The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday announced the official launch of a reciprocal working holiday program between Taiwan and the Czech Republic for young people from both countries.
In a statement issued yesterday, the ministry said both Taipei and Prague would offer 100 working holiday openings each year for people aged between 18 and 26, who could submit their applications starting yesterday.
“The maximum stay will be one year, which is counted from the day a working holiday visa is issued. Given the Czech Employment Act, Taiwanese planning to register for the program have to apply for a work permit with a local public employment service office within the European country before they can start working,” the ministry said.
The launch of the program came about four months after Representative to the Czech Republic Lu Hsiao-jung (陸小榮) and his counterpart, Vaclav Jilek, signed a memorandum of understanding in Prague on Dec. 28 last year to pave the way for the program.
The ministry said the Czech Republic is the ninth European country and the 14th worldwide to have inked a working holiday agreement with Taiwan, after Germany, the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Austria.
“The program will provide young people from both countries who seek to broaden their global perspective overseas with a new option of destination,” the ministry said.
However, the ministry advised potential candidates to abide by local laws and remain vigilant during their stays, adding that they should contact the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the event of an emergency.
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