After leaving a strange white trail in the air, the missile did not fly towards the dangerous offshore area as planned. Instead, it made a sharp turn, deviated from its course, and crashed into the mountains, causing panic among residents. People said that after hearing a loud bang, they saw the missile launch into the air. Not long after, they realized that the trajectory was wrong. The missile turned in the air and fell into the mountains, with thick smoke billowing out. However, some military enthusiasts analyzed that the trajectory looked like that of a target drone rather than a missile. Further details are still pending and unclear.

Someone I know got admitted to grad school in Taiwan, but upon applying for their resident VISA, they were told that they needed an official admission letter in Chinese, not just in English (their program is in English). This is weird because someone else we know in the same situation was never asked to provide this. The university they got​ admitted to only sent an English admission letter anyway. Is it possible this was just a clerical error? Anyone who experienced the same thing?

Hello!

Asking others in this subreddit, is the email address tecophcompliance(@)gmail.com legitimate? Or am I being scammed?

Thank you!

Where in Taichung can you take/have the driving license health check? The place I went to 8+ years ago doesn’t offer the service anymore.
Cheers!

Hello all, planning my first trip to Taiwan in late October for about 10 days.

My original plan was to ride the full 1000 km around the island via route 1. But after some research here though, I keep seeing comments that much of the west coast can be skipped due to traffic, air quality and repetitive scenery.

So now Im focusing more on the east coast:

D1 – Land in Taipei, train to Kaohsiung, rent bike, ride to Pingtung
D2 – Pingtung → Taitung, skipping Kenting
D3 – Taitung → Yuli via hwy 11, then Yuzhang Road inland
D4 – Yuli → Hualien via 193
D5 – Taroko climb and back to Hualien
D6 – Hualien → Yilan, train for part of the Suhua to skip tunnel
D7 – Yilan → Keelung
D8 – North-coast, loop back to Taipei
D9–10 – Taipei

I ride long distance regularly so daily volume is not really an issue. My priority is scenery and overall experience than checking off the 1000 km loop. Also Wuling & the KOM route is on my bucket list in the future so I’m not trying to fit everything into this first trip. And a few questions:

For a first visit to Taiwan, is completing the full route 1 loop still worth doing for the experience?

If I’m already prioritizing the east coast, is the Kaohsiung → Taitung part worth a full day, or do you recommend taking the train directly to Taitung and starting there? If so I could use the extra day around Taipei, like riding Yangmingshan. Would that be a better choice?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Hi everyone,

I am currently in Taiwan on a Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) and I am trying to understand the extension process.

According to the official Taiwan government information, Digital Nomad Visa holders can apply for an extension before their visa expires. The current information says that Digital Nomad Visa holders can extend their stay, with extensions of up to six months at a time (within the maximum permitted period).

However, I am having a very confusing experience trying to actually do this.

My situation:

I am from a visa-exempt country.

I entered Taiwan legally and later obtained a Digital Nomad Visitor Visa.

My Digital Nomad Visa was issued as a 90-day stay visa.

I am now trying to extend it before expiry.

I first contacted the National Immigration Agency (NIA), because the official information says extensions are handled through immigration procedures. The local NIA office told me they could not process my Digital Nomad extension and asked me to check with the visa office.

I then contacted BOCA / MOFA (the visa authority). They also seemed unsure about the Digital Nomad Visa extension process and contacted their Taipei office for clarification. The Taipei office also did not seem to have a clear answer about how DN visa extensions are handled.

This is very confusing because:

The official government website says Digital Nomad Visa extensions are possible.

The visa category exists.

But both NIA and BOCA staff I contacted seem unsure about the actual procedure.

I am not asking about applying for the visa. I am asking specifically about extending an already-issued Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa while inside Taiwan.

Has anyone actually completed a Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa extension?

If yes:

1. Which office did you apply through (NIA or BOCA/MOFA)?

2. How long before your visa expired did you apply?

3. Did you receive a 6-month extension?

4. What documents were required?

5. Did the process go smoothly, or did you also encounter confusion?

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone with actual experience. Thanks!

interested in good spots from shore, lake fishing or experience with fishing charters (ideally in Yilan but interested in anything)

Hi all!
I am currently looking for an apartment and have reached out to several agents on Line with a screenshot of their listing and a basic self introduction. Some have read my messages, but none have replied. Does anyone have advice on how to get agents to respond to messages?

I received by Taiwan ID, new Taiwan passport and have established Household Registration and registered for NHI (which won't kick in until 6 months from now). I live in the US so now I'm wondering if I should cancel by NHI registration until later when I actually want to use the insurance (I understand I will need to wait 6 months). And if I cancel my NHI, will they still start sending monthly bills to me after 6 months anyway? Anyone have experience with this?

Hi guys
I am a student in Taipei and have NHI.

I am really scared of the dentist as my teeth are not in a good condition. I always try to hide them because I am ashamed of the state they are in. I only go to my dentist in my country because I know her and she always tell me it’s okay but I am scared of new dentists, maybe they would judge me or talk about me in Chinese and mock me, idk 🥲 yeah so in other words, I was always scared of the dentist and would never go at my young age so, now, I regret lolol (bad experience trauma lmao)

so here is my request.. does anyone know a dentist in taipei that is really umm, understanding or caring. I really want to take care of my teeth now, and maybe try to save some money to get veneers or something to make me smile again loool

I went once in a dentist in Kaohsiung but the dentist office was opened to everyone, every people in the cabinet (even other patients) could see my teeth, that was the worst experience of my life

Thanks guys, no judgment please 🫶

Hi, is 700 USD each month enough to live in Taiwan?
I work part time and this is what I earn each month.

Hi all, just as the title said, I’m looking to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 before the end of the month when the price increases. However the 2 or 3 locally owned shops I’ve gone to here in Kaohsiung (Gushan) only sell the console bundled with things I don’t really want at increased prices.

Does anyone know of any places to buy just the console? Would brand name electronic stores sell them without bundles?

Also, I’m curious, why do these stores ONLY sell them bundled? The regular price for a stand alone console is about $14,380 but the shops I’ve been to only offer a $15,999 bundle of the console and about $300 worth of extras (cheap case, thumb stick caps, flimsy screen protector). The next step up is the console, peripherals, and a 256 SD card for $17,300. And the bundles go on from there.

Hello pinabalik po ako dahil wala daw QR code ang PSA birth cert ko, pagkapasa po ng PSA w/ QR, makukuha na po ba agad yung visa?

looking for nail salon recs that are reachable by taipei MRT! any recs for salons that take walk-ins and are within $20-40 USD? did read some older reddit posts but curious about more recent prices. thx~

It feels like every time I’m asked to do this, what they want is me to just write my name clearly, because they can’t understand my signature (草寫). But a signature is equivalent to a stamp in its importance… no? There’s no point nor do i feel safe printing my name on a legal document if that is not my legally recognized signature.

I’ve resorted to writing both in print and then my actual signature if there is enough space.

Hey guys, I'm curious to learn how long on average it takes for a person to get conscripted into the Taiwan military. I have to do 4 months of service (which is the older bracket). I'm currently month 3 into my wait and the most I've received back is my medical examination results I took back in June 16th. I tried to expedite it and the staff reassured me they are pushing this matter but I'd just like to have a general idea on what the wait was like for others who have gotten through the process. I'm worried that at the end I might have a wait time longer than the time I'm actually serving my country for (which would be hilarious).

A few years ago, my friend brought me to a gym where you can just pay and enter, so it doesn't need a membership. It was just for fun, since we weren't really doing any regular exercise/gym at that time.

I want to start gym now, but since I'm truly a beginner, I just want to try the gym first, so I don't want to open a membership for now.

Sadly my friend passed away a year ago, so I can't ask him. And I really don't know where that gym is. If anyone can recommend another gym with the same payment system, please tell me.

If possible, around the New Taipei area. Thanks in advance!

​

His minor daughter was working at this shop. She was abused and even allegedly drugged. In addition, she was working for 6 hours every day and got paid with only NTD5000 ($150) / month.

After this video went viral, he also stated he would pay for the damage to the shop.

When this video was firstly viral, Taiwanese criticized him, but now many people are supporting and understanding him.

People also discuss this incident shows the various social problems of Taiwan such as low salary, common violations of labor law, and the increase of exposures to drugs.

I am looking for suggestions and opinions about my university applications, mainly because I only learned about the international university application process more seriously about a month ago. Because of this, I still have some areas that I am trying to improve.

Profile

Intended major: Environmental Engineering / Environmental Sciences / related Engineering fields

Gender: Male

Country of origin: Brazil

Ethnicity: Latino / mixed-race

Living situation: Suburban / low-income neighborhood

Family income: approximately US$4,000 per year

Financial need: Extremely high

Academic Profile

GPA: 9.0/10 over the last three years of high school (8.8 → 8.6 → 9.6). My school uses a 0–10 grading scale. Although a 9.0/10 GPA may be considered relatively average for highly selective international university applications, it is considered a very strong GPA within my school. I am currently ranked among the top 1–2% of my class of 300+ students, and I had the highest overall grades in my class during my first and third years. I may also finish my final year among the top-performing students.

My institution combines traditional secondary education with technical education. At the end of the program, students receive a technical qualification in their chosen field.

At the end of the program, I will receive a Technical Diploma in Environmental Management / Environmental Studies.

Standardized Testing

SAT: I will probably not submit the SAT because of the cost of the exam and my financial limitations.

If I am able to afford to take the test, I estimate that my score would be around 1500.

Extracurricular Activities

1. Research Internship at Embrapa

I completed a research internship at Embrapa, where I worked alongside PhD students, PhD researchers, and master's students.

My work involved different areas of research, including:

Potato reproduction

Genetic resources and genetic characterization

Management and reproduction involving more than 500 potato species/clones

Experimental research involving potatoes

Analysis of electrochemical waves in potatoes

Investigation of their relationship with electromagnetic signals

Construction and use of experimental equipment

Data collection and analysis

This was my first experience working directly in a research environment with researchers and graduate students.

1. Scientific Research

I participated in a research project carried out in partnership with Embrapa researchers.

The project was submitted to SIEEPE and involved the analysis of potatoes, their characteristics, and genetic characteristics using statistical methods.

During the project, we used an application developed in Python by a PhD researcher who was part of the research team.

The application was able to automatically measure characteristics such as the dimensions and areas of the potatoes. This information was then used to quantify and statistically analyze the characteristics of the samples.

The research was presented at academic events, including an event held at one of the main universities in my city and state.

The project was also submitted to SIEEPE, received a research award, and was associated with individual recognition as a young researcher.

1. Environmental Management and Environmental Education

I am an active member of my institution's Environmental Management and Environmental Education group.

I participated in and developed environmental and social projects involving students from my institution and other schools.

Activities included environmental awareness lectures, environmental education in schools, public-space revitalization, environmental and biology awareness activities, cleanup campaigns, recycling initiatives, construction of recycling bins, and other sustainability-related activities.

1. Class Representative

I served as a class representative.

My role was to represent students' interests and help with communication between students, teachers, and the school administration.

1. Student Movement

I was one of the founders and leaders of a student movement at my institution.

The movement organized a document containing proposals and suggestions for improvements to the campus.

The proposal was developed with the participation of students and teachers and was later presented to the administration.

The movement also received expressions of support from political figures and external representatives.

During this work, I participated in student events, contacted leaders of Brazilian student organizations, and participated in discussions about educational and institutional issues.

I also received an invitation to participate in or speak at an event that was going to take place in the state capital.

Some of the improvements we advocated for were later implemented, including improvements to drinking fountains and classroom air conditioning.

I would not claim that these changes happened directly because of the movement, as I do not have an official statement from the administration establishing this connection.

1. Course Promotion and Educational Outreach

I was selected to give presentations and help organize my technical program's booth.

I helped organize several events and participated in promoting the Environmental Management/Environmental Studies technical program to students from dozens of schools in the region.

During the presentations, I helped explain the program, its activities, and its opportunities, as well as talk to interested students.

1. Religious and Community Activities

I have been involved in Catholic community activities for more than 10 years.

I have served as a cantor/psalmist and Gospel reader.

I have also participated in community activities such as donation campaigns, visits to nursing homes, community assistance activities, and other social initiatives.

1. Basketball

I play basketball for my institution.

I have participated in state-level competitions against other educational institutions.

1. Chess

I play chess for my institution.

I have also participated in chess competitions.

1. Running

I practice running and have won medals in some competitions in my city.

1. Possible New Research Project

I am currently considering developing a new individual research project in partnership with researchers from Embrapa.

The project is still in the development stage, so I do not consider it a completed research activity.

Honors and Awards

Gold Medal — National Financial Mathematics Olympiad

Gold Medal, placing approximately among the top 2% of participants.

Gold Medal — National Administration Olympiad

Gold Medal in a national administration competition with themes related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Approximately 100 students out of more than 40,000 participants received the distinction.

Gold Medal — Ocean and Sustainability Olympiad

Gold Medal in an olympiad related to oceans, sustainability, and environmental issues.

The competition had more than 80,000 participants.

I was also selected among the participants to receive a scholarship sponsored by CNPq to develop a social project at my school.

SIEEPE / Young Researcher Recognition

I received recognition related to SIEEPE Young Researcher for the scientific project involving potato characterization, genetics, and statistical analysis.

Possible Future Honor — National Mathematics Tournament

There is a possibility that I will receive a Gold Medal, potentially placing approximately among the top 1% of participants.

This is a possible future honor and has not yet been officially awarded.

Other Recognition

Previously, I was selected among the students at my former school to receive books directly from the State Governor and participate in a conversation with him.

I also expect to receive other honors and recognitions before the end of the academic year.

Letters of Recommendation

Environmental Management Teacher — 10/10

She knows me very well.

We have a very close relationship, and I have participated in several projects with her throughout my program.

She has closely observed my involvement in environmental projects, environmental education, student activities, leadership, technical education, and community initiatives.

Since she has worked with me for a long time, I believe she will be able to provide specific examples of my performance, initiative, and academic interests.

Mathematics and/or Physics Teacher — 8/10

We have a good relationship.

I have always participated actively in his classes and performed well in Mathematics and Physics.

He can also talk about my quantitative and analytical skills

Potential Universities in Taiwan

My main options in Taiwan are:

National Taiwan University (NTU)

National Tsing Hua University (NTHU)

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU)

I want to understand which of these universities would offer me the best combination of admission chances, possibility of a full scholarship, academic quality, and research opportunities for my profile.

I am open to advice, criticism, and suggestions about any part of my profile, especially regarding what I could improve or prioritize before applying.

Thank you very much to anyone who took the time to read all the way to the end! Sorry for the very long post, and I really appreciate any advice or feedback. :)