If you are a foreigner living in Taiwan for an extended period and wish to settle down on this beautiful land, you might consider purchasing a house here. However, you may wonder whether foreigners are allowed to buy property in Taiwan or not.

Firstly, Taiwan's laws regarding the ability of foreigners to purchase property are based on the principle of "reciprocal treatment" between the foreigner's home country and Taiwan. In other words, if a foreigner's home country permits Taiwanese citizens to buy property there, then that foreigner is allowed to buy property in Taiwan as well. For example, Mr. Gross, a foreigner with German citizenship, wishes to purchase a house in Taiwan. Since Taiwanese citizens are allowed to buy property in Germany, Mr. Gross can also purchase property in Taiwan.

For detailed information on the reciprocal treatment conditions for various countries, you can refer to the Ministry of the Interior's "List of Reciprocal Nations for Foreigners Acquiring in Taiwan, ROC" (外國人在我國取得或設定土地權利互惠國家一覽表，available online).

by 何宜澈 受雇律師