Taiwan (TW)

Authority: Ministry of Education, Department of International and Cross-Strait Education (MOE, moe.edu.tw/international). For specific admissions use, receiving universities' international admissions offices handle their own recognition.

Process: For employment purposes: most private employers accept a TECO-authenticated foreign degree + Chinese translation directly. For graduate admissions: TECO-authenticated degree + certified Chinese translation + official transcripts (with TECO authentication). For MOE scholarship or public-sector work: formal degree recognition review by MOE — apply at moe.edu.tw with authenticated degree and transcripts; processing: 4–8 weeks; fee: NT$500. MOE Degree Recognition Database (台灣地區大學校院學術資格認定書) serves some universities as formal recognition.

Equivalency service: Taiwan does not have a single WES-equivalent service. MOE academic credential recognition letter (學歷認定書) serves this function for public employment and graduate admissions — request via moe.edu.tw. Universities issue their own admissions decisions. For employers: TECO-authenticated copies + certified Chinese translation is usually sufficient.

Apostille: Taiwan is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention (due to its unique international status). Documents cannot simply carry an apostille — they require authentication through a TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office) office in the issuing country. Documents from countries without TECO offices: consult MOE or the NIA for the appropriate authentication route.

Legalisation: TECO authentication (驗證) is the equivalent of legalisation for documents used in Taiwan. Process: (1) Get the document notarised by a local notary public in your home country. (2) Have the notary's stamp authenticated by the relevant government authority (Secretary of State, Foreign Office, etc.). (3) Submit to the nearest TECO office for final authentication stamp. TECO fee: USD $15–30 equivalent per document. Processing: 3–10 business days at most TECO offices. TECO directory: roc-taiwan.org.

Sworn translation: Taiwan requires Chinese translations for most foreign documents submitted to government authorities. The translation must be prepared by a translator certified by a court or TECO-approved institution, accompanied by the original and TECO authentication. Some authorities accept translations notarised in Taiwan by a court-affiliated notary (公證人 — District Court notary office, 地方法院公證處). Cost: NT$500–2,500 per document. Private translations without certification are not accepted by government offices.