A visa should be applied for in your own country before leaving home. If you arrive without a visa, then it is possible to obtain a landing visa at Taipei airport which would give you a maximum stay of 30 days, after which you must leave the country - it is impossible to extend this type of visa. For students who enrol in advance with the Providence University Mandarin Program, the university will send acceptance papers to your home address. These can be used to gain a two month extendable visa, which can then be extended upto 6 months from within Taiwan - you need not leave. For students who wish to stay longer than 6 months, you may apply for a resident visa through our program within the country before the six month period is completed.
English teachers can also gain a resident visa from the school where they are working.
Airline tickets can be purchased for direct flights to Taipei from a number of countries, but many people travel via Hong Kong, Singaport or Malaysia. ESL House is based in Taichung and it is possible to book a domestic flight between Taipei and Taichung. Alternatively there are a number of bus companies operating between Taipei airport and Taichung and other major cities. These are fairly inexpensive. It is important that you have an onward flight ticket because the immigration authorities will not allow you to enter the country without it.