Taiwan closed to all foreign visitors as of 19 Mar 2020
Jul 30, 2020, 2:21 pm
#46
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,097
If you search the posts in the HK threads over the past six weeks you should come across one poster there who managed to get permission to enter Taiwan from Singapore, then used that as a bridge to enter Hong Kong, after spending two weeks in quarantine in Taipei.
Sep 9, 2020, 3:22 am
#47
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 134
Transit through Taiwan TPE up to 8 hours on the same airline supported now with temperature checks.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/soci...me-visitors-it
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/soci...me-visitors-it
Sep 19, 2020, 7:44 am
#48
Join Date: Nov 2013
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Just sharing some personal experience and findings here. Note that rules and regulations may be fluid and may change at anytime. Highly recommend calling your local TECO to confirm the procedures. Also the following covers foreign nationals without residence/foreign worker/official status only. Rules do not apply to Taiwanese passport and resident status holders.
Special permit application:
Special permit application:
- Important: a negative RT-PCR test result is NOT required for special permit application. It is highly recommended by TECO to obtain the permit prior to scheduling your flight & PCR test.
- As of writing, permits are handed out for business purpose and "special applications" only. This means no tourism or social visits. Written statements explaining the purpose of visit and planned activities is required from both Taiwan and local side, such as an invitation from a Taiwanese business and a written statement from your business/organization. While sounding complicated, this is not much different than a normal business visa application process.
- Applications are done online, but printed copies are also required to be submitted to TECO.
- Once approved, a "special" single-entry permit is affixed on your passport, much like a normal business visa, only with a COVID statement added. Duration of stay is 90-days with one-time extension.
- A negative RT-PCR test result within 3 days of boarding IS required. Airlines will not allow boarding without it.
- 3-days means 3 business days, not counting the day of departure. This means if you have your test done on a Friday, you would be able to schedule your flight as late as the following Wednesday. If your flight is scheduled just past midnight like a lot of them do, your 3rd day would be on the day you're heading to the airport.
- You will be asked to submit your contact information to the quarantine system online (prior to departure), or fill out written forms to be submitted upon landing.
- You are REQUIRED to have a local mobile number for contact tracing. You may also apply for a local SIM card at the airport with CDC personnel supervising and verifying the number.
- 14-day quarantine starts on the day after the day of landing, and ends on 00:00 of the 15th day. This means if you land at 5:00 in the morning, clock wouldn't start until midnight.
- 7-days of self-health management is required after quarantine, meaning wearing masks, avoiding crowded public areas.
- Shortened quarantine period is possible for travelers from low-mid risk countries. There are plenty of information available online so I will not cover them here.
Nov 18, 2020, 9:31 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: HKG, TPE, SAN
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Just a heads up, starting Dec. 1 and lasting for 3 months, all passengers to Taiwan (including locals and transfers) will need to show a negative PCR test within 3 days of departure. All arrivals will still need to be quarantined for 14 days.
https://udn.com/news/story/120940/50...telistnews_ch2
https://udn.com/news/story/120940/50...telistnews_ch2
Dec 12, 2020, 9:16 am
#50
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Does Taiwan/airlines accept oral swab tests? The Curative Lab test that's widely available across the USA is a RT-qPCR test, which is listed as an accepted test here, but on their lab results page, method of collection "oral swab" is in big letters, and there's no guidance on whether they require nasal or oral swabs. I would definitely prefer the curative oral swab tests, as the results have been quick, and the test is painless compared to the horror stories you hear about nasal swabs.
Dec 13, 2020, 6:02 pm
#51
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: HKG, TPE, SAN
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My guess is they only focus on the type of test you get. Of all the news I have read they only talked about the type of test, never mentioning of any type of swab. But this is only my guess.
Dec 23, 2020, 2:03 am
#52
Join Date: Mar 2019
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A friend just did the 14-day quarantine in Taipei. This thread already contains most of the important and relevant information that she provided me regarding her experience but I would emphasize two things:
- The PCR test for boarding the flight must be taken within three BUSINESS days before flight departure date (this was mentioned by @gracall above but not clear in all posts and is for whatever reason often misstated in English-language information sources on the matter). So if taking say a Wednesday flight it would be possible to use a test taken the prior Friday. This can give some more buffer time to get the test results back
- It is possible to rent both a local sim card and a separate phone on arrival in Taiwan. My friend strongly recommends doing so instead of giving the CECC your primary phone number as CECC reps will call every day to check in. This way it is possible to turn off your primary phone while leaving the CECC contact phone on all the time so that you can answer the CECC calls as required.
Dec 23, 2020, 7:07 am
#53
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Clarification on the "3 business days": The count starts on the day prior to your flight, meaning if the flight is scheduled for a Friday, your report date window is Tuesday to Friday. Weekends and holidays are excluded from the math.
Clarification on the"report date": This is the date whichever facility produces your PCR report, meaning the result date. This is not the specimen collection date, so you could potentially be tested a day or two in advance depending on how fast the report comes in.
Information obtained directly from Taiwan CDC rep.
Clarification on the"report date": This is the date whichever facility produces your PCR report, meaning the result date. This is not the specimen collection date, so you could potentially be tested a day or two in advance depending on how fast the report comes in.
Information obtained directly from Taiwan CDC rep.
Dec 30, 2020, 5:20 am
#54
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Location: Tainan, Taiwan
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Taiwan is tightening the rules back up, beginning Jan 1.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/new...kwZvtMxtLpfi1M
Transit flights are also ending on 1/1/21.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/new...kwZvtMxtLpfi1M
Transit flights are also ending on 1/1/21.
Jan 1, 2021, 4:38 pm
#55
Join Date: Mar 2019
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Taiwan is tightening the rules back up, beginning Jan 1.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/new...kwZvtMxtLpfi1M
Transit flights are also ending on 1/1/21.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/new...kwZvtMxtLpfi1M
Transit flights are also ending on 1/1/21.
Jan 1, 2021, 6:47 pm
#56
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This is a shame. I was looking into using the reduced business traveler quarantine, including repositioning to a low-risk country first, if necessary. Looks like I will just have to do the 14-day quarantine at some point. Seems like Taiwan is going to double down on keeping the borders closed (of course I do not blame them).
Jan 5, 2021, 5:50 pm
#57
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Do you guys think Taiwan will reopen to US passport holders without TW passports and without quarantine by December 2021? I just booked award flights for the family to lock in KE pre-devaluation rates to spend NYE 2021 in Taipei and don't want to quarantine with two small children. These articles suggest that they will open Q4 2021 at the soonest and beginning with selected neighboring countries.
https://www.travelinglifestyle.net/t...ening-borders/
https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/mi...ble-visit-2024
https://www.travelinglifestyle.net/t...ening-borders/
https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/mi...ble-visit-2024
Jan 5, 2021, 9:22 pm
#58
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Do you guys think Taiwan will reopen to US passport holders without TW passports and without quarantine by December 2021? I just booked award flights for the family to lock in KE pre-devaluation rates to spend NYE 2021 in Taipei and don't want to quarantine with two small children. These articles suggest that they will open Q4 2021 at the soonest and beginning with selected neighboring countries.
One potential issue is that Taiwan appears to be behind many other countries in the vaccination process and the government has stated a goal of 60% of the population vaccinated. Hard to imagine that would persist into the timeframe of your trip, but if it does, that could affect public policy decisions.
Jan 23, 2021, 6:19 pm
#59
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I'm not aware of any.
Currently, Taiwan is scrambling to lock down a cluster of local infections that erupted in a hospital in Taoyuan. Government is sending out reminders to everyone to avoid group activities. I can't imagine them agreeing to loosen up border policies while this is the headline in every news report.
Although, I did see a news report that they were working on a plan to begin allowing visitors in with no quarantine as long as you can provide proof of vaccination and negative test. But that plan is for some unknown future date, and I don't see it happening anytime soon.
Currently, Taiwan is scrambling to lock down a cluster of local infections that erupted in a hospital in Taoyuan. Government is sending out reminders to everyone to avoid group activities. I can't imagine them agreeing to loosen up border policies while this is the headline in every news report.
Although, I did see a news report that they were working on a plan to begin allowing visitors in with no quarantine as long as you can provide proof of vaccination and negative test. But that plan is for some unknown future date, and I don't see it happening anytime soon.
Jan 25, 2021, 9:00 am
#60
Join Date: Jun 2011
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Oh I miss Taiwan and I haven't seen my uncle and cousins for such a long time.... But I would understand why they wouldn't reopen their borders too fast. So far they've done quite a great job containing this virus. I actually thought foreigners were allowed in, as long as they did a 14 days quarantine in an approved hotel/facility....