Is Taiwan a part of your 2023 journey plans? In that case, you in all probability have quite a lot of questions brewing in your head. Is Taiwan nonetheless visa-free for Filipinos? Do I nonetheless must bear necessary 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 just a few days! So it’s type of apt — poetic even — that it is usually our first vacation spot in 2023, the yr that all of us anticipate issues to totally return to regular.
In truth, 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 basically) is beginning to get again on its toes. 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 will change sooner or later, so make certain to double-check and go to PAL’s official web site for the newest 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 out a 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 in all probability be required to safe a visa or an e-visa. I say “in all probability” as a result of if historical past is any indication, the Taiwanese authorities is prone to lengthen it once more for one more yr as they all the time did pre-pandemic. However that’s not assured, so don’t rely on it.
Be aware that this is applicable to Filipinos touring to Taiwan for leisure. A visa may nonetheless be required from these touring to check or work, with which I’m not acquainted.
Whereas Taiwan stays visa-free for Filipino vacationers, it doesn’t imply that you might merely waltz in. Right here is the complete checklist of necessities when visiting Taiwan for leisure:
- Passport, with over 6 months of validity
- Proof of lodging, which can be resort reserving affirmation or handle and phone 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
- Ample 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 truth, apart from passports, we have now by no means been requested to point out 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 via.
However simply because we or different folks you recognize weren’t checked doesn’t imply that you just gained’t be checked, both. Our circumstances and journey occasions are completely different, and also you’ll more than likely be assessed by a special Immigration Officer. Therefore, there’s nonetheless a superb likelihood that you might 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 in a position to since you don’t have them.
I’m not positive. I don’t assume they explicitly state how a lot is “enough”. Out of the various occasions I’ve traveled to Taiwan, I’ve by no means been requested how a lot cash I’ve with me. That mentioned, I’ve learn on-line accounts from different individuals who have, in order that they do ask about it generally.
The one recommendation I can share concerning that is to just be sure you have sufficient to cowl your bills for your complete size of your keep. For those who 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 won’t ask for any proof of vaccination. No vaccination card or vaccination certificates is required.
That mentioned, when you’ve got proof of vaccination, deliver it anyway. It’s all the time greatest to have it simply in case guidelines change whilst you’re on the journey or if the airline asks for it regardless.
In addition to, so far as I do know, proof of vaccination is required when getting into the Philippines, though authorities don’t all the time examine. However once more, simply deliver it for good measure.
There may be NO testing required earlier than or upon arrival on the airport in Taiwan. You don’t must submit a unfavourable take a look at outcome previous to your journey. You don’t must bear a take a look at 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. It’s best to get one field. Every field incorporates 4 items of take a look at kits.
What are these take a look at kits for? You’re anticipated to do a self-test on the resort 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, you must do a swab take a look at by yourself over the subsequent seven days: one upon arrival on the resort and one other each two days.
This does NOT imply that you just’ll be quarantined. You possibly can nonetheless go exterior and discover like regular. In idea, you want a unfavourable take a look at to exit and every take a look at 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 if you happen to actually did it and also you gained’t should submit or report the take a look at outcome anyplace. However regardless of this, I nonetheless extremely encourage you to do a self-test. Sure, it’s uncomfortable, but it surely’s all the time greatest to comply with the foundations.
So to recap, when touring to Taiwan:
- NO visa
- NO proof of vaccination
- NO pre-trip testing
- NO necessary quarantine
Taiwan is likely one of the best locations to go to lately, so if you happen to’ve all the time wished to go, bump it as much as the highest of your bucket checklist.
YES. The 7-day preventive program does NOT imply it’s worthwhile to keep at the least 7 days in Taiwan. It solely means the testing must be carried out over the primary seven days. In case your keep is shorter, you then don’t want to make use of all of the take a look at kits.
For those who’re staying in Taiwan for less than 4 days, you then’ll solely should do 2 checks.
For those who’re staying 2 days, you solely must do one.
The official coverage is: you will need to put on masks indoors except you’re consuming.
At a restaurant, you must nonetheless put on a masks when getting meals on the buffet desk or when utilizing the restroom. It’s best to solely take away it once you’re placing meals or drinks in your mouth.
Open air, masks should not required always. There could also be sure conditions when it’s wanted, however I’m undecided what the parameters are. I simply put on a masks regardless. And I’m not alone. Based mostly on my statement, 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 take a look at 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 photograph 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. Be aware that it’s extraordinarily tough to search out cash exchangers that settle for Philippine pesos within the metropolis so if it’s worthwhile to alternate currencies, you could do it right here. Higher but, withdraw from any of the ATMs, which I believe have higher charges. We want utilizing Financial institution of China, the central financial institution of Taiwan.
You’ll additionally discover cubicles promoting knowledge SIM playing cards. For those who bought one by way of Klook, you possibly can decide up your SIM card from the Counter 6, positioned on the far finish of the corridor. It must be to your proper if you happen to’ve simply emerged from the Customs examine.
Listed here are a number of the motels that we had 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 an extended checklist of perks, particularly if you happen to’re a part of a giant group, you’re touring with children or seniors, otherwise you merely don’t wish to cope with 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.
For those who’re solo or a small group, you might be a part of a set tour. For those who’re a much bigger group, it’s greatest to have them customise an itinerary for you, based mostly in your schedule and preferences. Every tour can be led by a fluent English-speaking information, which is a really huge deal as a result of points of interest in Taipei and surrounding areas should not all the time visually charming. Most are historic or cultural websites that you just’ll recognize so much higher if you recognize the background or when you’ve got native insights.
To see their packages or for more information, go to www.edisontours.com. If it’s worthwhile to get in contact with them for inquiries or requests, simply faucet the CONTACT US button within the higher proper nook of the web page.
For those who want to guide with a Philippine-based journey company, listed here are some that supply 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 possibly can take heed to our dialogue about Taiwan journey necessities on Spotify! Observe The Poor Traveler Podcast!
We’ll even be publishing extra Taiwan-related articles within the subsequent a number of weeks! For those who don’t wish to miss any of these, you could comply with us on our Fb web page or Instagram account.
2023 • 1 • 31: First posted
