Taiwan Preschool Types & Subsidies: 公立, 非營利, 準公共, 私立
Preschools in Taiwan fall mainly into four types: public (公立, including preschools affiliated with elementary schools), nonprofit (非營利), quasi-public (準公共), and private (私立). Under current regulations on the Ministry of Education's National Preschool Information Network (effective from the 2022 school year in August; rechecked in August 2026, amounts remain unchanged and have not been adjusted by the authorities), the maximum monthly parent contribution for the first child is NT$1,000 at a public preschool, NT$2,000 at a nonprofit, and NT$3,000 at a quasi-public preschool (lower for a second child, and free for low-income / middle-low-income households); private preschools are not subject to this cap and set their own fees. Subsidies are chosen according to the type of institution: those attending public / nonprofit / quasi-public preschools receive an enrollment subsidy (tuition reduction, i.e., the government pays the difference above the cap); only those not enrolled in such preschools receive a childcare allowance. Below we explain the differences, lottery, and subsidies by type, with official sources.
Core Differences Among the Four Types: Trade-Offs Between Cost and Availability
Preschools in Taiwan are divided into four types, differing mainly in 'who runs them, how much they cost, and how many places are available.' Public preschools (including those affiliated with elementary schools) are run by the government and have the lowest fees, but they have fewer classes and require a lottery. Nonprofit preschools are operated by nonprofit organizations commissioned by the government; fees are close to public preschools, quality is regulated, and places are also in high demand. Quasi-public preschools are private providers that sign contracts with the government, committing to fee and quality conditions; parents pay a capped monthly fee and can receive subsidies. Private preschools charge the highest fees but offer the most flexible curriculum and hours. Think first about your budget and whether you can accept a lottery, then decide your priority order.
What Is a Quasi-Public Preschool? Why Parents Care About It
'Quasi-public' is a program in which the government signs contracts with eligible private preschools to expand affordable early childhood education. Providers commit to fee caps, teacher salaries, and basic quality, while the government gives parents an enrollment subsidy, bringing the actual monthly cost down to a level close to public preschools. Under the current regulations on the Ministry of Education's National Preschool Information Network (in effect from the 2022 school year; rechecked on the official page in August 2026 and confirmed unchanged to date), the maximum monthly parent contribution is NT$1,000 for a first child at a public preschool, NT$2,000 for the first child / NT$1,000 for the second child at a nonprofit, and NT$3,000 for the first child / NT$2,000 for the second child / NT$1,000 for the third child or more at a quasi-public preschool (all amounts exclude group insurance, transportation, parent association fees, and other locally approved items). For public and nonprofit preschools, fees for a second child and above have been free since August 2021 (110th school year). Low-income and middle-low-income households are always free. It is not public and is still privately operated, but fees are constrained and subsidies are available, making it a popular choice for families who did not get a public slot but want to save money. If amounts are adjusted, follow the latest announcements by the Ministry of Education and local governments.
How Do Public and Nonprofit Preschools Hold Lotteries and When to Apply
Because public and nonprofit preschools have fewer spots than demand, they mostly use 'registration + lottery' placement, with priority admission for specific statuses (such as children from low-income, middle-low-income, disabled, indigenous, or special-circumstance families). Application usually opens each year in spring/summer (around April–June) and is announced on the municipal preschool information websites or at each school; household registration and relevant certifications are required. Exact schedules, priority order, and admission targets vary by city/county and school, so be sure to check the admissions brochure for that year from the local government and the specific school.
How to Receive Subsidies: Don't Confuse Enrollment Subsidies and Childcare Allowances
The key point is 'choose one according to the type of institution; you cannot receive both': (1) Those enrolled in public, nonprofit, or quasi-public preschools receive an 'enrollment subsidy (tuition reduction)' and may not receive a childcare allowance; (2) only those not enrolled in the above specific types of institutions (cared for at home or attending a general private preschool) can receive a 'childcare allowance' in cash. There are also two age tracks — for children under 2, the Ministry of Health and Welfare's childcare/child-rearing subsidy mostly applies; for children aged 2 to under 5, the Ministry of Education's childcare allowance applies. You choose one among the three (childcare subsidy / childcare allowance / enrollment subsidy), depending on the institution type and age. The actual amounts, age brackets, and income eligibility criteria are announced by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare and are adjusted from time to time; please follow the latest official rules.
How to Choose Based on Your Child's and Family's Situation, and Find Nearby Preschools
Suggested order: first assess your budget and commute (public/nonprofit are the cheapest but require a lottery; quasi-public comes next with subsidies; private is the most expensive and flexible) → confirm your child's age and application schedule → compare curriculum, teacher-student ratio, daily schedule, and meals → visit in person. To quickly see which preschools are near your home and their addresses and contact information, you can browse school data by city/county and district on this site, then check the type (public / nonprofit / quasi-public / private) and admission announcements on the National Preschool Information Network. This site is a neutral compilation of public data and does not rate the quality of individual schools.
FAQ
What's the difference between public, nonprofit, quasi-public, and private preschools?
The differences mainly lie in who runs them, fees, and availability: public preschools are run by the government, have the lowest fees, but require a lottery; nonprofit preschools are run by nonprofit organizations commissioned by the government, with fees close to public preschools and limited spots; quasi-public preschools are private schools that contract with the government, with capped fees and subsidies for parents; private preschools charge the highest fees and are the most flexible. Actual fees and subsidies are subject to the latest announcements by the Ministry of Education and local governments.
Is a quasi-public preschool public? How much can you save?
No. A quasi-public preschool is still operated by a private provider, but it has signed a contract with the government committing to fee caps and quality. Under the Ministry of Education's current regulations, the maximum monthly parent contribution is NT$3,000 for a first child, NT$2,000 for a second child, and NT$1,000 for a third child or more (effective from August 2022). The actual cost is close to that of a public preschool. This is a nationwide cap, not set by individual cities/counties; if adjusted, follow the latest announcements by the Ministry of Education and local governments. This site does not provide fee calculations.
How do I apply to a public preschool and when is the lottery?
Public and nonprofit preschools mostly use registration plus a lottery. Applications are usually in spring/summer (around April–June) and are announced on municipal preschool information websites or at each school; families with certain statuses receive priority admission. The exact schedule, priority order, and required documents vary by city/county and school; please refer to that year's admissions brochure.
Can I receive both the childcare allowance and the enrollment subsidy?
No. You must choose one according to the type of institution and cannot receive both. Those attending public, nonprofit, or quasi-public preschools receive an enrollment subsidy (tuition reduction) and cannot also receive a childcare allowance. Only those not enrolled in these specific types of institutions (cared for at home or attending a general private preschool) can receive a childcare allowance. In addition, for children under 2, the Ministry of Health and Welfare's childcare subsidy / allowance mostly applies; for children aged 2 to under 5, it is the Ministry of Education's childcare allowance. The amounts, age brackets, and income eligibility criteria are announced by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare and are subject to change; please follow the latest official rules.
What if I don't get a spot in a public preschool?
Common alternatives are choosing a quasi-public preschool (with capped fees, available subsidies, and a cost close to public) or being placed on a waitlist for a nonprofit preschool. Private preschools charge more but have more flexible availability. You can also watch for waitlist substitutions and later admission rounds in your city/county. Admission and waitlist rules vary by school; follow the announcements of the specific school and the local education authority.
How can I find which preschools are near my home and what type each one is?
You can use this site to browse local schools (including preschools) by city/county and district for addresses and contact information, then check the type (public / nonprofit / quasi-public / private) and admission announcements on the Ministry of Education's 'National Preschool Information Network.' For whether a particular school is quasi-public, its fees, and available spots, please rely on the latest official announcements and those of the specific school.
Do private (私立) preschools in Taiwan get any subsidy?
Yes, but as a monthly cash payment rather than a fee cap, and it depends on whether the preschool has joined the quasi-public (準公共) scheme. At a regular private preschool (not quasi-public), children aged 2 to under 5 can get the Ministry of Education's childcare allowance (育兒津貼), and children from age 5 until elementary school can get the 5-year-old preschool subsidy. Under the rules on the Ministry of Education's National Preschool Information Network (in force since August 2022), both pay NT$5,000 a month for a first child, NT$6,000 for a second and NT$7,000 for a third or later child, and the income test was dropped in January 2023. Only children with ROC (Taiwan) nationality qualify; parents or guardians apply themselves, and once approved the money is paid monthly into their designated bank account. If the private preschool has joined the quasi-public scheme, the monthly parent fee cap applies instead (NT$3,000 for a first child) and these allowances cannot be claimed. You can check a preschool's type on the National Preschool Information Network.
Official data source: Ministry of Education, K-12 Education Administration — National Preschool Information Network, Ministry of Education — Tuition and Subsidies (including the 5-year-old enrollment subsidy), Ministry of Health and Welfare — Childcare Allowance / Childcare Subsidy, K-12 Education Administration, Ministry of Education — Parent Fee Cap for Quasi-Public Preschools, K-12 Education Administration, Ministry of Education — Childcare Allowance for Children Aged 2 to Under 5, Ministry of Education, K-12 Education Administration — Preschool Attendance Subsidy for 5-Year-Old Children (Not Attending Affordable Preschool Education and Care Service Institutions)
This page is a neutral compilation of public information for reference only. It is not school-selection advice and does not constitute any commitment regarding admission or enrollment.