Taiwan (TW)
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Family Rights & Benefits
Maternity, parental leave and child benefits in Taiwan.
Family benefits and leave depend on employment status, insurance coverage, ARC category and municipal rules. Taiwan is safe and child-friendly, but public childcare access and international schooling require early planning.
Maternity leave (產假)
Before birth: 8 weeks total statutory maternity leave (産假) under LSA Article 50. Pay rule: full pay if employee has 6+ months service with that employer; half pay if service is under 6 months. Labour Insurance BLI also pays a lump-sum maternity benefit = 60 days of average insured monthly salary (e.g., NT$90,000 at NT$45,000/month insured salary; NT$59,000 at NT$29,500/month). Miscarriage leave: 5 days (pregnancy 3–5 months) at full pay; 1 day (under 2 months).
After birth: The 8-week period starts at delivery. Employer pays the 8-week wage (full or half depending on service length); BLI lump sum is separate and additive. Twins: NT$120,000 BLI lump sum. BLI application deadline: 2 years from birth. Paternity leave: 5 days paid (LSA) within 30 days of delivery.
Job protection: Dismissal during pregnancy or maternity leave is prohibited under the Act of Gender Equality in Employment (性別工作平等法). Employer must keep position open. Document any pressure with timestamps and report to the city Labour Bureau (勞動局) or call 1955 (Labour Hotline, free, English available).
Unpaid parental leave (育嬰留職停薪)
Max duration: Up to 2 years per child (until child reaches age 3). Each parent is entitled separately. Minimum tenure: 6 months with same employer. Employer may stagger if operational need — must give written reason.
Split rules / Elterngeld: Both parents may each take up to 2 years (cannot be taken simultaneously for the same period unless one takes ≥1 month after the other). Employment Insurance pays a parental leave allowance: 60% of average insured monthly salary for up to 6 months per parent per child. At NT$29,500/month insured: NT$17,700/month allowance. Apply at Bureau of Labor Insurance (BLI) — submit within 10 days of leave start. If both parents take leave in the same period (eligible for "daddy bonus"), the shorter-taking parent receives +20% for 1 month.
Benefits
Labour Insurance maternity benefit (生育給付)
BLI lump sum: 60 days of average insured monthly salary. At NT$29,500/month insured: ~NT$59,000. At NT$45,000/month insured: ~NT$90,000. Twins: 120 days (double). Stillbirth after 5 months: 60 days.
Duration: One-time lump sum
Eligibility: Insured mother (or insured spouse for father's claim) with Labour Insurance enrollment. Must apply within 2 years of birth.
How to apply: Submit to BLI via employer or directly: birth certificate (戶籍謄本), BLI application form, bank account. Processing: ~14 business days.
This benefit is separate from employer maternity pay — employees receive both. If both spouses are insured, each may claim independently.
Parental leave allowance (育嬰留職停薪津貼)
60% of average insured monthly salary for up to 6 months per parent. At NT$29,500/month insured: NT$17,700/month. At NT$45,000/month: NT$27,000/month. Maximum insured salary cap applies (2026 cap: NT$45,800/month).
Duration: Up to 6 months per parent; split into up to 3 applications
Eligibility: Employed parent insured under Employment Insurance for 1+ year; on approved unpaid parental leave; child under age 3
How to apply: Apply at BLI within 10 days of leave start. Required: ARC/ID, birth registration, employer leave approval letter, bank details. Foreigners with valid work permit and Employment Insurance enrollment are eligible.
Municipal childbirth subsidy (生育獎勵金)
National MOHW newborn health subsidy: NT$15,000 per child. Municipal top-ups (separate applications): Taipei City NT$20,000 per child; New Taipei City NT$30,000 (1st child), NT$40,000 (2nd), NT$50,000 (3rd+); Hsinchu City NT$30,000; Taichung City NT$20,000; Kaohsiung NT$15,000 (varies). Most require child household registration (戶籍) in that city.
Duration: One-time per birth
Eligibility: Child must have household registration (戶籍登記) in the municipality. Foreigners with APRC and household registration are generally eligible; ARC-holders without household registration typically cannot access municipal subsidies. Check with local District Office (戶政事務所).
How to apply: Apply at the District Household Registration Office (戶政事務所) where the child is registered within 6 months of birth. Bring: birth certificate, parents' ID/ARC, household registration documents, bank account.
Public childcare subsidy (托育補助)
Government childcare subsidy for children aged 0–2 at licensed public or quasi-public (準公共) childcare centres: NT$3,000–6,000/month reduction off facility fees. Private facility subsidy: NT$3,500–5,500/month where facility joins the quasi-public programme. Low-income families: additional NT$1,000–2,000/month.
Duration: Monthly while child enrolled at eligible facility
Eligibility: Child aged 0–2; parents paying for licensed childcare; household registration requirement applies (APRC holders eligible; ARC-only holders may face restrictions by municipality)
How to apply: Apply through the enrolled childcare facility (they file subsidy on parents' behalf) or at the Social Affairs Bureau (社會局) of your city. Registration ahead of placement is needed.
Sick child leave
LSA Article 43 family care leave (家庭照顧假): up to 7 days/year to care for family members (including sick children); deducted from the annual sick leave balance; applies when official caregiving cannot be arranged otherwise. Pregnancy check-up leave (產檢假): 7 paid days during pregnancy (not deducted from sick leave). Menstrual leave (生理假): 1 day/month at half pay — not counted against sick leave. Paternity leave: 5 paid days within 30 days of delivery. Breastfeeding breaks: LSA entitles nursing mothers to two 30-minute paid breastfeeding breaks per day until child reaches age 1.
Birth registration
Children born in Taiwan need hospital birth documents, home-country citizenship/passport steps, NIA status/ARC where applicable, and local registration if eligible.
Childcare rights
Public childcare is subsidised but competitive. Apply early and keep backup private options.
Family Rights
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