the employer | Co-payment varies according to the level of facility consulted and whether a referral letter exists |
| Retiree | No CLEISS coordination (neither health nor retirement); mandatory NHI affiliation after 6 months of continuous residence | Consider CFE and/or private insurance from the outset, particularly for repatriation |
Hospitals and care network
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital, International Medical Service Center (Taipei, Beitou) — created in 2008, a reference centre for AIT (American Institute in Taiwan), International SOS and foreign missions in Taiwan.
- National Taiwan University Hospital, International Medical Service Center (Taipei) — over 13,000 international patients per year, dedicated pay-as-you-go clinic for foreign patients.
- Taiwan Adventist Hospital (Taipei) — a facility with multiple JCI accreditations, over 10,000 international patients per year, English- and Japanese-speaking staff.
Practical steps
- Working holiday visa application: file with proof of medical insurance (illness, hospitalisation, repatriation), aged 18-30 (up to the day before the 31st birthday), quota of 500 places/year, required funds (at least €2,100 + return ticket, or equivalent funds to acquire it).
- NHI affiliation: immediate upon hiring for an employee of a local company (via the employer); after 6 months of continuous residence with an ARC for other profiles (a stay outside Taiwan of under 30 days does not reset the count, a longer stay does reset it).
- Failure to enrol after the deadline: contributions owed since the eligibility date billed in full, plus a fine, before any benefits open.
- Registration recommended with the roll of French nationals living abroad (French Office in Taipei) beyond 6 months.
- Voluntary CFE membership to systematically consider in the absence of any CLEISS agreement, particularly for retirees and seconded employees.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance mandatory for all French nationals moving to Taiwan?
Yes in nearly all cases: an employee of a local company is enrolled in the NHI from the date of hire, and any other person holding an ARC must enrol after 6 months of continuous residence.
Is there a social security agreement between France and Taiwan?
No: CLEISS lists no bilateral agreement in force with Taiwan, either for health or retirement. No secondment certificate can therefore be issued.
Does the Taiwan working holiday visa require proof of insurance to obtain the visa?
Yes: proof of insurance covering illness, hospitalisation and repatriation for the whole length of stay is required in the application, as for South Korea.
What happens if I fail to enrol in the NHI once the 6-month deadline has passed?
Contributions owed since the eligibility date are billed in full, along with a fine; no benefits are paid before full payment.
Can I be treated at an international hospital with the NHI?
Yes: facilities such as Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital or Taiwan Adventist Hospital have centres dedicated to international patients and accept NHI cover for enrolled individuals.
Moving to Taiwan? Get a quote
Written by Expavy
Sources
- CLEISS — List of social security agreements in force
- CLEISS — Taiwan country sheet
- France Diplomatie — Taiwan, Health
- France Diplomatie — Taiwan, Entry / stay
- National Health Insurance Administration — Enrollment for ARC holders
- Migaku — Taiwan NHI for Foreigners: Enrollment Guide 2026
- pvtistes.net — Working holiday visa in Taiwan
- Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) — 2024 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report, health spending per capita
- Focus Taiwan (CNA) — 2024 life expectancy, Ministry of the Interior data
- France Diplomatie — Global register of French nationals abroad (carte-registre, 2025 data)
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital — International Medical Service Center
- National Taiwan University Hospital — International Medical Service Center
- New Dawn — Emergency Room in Taiwan: A Foreigner's Guide to ER & 119