Is Taiwan a part of your 2023 journey plans? If that’s the case, you most likely have numerous questions brewing in your head. Is Taiwan nonetheless visa-free for Filipinos? Do I nonetheless must bear obligatory quarantine? What are the testing necessities? Ought to I deliver proof of vaccination? Don’t fear. We’ll reply all these questions (and extra) on this article.
Taiwan was the final vacation spot we had visited simply earlier than the pandemic reared its ugly head and introduced the world to its knees in early 2020. We even obtained stranded within the island for a couple of days! So it’s type of apt — poetic even — that it’s also our first vacation spot in 2023, the 12 months that all of us anticipate issues to totally return to regular.
In reality, Philippine Airways, the nation’s flag provider, has added yet one more flight to Taiwan. This can be a good signal that tourism (and journey typically) is beginning to get again on its ft. PAL now flies to the Taipei Taoyuan Worldwide Airport (TPE) twice a day:
- PR 890
Departure: 06:25 AM
Arrival: 08:45 AM - PR 894
Departure: 5:50 PM
Arrival: 8:05 PM
This may occasionally change sooner or later, so be certain to double-check and go to PAL’s official web site for the most recent schedule and fares.
So sure, issues are beginning to return to regular. However what are the journey necessities when visiting Taiwan?
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
YES. Philippine Passport holders can go to Taiwan with no visa for as much as 14 days.
Filipino vacationers are included in Taiwan’s visa-exempt program till 31 July 2023. After this date, you’ll most likely be required to safe a visa or an e-visa. I say “most likely” as a result of if historical past is any indication, the Taiwanese authorities is more likely to lengthen it once more for one more 12 months as they all the time did pre-pandemic. However that’s not assured, so don’t depend on it.
Observe that this is applicable to Filipinos touring to Taiwan for leisure. A visa may nonetheless be required from these touring to review or work, with which I’m not acquainted.
Whereas Taiwan stays visa-free for Filipino vacationers, it doesn’t imply that you possibly can merely waltz in. Right here is the complete listing of necessities when visiting Taiwan for leisure:
- Passport, with over 6 months of validity
- Proof of lodging, which can be lodge reserving affirmation or handle and get in touch with particulars of your sponsor in Taiwan
- Exit ticket, which can be a return ticket to the Philippines or an onward ticket to a different nation
- Enough funds
These are the paperwork that the Immigration Officer may ask you to current. I say “may” as a result of they don’t all the time examine for these necessities. In reality, apart from passports, we’ve got by no means been requested to indicate these paperwork even on our final journey. They simply requested to see our passports, scanned our fingerprints, and took a photograph. Then they allow us to by way of.
However simply because we or different folks you recognize weren’t checked doesn’t imply that you just received’t be checked, both. Our circumstances and journey instances are completely different, and also you’ll almost certainly be assessed by a unique Immigration Officer. Therefore, there’s nonetheless an excellent probability that you possibly can be requested to offer these necessities. To be on the secure facet, be sure to have all these paperwork when touring to Taiwan. The very last thing you need is to be ordered to offer these docs and also you’re not capable of since you don’t have them.
I’m not certain. I don’t suppose they explicitly state how a lot is “enough”. Out of the numerous instances I’ve traveled to Taiwan, I’ve by no means been requested how a lot cash I’ve with me. That stated, I’ve learn on-line accounts from different individuals who have, so that they do ask about it generally.
The one recommendation I can share concerning that is to just remember to have sufficient to cowl your bills for the whole size of your keep. If you happen to plan on utilizing the complete 14 days allowed in Taiwan, don’t deliver solely 1000 NTD as a result of it doesn’t make sense.
NO. The Taiwan authorities is not going to ask for any proof of vaccination. No vaccination card or vaccination certificates is required.
That stated, you probably have proof of vaccination, deliver it anyway. It’s all the time finest to have it simply in case guidelines change when you’re on the journey or if the airline asks for it regardless.
Moreover, so far as I do know, proof of vaccination is required when coming into the Philippines, though authorities don’t all the time examine. However once more, simply deliver it for good measure.
There’s NO testing required earlier than or upon arrival on the airport in Taiwan. You don’t must submit a adverse check consequence previous to your journey. You don’t must bear a check on the airport.
BUT after rising from the plane, simply earlier than you attain the Immigration cubicles, you’ll discover a desk with stacks of self-test kits. You must get one field. Every field incorporates 4 items of check kits.
What are these check kits for? You’re anticipated to do a self-test on the lodge in your first day and each 2 days since for 7 days. It’s a part of Taiwan’s 7-day self-initiated preventive program.
Once more, for readability: The thought is, it’s best to do a swab check by yourself over the subsequent seven days: one upon arrival on the lodge and one other each two days.
This does NOT imply that you just’ll be quarantined. You may nonetheless go exterior and discover like regular. In principle, you want a adverse check to exit and every check is legitimate for the subsequent two days. That is why you might be given 4 kits. It ought to cowl your first seven days.
HONESTY SYSTEM: Nobody goes to examine in case you actually did it and also you received’t need to submit or report the check consequence anyplace. However regardless of this, I nonetheless extremely encourage you to do a self-test. Sure, it’s uncomfortable, however it’s all the time finest to comply with the foundations.
So to recap, when touring to Taiwan:
- NO visa
- NO proof of vaccination
- NO pre-trip testing
- NO obligatory quarantine
Taiwan is without doubt one of the best locations to go to today, so in case you’ve all the time wished to go, bump it as much as the highest of your bucket listing.
YES. The 7-day preventive program does NOT imply you could keep at the very least 7 days in Taiwan. It solely means the testing ought to be carried out over the primary seven days. In case your keep is shorter, then you definately don’t want to make use of all of the check kits.
If you happen to’re staying in Taiwan for less than 4 days, then you definately’ll solely need to do 2 assessments.
If you happen to’re staying 2 days, you solely must do one.
The official coverage is: you need to put on masks indoors except you’re consuming.
At a restaurant, it’s best to nonetheless put on a masks when getting meals on the buffet desk or when utilizing the restroom. You must solely take away it once you’re placing meals or drinks in your mouth.
Outdoor, masks are usually not required always. There could also be sure conditions when it’s wanted, however I’m unsure what the parameters are. I simply put on a masks regardless. And I’m not alone. Primarily based on my remark, the overwhelming majority of vacationers and locals in Taiwan nonetheless select to put on masks exterior.
We landed at Taipei Taoyuan Worldwide Airport. Right here’s the arrival course of as we skilled:
- After deplaning, get one field of COVID check kits. You’ll discover them simply earlier than you attain the Immigration space.
- Accomplish the Arrival Card. Get one from the desk in entrance of the Immigration counters.
- Clear Immigration examine. The Immigration officer will examine your passport and/or different necessities and take your picture and fingerprints.
- Declare your luggage on the assigned carousel.
- Clear customs examine. Be sure you don’t have MEAT merchandise otherwise you’ll be fined round one million NTD.
That’s it! On the Arrival Corridor, you’ll discover cash changers and ATMs. Observe that it’s extraordinarily troublesome to search out cash exchangers that settle for Philippine pesos within the metropolis so if you could trade currencies, you might do it right here. Higher but, withdraw from any of the ATMs, which I feel have higher charges. We choose utilizing Financial institution of China, the central financial institution of Taiwan.
You’ll additionally discover cubicles promoting knowledge SIM playing cards. If you happen to bought one by way of Klook, you possibly can choose up your SIM card from the Counter 6, positioned on the far finish of the corridor. It ought to be to your proper in case you’ve simply emerged from the Customs examine.
Listed below are a few of the accommodations that we have been in a position to take a look at:
Whereas it’s attainable to discover Taipei DIY-style, becoming a member of a tour has a protracted listing of perks, particularly in case you’re a part of an enormous group, you’re touring with youngsters or seniors, otherwise you merely don’t need to take care of the nitty-gritty of itinerary constructing. We frequently get DMs from folks asking for tour referrals.
Our most up-to-date Taipei journey was organized by Edison Excursions, which has been in operation for many years, making it one of the crucial trusted and most respected tour operators in Taipei.
If you happen to’re solo or a small group, you possibly can be part of a set tour. If you happen to’re a much bigger group, it’s finest to have them customise an itinerary for you, based mostly in your schedule and preferences. Every tour can also be led by a fluent English-speaking information, which is a really massive deal as a result of sights in Taipei and surrounding areas are usually not all the time visually fascinating. Most are historic or cultural websites that you just’ll recognize lots higher if you recognize the background or you probably have native insights.
To see their packages or for more information, go to www.edisontours.com. If you could get in contact with them for inquiries or requests, simply faucet the CONTACT US button within the higher proper nook of the web page.
If you happen to choose to e-book with a Philippine-based journey company, listed below are some that provide Taipei excursions with corresponding contact numbers and web sites.
- Constellation Travels Inc.
www.constellationtravels.com.ph
+63956 660 0693 - Journey Warehouse Inc.
www.twi.com.ph - VIA
https://ph.by way of.com
(+63 2) 8555.9444
gross sales.ph@by way of.com - Ark Journey Specific Inc.
(+63 2) 8810-4520 / (+63 2) 8528-0933
www.arktravelexpress.com - North Star Worldwide Journey Inc.
(+63 2) 3485 7272
inquiry@northstar-travel.com.ph
www.northstar-travel.com.ph - Ricson Crown Journey & Excursions
ricsontrvl@yahoo.com
(+63 2) 8352-0797 - Iloilo Skyways Journey & Excursions
(+63 33) 508-0909
skyways1995@gmail.com
www.iloiloskywaystravel.com - Levy Journey and Excursions
levytravelandtours@gmail.com
(+63 2) 87757436 / 85188801 / 85797215
+639178797525
We now have a Tagalog spoken model of this text. You may hearken to our dialogue about Taiwan journey necessities on Spotify! Comply with The Poor Traveler Podcast!
We’ll even be publishing extra Taiwan-related articles within the subsequent a number of weeks! If you happen to don’t need to miss any of these, you might comply with us on our Fb web page or Instagram account.
2023 • 1 • 31: First posted
