Restrictions on Entering Taiwan

 

About Taiwan 

Taiwan is shaped like a leaf that is narrow at both ends. It lies off the southeastern coast of mainland Asia, across the Taiwan Strait from China-- an island on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. To the north is Japan; to the south is the Philippines. Many airlines fly to Taiwan making it become the perfect travel destination.

• Area: 36,000 square kilometers
• Population: 23 million
• Language: Mandarin/Taiwanese/Hakka
• Religion: Buddhism/Taoism/Christian/Islam/Catholicism

Climate

Taiwan enjoys warm weather all year round. The strongest fluctuations in weather conditions are during spring and winter, while during summer and autumn the weather is relatively stable. The annual average temperature in Taiwan is a comfortable 22 degrees Celsius with lowest temperatures ranging from 12 to 17 degrees Celsius (54-63 Fahrenheit). 

Time Zone

Taiwan is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Currency

The Taiwan's unit of currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$), which has five denominations in paper money and five in coins. Paper money comes in NT$2000, NT$1000, NT$500, NT$200, and NT$100 denominations. Coins come in NT$50, NT$20, NT$10, NT$5 and NT$1 denomination.
For different currencies, please visit the Currency Converter at Currency Conversion 1 (http://www.xe.com/ucc/)

Credit Card

Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, and Diners Club are accepted and traveler's checks may be cashed at foreign-exchange banks, some tourist-oriented businesses, and (by room guests) most international tourist hotels.

Electricity

• Taiwan uses an electric current of 110 volts at 60 cycles. Many buildings also have 220-volt sockets.
• Visitors with appliances of different voltages are urged to bring adapters with them. 

   

Telephone

Both coin and card pay public phones are available in Taiwan:

• Coin phones accept coins in denominations of NT$1, NT$5, and NT10.
• Card phones accept both magnetic-strip and IC stored-value cards available in amounts of NT$100, NT$200, and NT$300. These cards are sold in railway stations, bus stations, and convenience stores.
• Local calls from public phones are charged at NT$1 per minute.
• International direct calls are charged at NT$5 per specified unit of time.
• When making local calls it is not necessary to dial the area code. When making long-distance calls, first dial the area code of the receiving party (see explanation on the public telephone) and then the number itself.
• When making local calls, it is not necessary to dial the area code; however, when making long-distance calls, first dial the area code of the receiving party (see the explanations on public telephones) and then the number itself.

Calling Overseas Direct from Taiwan:

• Dial Taiwan's international access code (002 or 009).
• Dial the country code of the country being called (Ex. "1" for the US, "86" for mainland China).
• Dial in the area code of the called party (leaving out the long-distance digit, "0").

Dial the local number of the called party. For operator-assisted international calls, please dial "100."

For information on international calling, call this toll-free number: 0800-080-100.

Tipping & Tax

Sales tax is included in the listed price in Taiwan. Tipping is not customary in Taiwan, but some hotels and restaurants automatically add a 10% service fee to the bill. Otherwise there are no hard and fast rules. Of course you can always make someone happy with a small reward for good service.

VAT Refund Requirements

• Foreign travelers holding non-ROC passports, ROC passports without registered household, or a re-entry permit.
• Foreign travelers who make purchases of at least NT$3,000 on the same day from the same Tax Refund Shopping (TRS)-posted store and who take the purchased goods out of the country with them within 30 days of purchase.

Where to Claim Your Refund:

At the "Foreign Passenger VAT Refund Service Counter" at the airport or seaport of departure.

Refund Application Procedures:

• Present Application Form for VAT Refund, passport or other designated travel document, purchased goods to be taken out of the country, and original copy of uniform invoice to the customs officer.​
• After verification, the customs officer will issue a "VAT Refund Assessment Certificate."

Present the "VAT Refund Assessment Certificate" to the designated bank at the airport or seaport for issuance of refund due.

 

Transportation 

• Taichung Mass Rapid Transit System (TMRT)

The metro system operates from 6 am to midnight daily with extended services during special events. Trains operate at intervals of 1.5 to 15 minutes depending on the line and time of day. A "Single-journey Ticket" costs between NT$20 to NT$65 depends on distance. Smoking, eating, drinking or gum chewing are strictly prohibited on all MRT trains.

• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR)

The THSR goes through 8 main cities along the western part of Taiwan at the moment.

Regular Fare Tickets

Online Booking

• Taichung Taxi 

Charges are NT$85 for the first 1.5km and NT$5 for each additional 200 meters. An additional NT$5 is charged for every two minutes of waiting, and a NT$20 charge is added to fares between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Tips are not required.

Google

• Maps
• Calendar
• Drive

Train

• T-EX 行動購票 High Speed Rail T-Express – iOS, Android
• 台鐵e訂通 Taiwan Rail – iOS, Android

Ground Transportation

• 台北捷運Go Taipei MRT – iOS, Android
• 桃園捷運 Taoyuan Airport MRT – iOS, Android
• 台中捷運 Taichung MRT – iOS, Android
• 台中公車 Taichung Bus – iOS, Android
• Taxi 台灣大車隊 – iOS, Android
• Uber – iOS, Android

Others

• 台灣好行 
• 交通部中央氣象局 Taiwan Central Weather Bureaus – iOS, Android
• Currency
• Easy Card – iOS, Android

Airport

    .  .