Childcare in Taiwan for Foreign Parents: Benefits & Subsidies (2026)

What childcare benefits are available for ARC holders?

Taiwan offers generous childcare benefits, and most are available to foreign parents as long as the child has ROC household registration (which happens when at least one parent is a Taiwanese citizen) or the family meets specific residency requirements.

Benefits overview for families with foreign parents:

Key rule: If your child has ROC citizenship (at least one Taiwanese parent), they are eligible for virtually all benefits. If both parents are foreign nationals, the child does not have ROC citizenship, and eligibility for most subsidies is limited.

Monthly child allowance: NT$5,000 and up

Since 2024, Taiwan provides a universal child allowance (育兒津貼) for children aged 0–6:

Key details:

• Paid monthly into the parent's bank account
• No income cap — all eligible families receive it regardless of income
• Continues until the child enters elementary school (age 6–7)
• If the child attends public daycare or a government-contracted daycare, you receive the daycare subsidy instead (which is higher)

How to apply:

1. Register the child's birth at the household registration office
2. Apply for the child allowance at the same time (or at the district office)
3. Provide: parent's ID or ARC, child's household registration, bank account information
4. Processing time: about 1–2 months; payments are retroactive to the birth month

For foreign parents: If your child has ROC household registration (one parent is Taiwanese), apply normally. If both parents are foreign, the child may not be eligible for this allowance.

Daycare options and subsidies

Taiwan's daycare system has several types, each with different costs and subsidy levels:

Types of daycare for ages 0–2:

Daycare subsidies (托育補助) for children 0–2:

For ages 2–6 (kindergarten):

Tips for finding daycare as a foreign parent:

• Start early — Register for public daycare waiting lists as soon as your baby is born
• Language: Most daycare centers operate entirely in Mandarin. Bilingual options exist but are more expensive.
• Apps and resources: Each city has a childcare matching platform on its social affairs bureau website
• Ask your employer: Some larger companies have partnerships with nearby daycare centers

Birth registration for babies of foreign parents

When your baby is born in Taiwan, you need to complete birth registration. The process differs depending on the parents' nationality:

If one parent is Taiwanese:

1. Hospital provides a birth certificate (出生證明) — usually within 1–2 days of birth
2. Register the birth at the household registration office within 60 days
3. The child receives ROC citizenship and a household registration number
4. Apply for the child's National ID (when older) and NHI card
5. If the foreign parent wants to register the birth in their home country as well, contact their representative office in Taiwan

If both parents are foreign nationals:

1. Hospital provides a birth certificate
2. Register the birth at your home country's representative office in Taiwan (de facto embassy)
3. Apply for the child's passport from your home country
4. Apply for a dependent ARC for the child, linked to a parent's ARC
5. The child will NOT have ROC citizenship and will not be in the household registration system

Documents needed for birth registration (Taiwanese parent):

• Hospital birth certificate (original)
• Parents' IDs (national ID + ARC or passport)
• Household registration transcript of the Taiwanese parent
• Marriage certificate (if parents are married)

Important: Registering the birth promptly is essential — it triggers eligibility for all childcare subsidies, NHI coverage, and the child allowance.

Maternity and paternity leave in Taiwan

Taiwan provides solid parental leave protections under the Labor Standards Act:

Maternity leave (產假):

• Duration: 8 weeks (56 days), starting before or after the delivery date
• Pay: Full salary for employees with 6+ months of service; half salary if under 6 months
• Eligibility: All female employees, including foreign workers with valid ARC and work permit
• Application: Notify your employer with a doctor's note. No government application needed.

Paternity leave (陪產假):

• Duration: 7 days (increased from 5 days in recent years)
• Pay: Full salary
• When: Can be taken within 15 days before or after the delivery
• Eligibility: All male employees

Parental leave (育嬰留職停薪):

• Duration: Up to 2 years per child (until the child turns 3)
• Pay: 80% of average insured salary for the first 6 months (paid by the government via Employment Insurance)
• Eligibility: At least 6 months of employment; either parent can take it, and both parents can take it simultaneously
• Job protection: Your employer must hold your position and cannot fire you for taking parental leave

Labor Insurance birth benefit (勞保生育給付):

• A one-time payment of 2 months' average insured salary to the mother
• Example: If insured salary is NT$45,800, you receive NT$91,600
• Twins: 4 months; triplets: 6 months
• Applied for through the Bureau of Labor Insurance after delivery

Free children's healthcare (under 7)

Taiwan's National Health Insurance provides excellent pediatric coverage:

7 free well-baby checkups:

Free vaccinations (NHI-covered):

• All routine childhood vaccines are provided free under Taiwan's National Immunization Program
• Includes: Hepatitis B, BCG, DTaP, Polio, MMR, Japanese Encephalitis, Varicella, Hepatitis A, and more
• Administered at any NHI-contracted clinic or hospital
• Bring the Child Health Handbook (兒童健康手冊) — given at birth — to every appointment

Children under 3: reduced medical copays:

• Outpatient co-pay at clinics: NT$50 (same as adults, but many cities offer additional subsidies that reduce this further)
• Some cities (e.g., Taipei, Taichung) provide free outpatient visits for children under certain ages through local subsidy programs

Optional self-pay vaccines (recommended):

• Rotavirus vaccine: NT$2,000–6,000 (prevents severe infant diarrhea — strongly recommended)
• Enterovirus 71 vaccine: ask your pediatrician about availability

Finding an English-speaking pediatrician:

• Major hospitals in Taipei (NTU Hospital, Mackay, Cathay) have international departments
• Private clinics with English-speaking doctors can be found via expat groups on Facebook
• The Health Insurance Mobile App (健保快易通) can help locate nearby pediatric clinics

Frequently asked questions

Q: I am a foreign parent with an ARC. Is my baby automatically covered by NHI? If your baby has ROC citizenship (one Taiwanese parent), they are covered by NHI from birth — register the birth and apply for the NHI card at the same time. If both parents are foreign, the baby will be covered under a parent's NHI as a dependent once the baby's ARC is obtained.

Q: Can I apply for subsidies if I do not speak Chinese? The application forms are in Chinese, but district office staff can sometimes assist in English. It is highly recommended to bring a Chinese-speaking friend or your Taiwanese spouse. Some cities offer foreign spouse service centers with multilingual support.

Q: Is the birth bonus the same in every city? No. The birth bonus (生育獎勵金) varies significantly by city. Examples for the first child: Taipei City NT$40,000, Taoyuan NT$30,000, Taichung NT$20,000. Some cities offer additional bonuses for subsequent children or special circumstances.

Q: Can both parents take parental leave at the same time? Yes, since 2022. Both parents can take parental leave simultaneously, each receiving up to 6 months of the 80% salary allowance.

Q: What if I want to send my child to an international kindergarten? International kindergartens are available in major cities (especially Taipei) but are expensive — typically NT$20,000–50,000+ per month. They are not eligible for government kindergarten subsidies. Many expat families choose quasi-public kindergartens for affordability and opt for English enrichment classes separately.

Q: How do I find a babysitter or nanny who speaks English? English-speaking nannies are available but command higher rates (NT$30,000–50,000+/month). Expat Facebook groups (e.g., "Foreigners in Taiwan," "Taipei Moms") are good resources. For registered nannies eligible for government subsidies, check your city's social affairs bureau matching platform.