Taiwan (TW)

Check the MOI reciprocity list at www.land.moi.gov.tw to confirm your nationality is eligible. Most Western nationalities (US, UK, Canada, Australia, EU members, Japan) are on the list. If your country is not listed, you must obtain a reciprocity certificate through Taiwan's representative offices or TECO before proceeding. Without reciprocity confirmation, the Land Office will reject the transfer registration. This step cannot be skipped.

Engage a licensed real estate agent (房仲) and verify their license with the Real Estate Association. Inspect the property — check building age, earthquake structure (pre-1999 buildings may predate updated seismic codes), floor plan registration, illegal additions (beware of rooftop structures, enclosed balconies, and basement conversions which are common and often unregistered), management fee history, and water/drainage status. Request the land registration extract (土地登記謄本) and building registration extract (建物登記謄本) from the Land Office to verify ownership, encumbrances, and registered floor area.

A licensed land administration agent (scrivener) handles the legal documentation for property transfer in Taiwan — this is the standard practice and partly replaces the notary role found in other civil-law countries. Your agent prepares transfer contracts, files for tax assessments, submits deed tax declarations, and handles Land Office registration. Verify your agent is licensed (check via the Ministry of the Interior system). Use an agent with bilingual capability or bring a qualified interpreter for all key meetings.

Sign the sale and purchase agreement (買賣契約書) in Chinese. Budget for a bilingual review — errors in area, price, included items (fixtures, parking), and payment schedule are common. A deposit of 10% is customary. The deed tax declaration must be filed within 30 days of signing. Ensure the contract specifies the handling of Land Value Increment Tax (土地增值稅) — this is traditionally the seller's liability but can be negotiated. Stamp duty (印花稅) on the sale deed is 0.1% of the transaction price, paid by the buyer.

Apply to a bank for a mortgage loan. Foreigners without APRC face stricter conditions: LTV typically 50-60% (deposit 40-50%), some banks will not lend to non-APRC holders at all. Required documentation: passport, ARC, proof of income (Taiwan or foreign — some banks accept foreign payslips), employment contract, bank statements. Banks conduct property valuation independently. If using a foreign bank operating in Taiwan (HSBC, Citibank branches), conditions may differ. Mortgage interest rates in 2026 are approximately 2.5-3.5% for TWD-denominated loans.

Deed tax (契稅) of 6% is levied on the government-assessed building value (not the transaction price — the assessed value is typically below market). File the deed tax declaration with the local tax authority within 30 days of contract signing and pay before registration. The land value increment tax (土地增值稅) is typically paid by the seller but verify the contract — buyers sometimes absorb it. For self-use first-time application, sellers can apply for the preferential 10% LVIT rate. Obtain tax payment receipts as they are required for Land Office registration.

Your land administration agent files the transfer registration at the competent Land Office (地政事務所) for the jurisdiction where the property is located. Submit: sale contract, deed tax payment receipt, LVIT payment receipt, ID documents of both parties, and land/building registration extracts. Processing time is typically 7-15 business days. Once approved, new registration extracts in your name are issued. You are the legal owner from registration date. Check the new extract carefully for accuracy of name, ID number, and ownership percentage.

Notify the building management committee (管理委員會) of ownership change. Transfer utility accounts (water, electricity, gas). Verify building insurance coverage. Register your address for House Tax (房屋稅) purposes with the local tax authority. If you plan to use the property as your primary residence, register your ARC address there — this is required for the self-use preferential House Tax rate (1.2%) and may eventually support self-use LVIT and 房地合一 exemption applications.