Where to Go to Set Up Your Bank Account

Setting Up Your Bank Account:

I highly recommend setting up a bank account once you receive your ARC number.  This will be the easiest most economical way to get money from your home country to Taiwan.  While there are many banks in Taiwan (and feel free to do your own research), most people just use the post office.  The post offices in Taiwan have a dual function as a bank.  They are also nice since they are everywhere (even in many temples, much to my brother’s surprise when he visited) and you can easy distinguish them by keeping your eyes out for this symbol:

Another reason I suggest using the post office bank is that there is one located right on campus for students to use. From Guoqing dorm, it is about a 5-10 minute walk.

From the outside this is what the building looks like. It is the large building with all the food shops on the second floor. It is usually crowded by students getting food, so it is hard to miss. The post office itself, is on the first floor behind the stairs.

This is what the office entrance looks like.

 Since it is on the campus as well, there will be an English speaking clerk (not all speak English, so you can ask for one) while other offices may not have one.

Once inside, go and grab a number to be put in the queue, and wait for the next available counter.  There will be someone who speaks English to assist you in setting up your account.  They will also give you instructions on how to transfer money for international accounts.  It usually take 3-5 days for the money to transfer, but after that you will have a full functioning account. (I am confused about what you are referring to here. International wire transfers originate from the the sending bank, and the reader may assume that the post office can arrange that--maybe they can, but I am doubtful.  You may want to explain that the sending bank needs the destination information, such as the routing number and the bank account number for the Taiwanese bank account, and that information comes from the Taiwanese post office.)

Getting Your ARC Card

Getting Your ARC Card:

If you are a full academic year student like I was, you will need to get your ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) card within the first 15 days of coming to Taiwan.  You have to do this at the National Immigration Agency.  It’s a very easy to find, and I was able to navigate my way using google maps; but I will show you how to get there.  First, you have to hop on the metro and go to Xiaonanmen station (小南門站) on the Green line. You will use the second exit.

You will keep going straight for about 5 minutes until you reach your first intersection that looks like this.  Then turn left.

Once inside, you will have to get a ticket with a number on it so you are in the que.  You might have to wait a while; but that’s fine since you have a form you have to fill out. I had to go twice, once to show a friend, and there is no “good” time to go and it may or may not be busy  Just bring something to occupy your time with in case you have a long wait.

When you come make sure you know:

1. Your living address (I didn’t know mine so I just put down the schools address, so it’s a bit awkward and not really correct).
2. 1000 NTD in cash for the card
3. A small passport style printed photo of yourself (not off of a computer).  If you don’t have one, in the basement of the building they have little photo booths where you can take a photo of yourself for a cheap price (I don’t remember exactly, but it was around 100NTD).

The actual process itself is easy, and once your number is called you go to the desk, hand over the form and documents and the clerk will give you a receipt and tell you which day to return to get your card (it usually takes about 2 weeks.  If there is a typhoon like there was after I submitted my paperwork , it might be delayed a few days).