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¡@ | Visitor Information SourcesTravel Information Service CentersVisa InformationPertinent Customs Regulations for Inbound PassengersGeneral Information for Visitors to the Taiwan AreaCustoms Regulations for Outbound PassengersVisitor Information Sources
Travel Information Service CentersThe Travel
Information Service Centers of MOTC provide information
to inbound and outbound tourists in Taoyuan Chiang Kai-shek
International Airport, Taipei Sungshan Domestic Airport.
In the north, entral, and south the Tourism Bureau
operates service at :
Visa InformationTourist visas for the Republic of China can be obtained from the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ROC embassies, consulates, and designated representative offices in foreign countries. Foreign nationals may obtain a tourist visa if they hold a foreign passport or travel document valid for more than six months and wish to stay less than six months in the Republic of China to engage in the following activities: business, sightseeing, family visits, study or training, visit (with letter of invitation), transit, technical assistance, medical treatment, and other legitimate activities. Visa requirements include one completed application form, incoming and outgoing travel tickets (or a letter of confirmation from a travel agency), three photos, documents verifying the purpose of the visit (except for transit or sightseeing), and a letter of guarantee (in some cases). Those holding a tourist visa may stay in the ROC for two weeks to 60 days and, unless restricted to two weeks, may apply for a maximum of two extensions of 60 days each, for a total of six months. The visa may be single- or multiple-entry and valid for up to one year for stays of up to six months. Holders of a tourist visa are not permitted to assume employment in the ROC. Participants in major international meetings and VIP visitors invited by the ROC government may be issued visas upon arrival if their names are on an approved list. Starting on June 1, 1993, the following groups and individuals may apply for single entry visas for transit purposes upon arrival at the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport:
The visa will entitle the holder to stay a maximum of two weeks in the Taiwan area. Flight tickets for the next stop after Taiwan are required when applying for such a visa. Beginning on January 1, 1994 citizens of the following 12 countries may enter the ROC visa-free for stays of up to 120 hours, so long as their passports are valid for at least six more months and they possess onward or return tickets: the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Australia, and New Zealand. Complete information on ROC visas can be obtained from the:
Pertinent Customs Regulations for Inbound PassengersEach person may bring into the ROC, duty-free, one liter of alcoholic beverages, 25 cigars, 200 cigarettes, or one pound of other tobacco products. A written declaration is required when bringing dutiable articles into the ROC. Duty is charged on gold in excess of 62.5 grams in weight. No more than NT$40,000 in cash may be brought into the country by each passenger. Undeclared New Taiwan currency in excess of this amount will be confiscated. Incoming passengers who want to bring in more than NT$40,000 in cash should apply, prior to entry, for a permit from the Ministry of Finance. Any amount of foreign currency may be brought in, but must be declared. The following articles are prohibited from entry. There are severe penalties for their importation, use, possession, or sale:
Source: Ministry of the Interior TransportationTaiwan has two international airports, Chiang Kai-shek International Airport near Taipei in the north and Kaohsiung International in the southern port city. Both airports are currently being expanded and upgraded, and a number of smaller domestic airports are also undergoing improvement. Eight domestic airlines operate flights to all of the major cities on Taiwan proper, as well as to the islands of Kinmen and Matsu off the coast of mainland China, the Pescadores in the Taiwan Straits, and two small islets off Taiwan's southeastern coast, Green Island and Orchid Island. Surface travel is extremely convenient and reasonably priced. It is now possible to travel all the way around the island by train, and express buses link all cities, towns, and scenic spots. Rental cars are widely available, although the major international car rental agencies have not yet been able to compete successfully in the Taiwan market. To rent a car in Taiwan requires an international or ROC driver's license, plus a credit card or, frequently, a sizable deposit. Those who are reluctant to drive themselves--as most visitors unfamiliar with the island's ill-marked roads and its chaotic and sometimes lawless traffic are--can hire cars with chauffeurs. Major urban areas all have extremely comprehensive and frequent bus service. Taxis are available in abundance, but few taxi drivers speak any language other than Chinese. The ROC's first mass rapid transit system is under construction in Taipei, and similar systems are planned for other large cities as well.
General Information for Visitors to the Taiwan AreaClimate Taiwan's climate is subtropical, with average annual temperatures of 21.7C in the north and 24.1C in the south. Summers, which last from May through September, are usually hot and humid with daytime temperatures from 27C to 35C (in the 80s and 90s Fahrenheit). Winters, from December through February, are short and mild. Snow falls only on the island's higher mountains. Currency The Republic of China's unit of currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$). Foreign currencies can be exchanged at government-designated banks, hotels, and shops. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and travelers wishing to exchange unused NT dollars before departure must present those receipts. Foreign traveler's checks can be cashed at hotels or at the local branches of the banks that issued them. Time Differential All territories under ROC government control, including Taiwan, the Pescadores, Kinmen (Quemoy), Matsu, Orchid Island, and Green Island are under one time standard, which is UTC +8 hours. The ROC observes the same time standard all year, i.e., there is no daylight saving time during the summer months. Thus, Taiwan's relative time differential with a given part of the world usually increases by an hour in the spring and correspondingly decreases by an hour in the fall. Languages The national language of the ROC is Mandarin Chinese. Many people can speak some English (the most widely studied foreign language), but most taxi drivers do not. Credit Cards Major credit cards (including American Express, Carte Blanche, Master Card, Diners Club, and Visa) are acceptable, and traveler's checks may be cashed at international hotels, tourist-oriented restaurants, souvenir shops, and most department stores. Tipping the standard tip is NT$30 per piece of luggage. A 10 % service charge and a 5 percent value-added tax (VAT) are automatically added to room rates and meals. All other tipping is optional. Business Hours Most of the island's people work a five-and-a-half day week. Banks are open from 9 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Monday through Friday and from 9 A.M. to noon on Saturdays. Most commercial firms are open from 9 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. Monday through Friday and from 9 to noon on Saturdays. Department stores are open daily from either 10:30 or 11 A.M. to 9:30 P.M., and most other stores are open daily from 9 or 10 A.M. to 9 or 10 P.M. Government offices are open from 8:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. and 1:30 to 5:30 P.M. Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. on Saturdays. Electricity & Water Electric current used throughout Taiwan is 110 volts AC, 60 cycles. Drinking water served at hotels and restaurants is distilled or boiled. Vaccinations are not normally required for entry into Taiwan. Customs Regulations for Outbound PassengersExcept in the
following cases, completion of the Outbound Passenger's
Declaration Form is optional. Outbound passengers must
declare to Customs in writing when:
Passengers who do not make a declaration to Customs and are found, on their departure from the ROC, to be carrying gold, silver, New Taiwan Dollar notes, and/or foreign currencies in excess of the designated limits, shall have the excess amount confiscated. They may also be subject to punishment by law. The designated limits on gold and/or silver ornaments, and currency which a passenger is allowed to carry on his departure from the ROC are as follows: Up to 62.5 grams (or two market taels) of gold ornaments or coins; up to 625 grams (or 20 market taels) of silver ornaments or coins; up to US$5,000 in notes or the equivalent in foreign currencies; up to NT$40,000 in notes and 20 coins (of the types in circulation) of New Taiwan Dollar specie.Articles that may not be taken out of the country include unauthorized reprints or copies of books, records, videotapes, and so on; genuine Chinese antiques, ancient coins, and paintings; and items prohibited from entry, such as firearms, drugs, counterfeit currency, and contraband. For further Customs information, contact the:
Telephone
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