Taiwan travel info

General information for the traveller new to Taiwan.

Visas
Visitors to Taiwan should ensure that their passport or travel document is valid for at least 6 months and proof of ongoing travel must be held. It is also advisable to carry documents verifying the purpose of your visit. An automatic fourteen-day visa-free privilege is afforded to residents of selected countries and certain nationalities can apply for a thirty-day landing visa on arrival.

All other foreign nationals, not entitled to use the visa-exempt privilege, are required to obtain a valid visa prior to arrival in Taiwan. Visa information can change and should be checked.

Customs
Receipts are issued when currency is exchanged and these should be kept if you wish to exchange NT$ before departing the country.

Visitors may take the following into Taiwan duty free:

Alcohol - 1 litre of alcoholic beverages
Tobacco - 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars or 454g (1lb) of tobacco

Penalties for carrying or trafficking illegal drugs are extremely severe, ranging from long prison sentences to the death penalty.

Time
Taiwanese time: GMT + 8 hours

Currency
New Taiwanese Dollar (NT$) - Check current exchange rates
100 cents = 1 NT$
Notes issued NT$1000, NT$500, NT$100, NT$50
Coins issued in NT$50, NT$10, NT$5, NT$1

Tipping
Tipping is optional in most situations, although some large hotels and restaurants may add a 10% service charge to the bill. Tip porters around NT$50.

Banking Hours
Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 3.30 pm
Saturday 9.00 am to 12.00 pm

Language
Mandarin is the official language in Taiwan; however many residents also speak the local Taiwanese dialect. English is not widely spoken.

Telephone
The international dialling code for Taiwan is 886
When making international calls from Taiwan, first dial 002 +country code + area code + telephone number

Local Telephone Codes

Haulien 038

Hsinchu City 03

Kaohsiung 07

Taichung 04

Taipei 02

Taitung 089

Tsaochiao 037

Electricity
110 volts and 60 cycles AC
Flat two and three pin plugs are most common. A universal adapter is an important travel item.

Water
Tap water should be boiled before consumption; however bottled water is widely available.

Health
The standard of medical service available around the country can vary; therefore you should ensure that you have adequate health insurance covering evacuation. Generally, there are no need for inoculations but always check the current situation and vaccination requirements with a doctor when planning your trip.

International Airports

Kaohsiung
Taipei - Chiang Kai-Shek

International Airport Departure Tax
NT$300

Domestic Airports

Chiayi
Chimei
Green Island
Haulien
Kaohsiung
Makung
Orchid Island
Taianan
Taichung
Taipei - Sungshan
Taitung
Wangan

Domestic Airport Departure Tax
None

Etiquette/Dress Code
As with many Asian countries, situations should be avoided which would cause a loss of "face". Try to steer clear of confrontation as it is not appreciated and will only worsen rather than resolve any situation.

Casual and smart clothes can be worn around city and country locations in Taiwan, although some restaurants and bars do have a dress code. On beaches, topless sunbathing is never acceptable.

Diplomatic Missions
A limited number of countries have diplomatic representation in Taiwan.

Useful Sources of Information
Further information on Taiwanese culture and tourist attractions.