To address the national security challenges posed by Taiwan's declining fertility rates, the government continues to optimize and refine its measures for tackling the issue across five key areas: pregnancy, childrearing, child care and education, housing, and employment. In supporting young couples and creating family-friendly workplaces, the government has provided rental housing assistance to young, married couples raising families and enabled more flexible use of parental leave without pay. Now, it has further launched three initiatives to help families have children: (1) an expansion of the government's childbirth allowance, (2) version 3.0 of its in vitro fertilization (IVF) subsidy program and (3) a pilot program offering financial assistance for fertility preservation among patients undergoing treatment. Through these initiatives, the government aims to further enhance the welfare of families planning or raising children, reduce their burdens, safeguard the health of mothers and infants, and provide more substantive assistance to prospective parents, thereby fostering a society supportive of childrearing.
Initiatives
■ Expanded childbirth allowance: Beginning January 1, 2026, the government's childbirth allowance will be made available to women with Taiwanese nationality and to foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens who give birth, whether at full term or prematurely, and regardless of their social insurance enrollment status. The allowance will be raised to NT$100,000 (approximately US$3,282) per child, with proportional adjustments for twins or multiple births.
■ IVF subsidy program 3.0: Starting November 1, 2025, subsidy recipients on their first IVF attempt for each pregnancy are eligible for up to NT$150,000 (approx. US$4,923) if under age 39, and up to NT$130,000 (approx. US$4,267) if aged 39 to under 45. For the second and third attempts for each pregnancy, recipients are eligible for up to NT$100,000 (approx. US$3,282) per attempt if under age 39, and up to NT$80,000 (approx. US$2,626) per attempt if aged 39 to under 45. For the fourth to sixth attempts for each pregnancy, recipients under age 40 are eligible for up to NT$60,000 (approx. US$1,969) per attempt. Recipients from low income and lower-middle income households are eligible for up to NT$150,000 (approx. US$4,923) per attempt, regardless of age or number of attempts.
■ Fertility preservation pilot program for patients undergoing treatment: Effective September 1, 2025, Taiwanese citizens aged 18 to 40 who are diagnosed with breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma will be eligible for financial assistance for fertility preservation. Female patients may receive up to NT$70,000 (approx. US$2,297) per egg retrieval procedure, and male patients up to NT$8,000 (approx. US$263) per sperm banking procedure.