Entry requirements – Taiwan travel advice
This page reflects the UK Government’s understanding of the current rules for people travelling from the UK on a full “British Citizen” passport, which apply to the most common types of travel.
The rules for entering Taiwan change frequently. You should keep abreast of the latest information through the websites of the Central Epidemic Command Center, the National Immigration Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taipei Representative Office in the United Kingdom.
Taiwan authorities formulate and enforce entry rules.
All passengers
Travel ban for foreigners
Taiwan has temporarily banned foreigners from entering Taiwan. But there are some exceptions as shown below.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that from April 13, 2022, foreign relatives of Taiwan citizens and foreign residents in Taiwan, except for migrant workers, can now apply for special entry permits to enter Taiwan. Applicants will be required to complete the online visa application form and submit the required documents to the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) for consideration.
In addition, the following groups are excluded: ARC/APRC/Gold card holders, business travelers, foreign spouses of Taiwan passport holders and their children under the age of 20, foreign relatives of Taiwan passport holders, international students and foreign professors and Researchers. Individuals who come to Taiwan for volunteer work, internships, religious work and working holidays can now apply for a special entry permit to enter Taiwan.
All foreign citizens must obtain the correct entry permit and visa before arriving in Taiwan. It has not yet been determined when these border measures will be lifted. Exceptions may be made for emergency or humanitarian reasons. You should contact your local Taipei representative office for more information. Anyone entering Taiwan must comply with the quarantine requirements set forth below.
All passengers traveling to Taiwan must comply with the following quarantine and testing requirements.
Screening on arrival
The Central Epidemic Prevention Command Center announced that from August 15, 2022, arriving passengers will not need to present a negative certificate of COVID-19 RT-PCR test within two calendar days after boarding.
All passengers arriving in Taiwan from the UK before 15 August 2022 must present proof of a negative RT-PCR test for COVID-19 taken within two calendar days of boarding the flight to Taiwan. Taiwan passport or ARC/APRC/Gold card holders are not required to present this proof.
A negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test certificate must be issued by a medical institution recognized by the country of departure and include the following information:
- the full name on the passenger’s passport,
- the date of birth or passport number of the traveller,
- Specimen collection date and test report date,
- Virus name, detection method and test result
The test certificate must be provided in English or Chinese; however, where the passenger provides a certificate in French or Spanish, the certificate may be accepted if it is in the official language of the place of departure and the airline’s ground crew is able to assist in checking the contents.
All passengers arriving in Taiwan are required to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test using a saliva sample upon arrival before entering their pre-arranged isolation facility. Passengers who are quarantined at their residential property will be notified if they test positive for COVID-19 PCR and will be allowed to receive home care at the same location while they are quarantined. Travellers who test positive and are quarantined in designated isolation hotels will be notified and transferred to enhanced epidemic prevention hotels, designated isolation centers or hospitals for further treatment. Decisions about these arrangements will be made by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and will depend on the severity of your symptoms.
From June 15, 2022, all travelers arriving in Taiwan from overseas can now choose to take a quarantine taxi or be picked up from the airport by a relative or friend to a pre-arranged quarantine accommodation.
Anyone caught providing false or incorrect test results, or evading or obstructing quarantine measures, could face a fine of NT$10,000 to 150,000 and be held criminally liable.
For more information on test waivers, test certificates, and COVID-19 testing requirements, see the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control.
You should not use the NHS testing service to test to facilitate your travel to another country. You should arrange to take a private exam.
Quarantine Requirements for Passengers Arriving in Taiwan
The Central Epidemic Prevention Command Center announced that from June 15, 2022, the mandatory quarantine period for international visitors to Taiwan will be shortened from 7 days to 3 days, followed by a 4-day spontaneous epidemic prevention period (formerly known as self-health management). The current cap on arrivals to Taiwan is 50,000 per week.
You will be required to use a saliva sample for a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival at the airport and a further self-administered rapid COVID-19 test on the last day of mandatory isolation. You should submit your COVID-19 rapid test results to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) following the instructions provided. Local authorities will cover the cost of COVID-19 PCR tests and self-administered COVID-19 rapid tests.
Passengers who are eligible and choose to complete mandatory quarantine at their residential property rather than a quarantine hotel or designated quarantine facility will be required to declare that their residence complies with quarantine requirements.
You should consult the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or call their helpline 1922 for more information.
Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) holders
If you already hold a valid Alien Residence Certificate (ARC) or Alien Permanent Residence Certificate (APRC), you can enter Taiwan without a visa. For more information, you should visit the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. If you are in Taiwan, you can also call the “Taiwan Foreigner Information” hotline at 0800-024-111.
If you are not sure whether you can enter Taiwan, or you have other questions about entry restrictions and conditions, you should contact your local Taipei Representative Office (TRO) or airline before attempting to travel. Entry procedures are being reviewed regularly and may therefore be changed at short notice.
Visa extension
Taiwanese authorities announced in March that travelers who have arrived in Taiwan without a visa, visitor visa or visa on arrival before March 21, 2020 and have not overstayed their stay will be automatically extended by 30 days. It has now been extended by 30 days. The extension will be applied automatically, no need to apply. Your total length of stay, including extensions, must not exceed 900 days (including 180 days for a visitor visa, plus 24 automatic extensions of 30 days). For more information, you should contact the National Immigration Service (NIA).
If you arrive after March 21, 2020, your maximum stay depends on your visa. If you wish to stay for more than 180 days, you can apply to do so if you have a legitimate need to stay in Taiwan or are unable to leave. There are restrictions and not all UK nationals are eligible. You cannot apply more than 15 days before the 180-day point. For more information, you should contact the National Immigration Service (NIA). The UK office cannot issue letters or endorsements to support any applications left behind.
From 10 March 2022, under existing arrangements in the UK, UK citizens in Taiwan on a Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa will be able to apply to switch to a work visa in Taiwan or study a degree course in Taiwan. Undergraduate level or above.
All applications should be submitted to the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) for consideration. Once your application is approved, you can apply for an alien residence card at your local National Immigration Service (NIA) service center. You should contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs or the National Immigration Service for more information.
If you are fully vaccinated
If you are fully vaccinated, you can enter Taiwan, provided you have the correct entry permit and visa.
If you are not fully vaccinated
If you are not fully vaccinated, you can also enter Taiwan, provided you have the correct entry permit and visa. There are currently no additional quarantine or testing requirements for passengers who are not fully vaccinated.
children and adolescents
Children under the age of 12 will be subject to the same isolation requirements as their parents or legal guardians. If your child tests positive for COVID-19, you can accompany them. For information on testing facilities, see the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control website or call their helpline 1922.
For more information on healthcare in Taiwan, see the Coronavirus section.
If you are transiting in Taiwan
Transit is when you pass through a country or territory on your way to your final destination.
From June 15, 2022, Taiwan airports will allow international transfers. The maximum shipping time currently allowed is 12 hours. Rules and procedures may change at short notice. For more information, you should contact your airline.
exempt
Compassionate Reason
Exemptions from the rules may apply to:
- Close relatives of critically ill or terminally ill patients
- people attending a loved one’s funeral
- Parents visiting minor children
All foreign citizens must obtain the correct entry permit and visa before arriving in Taiwan. You should contact your local Taipei representative office for more information.
Check your passport and travel documents before travelling
If you are visiting Taiwan, your passport should be valid for 6 months from the date of your arrival.
If you are a Taiwan resident, your passport must be valid for 6 months from the date of your arrival.
Check with your travel provider to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.
visa
These visa rules do not currently apply, please see Entry Rules in Response to COVID-19 for the latest information.
You can stay in Taiwan for up to 90 days without a visa. After entering Taiwan, you can extend it for another 90 days. If you plan to stay in Taiwan for more than 180 days, you must obtain a visa before arrival.
Specific rules exist for naturalized British citizens born in the People’s Republic of China and for British nationals holding a British National (Overseas) passport and wishing to enter under the Visa Waiver Scheme.
For further information on entry requirements, please contact the Taipei Representative Office in London, 50 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0EB, tel: 020 7881 2650 or in Edinburgh, 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7PE, tel: 01312 206886.
passport expiry date
Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry to Taiwan.
UK emergency travel document
UK Emergency Travel Documents are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Taiwan. If you are entering Taiwan using an Emergency Travel Document (ETD), you must apply for a visitor visa before traveling (unless you are traveling from mainland China, in which case you can obtain a visa on arrival).
customs regulations
Animal products cannot be brought into Taiwan without prior permission, as smuggling products can face hefty fines.Due to recent reports of African swine fever virus (ASF) in pork products, especially from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), local authorities have intensified quarantine inspections and inspections
Back to the UK
Check what you must do to return to the UK.