Bank & Post Office Account Opening

💡 Why open an account?

Living in Taiwan, having a Post Office or bank account is essential for the following reasons:

  1. Receiving School Payments:All university-related payments (such as scholarships, work-study wages, or tuition/dormitory refunds) are issued strictly via bank transfer. Cash payments are not available.
  2. Work Wages:If you take a part-time job in Taiwan (on or off-campus), employers typically require a local account to deposit your salary.
  3. Safety & Convenience:It reduces the risk of loss from carrying large amounts of cash. Additionally, ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) are ubiquitous in Taiwan, making cash withdrawals very convenient.

 

🤔 How to open an account?

🐾 Step 1: Prepare Your Documents (Checklist)

To open an account and apply for an ATM card, you must prepare the following:

  1. Passport:Original + 1 photocopy.
  2. Alien Resident Certificate (ARC):Original + 1 photocopy.
  3. Student Status Certificate
  4. Personal Chinese Seal/Chop (Note: The Office of International Affairs (OIA) will assist with a group order at the start of the semester.)
  5. Tax Information:Your Tax ID Number (TIN) from your home country.
    (⚠️ Note: Please look up and record your home country’s tax ID in advance, as it is required for the application forms.)
    👉 [Click here to search your TIN]

🐾 Step 2: Get and Fill Out Forms

Forms are available at different locations. Please pay attention to where to collect them:

📍 Location A: Office of International Affairs (OIA)

Pick up these 2 forms first:

    • Postal Passbook Savings Deposit Slip (郵政存簿儲金存款單)
    • CRS-I Form (for tax residency declaration)

 

📍Location B: Post Office

Pick up this form at the counter: Application for Postal Passbook Savings Account (郵政存簿儲金立帳申請書)

💡 Not sure how to fill them out? Please refer to the online samples: [Click to view samples]

🐾 Step 3: Go to the Post Office

⚠️ Important: You must make an appointment by phone before going.

Post Office Name Appointment Phone Business Hours
🏣 Providence University Post Office (04) 2631-9704

Mon–Fri: 08:30-12:30 / 13:30-17:00

🏣 Tunghai University Post Office (04) 2359-2748

Mon–Fri: 08:30-12:30 / 13:30-17:00

💡 Pro-Tip: When opening your account, tell the counter staff you also want to apply for an “ATM Card” (提款卡). This allows you to withdraw cash 24/7 at ATMs located in convenience stores, stations, and malls.

🚨 Step 4: The Final (and Most Important!) Step

Once you receive your passbook and account number, you must complete this step so the university can transfer scholarships or refunds to you: