Taiwan Travel Advice & Safety
Visas
Taiwan has restored the visa-exempt entry scheme for nationals of designated countries, including Australia. Please see Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website for the visa-exempt entry requirements and restrictions.
You won’t need a visa for Taiwan if you meet all these conditions:
- you’ll only stay for up to 90 days
- you’re visiting for tourism or business
- you have a confirmed return or onward air ticket
- your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of your entry
- you’re not travelling on an emergency passport
In other situations, you’ll need to get a visa before you travel.
Australians can use Taiwan’s e-Gate service. To register for e-Gate, visit the e-Gate Enrolment Counters at the airport, located next to the e-Gate lanes at passport control. The registration is valid until six months prior to your passport’s expiry date, until you renew your passport, or until you obtain an Alien Resident Card (ARC) in Taiwan. You will need then to register each trip online to use the gates. More information is available at the e-Gate Enrolment System website.
Working holiday makers (WHM) must apply for the WHM visa before arriving. WHM visas are also valid as a work permit.
Entry and exit conditions can change. Contact the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
More information:
Border measures
International transits are permitted at Taiwan’s airports.
Incoming passengers are no longer required to present a PCR test result before departure for Taiwan. See the Taiwan Centres for Disease Control for more information.
From 13 October, the weekly cap on arrivals has increased from 60,000 to 150,000 passengers, and the 3+4 entry quarantine rule has been replaced by a 7-day period of SEP. See the 7-day SEP policy for more details.
On arrival, you’ll receive 4 (RAT) kits for those aged 2 years and above. Children under 2 years of age are not required to take RATs. You should use the RATs on the day you arrive (day zero) or day one and within two days before going out during your SEP period. You should also take a RAT test if COVID-19 symptoms appear at any time during this period. See Mandatory quarantine requirements from 29 September for further details.
You’ll need to proceed to your hotel, home or private residence on arrival, provided it satisfies the criterion of ‘one person per room’ for the SEP period.
If you test positive, you’ll be notified by the local authorities. You may continue your SEP period at the home residence (under one person per room policy) or move to a government-designated facility or an enhanced quarantine hotel. If you have serious symptoms, you will be taken directly to hospital for further testing and treatment.
Taiwanese authorities only recognise COVID-19 vaccines approved either by the World Health Organization or Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration. Some conditions apply. Detailed guidelines are available at Taiwan Centers for Disease Control.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you must wait over 7 days from the specimen collection date to take a flight to Taiwan in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and maintain safety on the flight. See Taiwan Centres for Disease Control for more details.
You can travel to Taiwan if you’re a student enrolled in a formal degree program in Taiwan. You can also travel if you’re the recipient of a Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mandarin Language Enrichment Scholarship. However, you must still undergo quarantine. You may enter Taiwan if you’re a non-degree student. This includes short-term language students, exchange students, or New Colombo Plan students.
You must observe a period of self-health management after your SEP period has ended. Significant penalties may apply if you breach requirements.
On 24 October 2022, a ban on international cruise ships was lifted. Passengers over 2 years of age are required to present a negative rapid COVID-19 test taken on the day of arrival in Taiwan or the previous day. See Maritime and Port Bureau for more details.
Staying in Taiwan
You must wear a face mask in all public venues. This includes:
- healthcare facilities
- public transport
- indoor shopping areas
- learning facilities
- exhibition venues
- entertainment venues
- places of worship
- public offices
- business venues.
You won’t be required to wear a face mask in forests and mountains (including forest recreation areas) and on beaches, riding a scooter or driving a vehicle alone or with family members. However, you should carry and wear a face mask if there is a sudden surge in crowds, or if social distancing can’t be maintained. Check the mask mandate and other epidemic prevention measures for details.
You’ll also need to maintain social distancing of 1.5m indoors and 1m outdoors.
You may need to present your COVID-19 Vaccination Record when visiting certain entertainment venues in Taiwan.
