Travel Information
About Taiwan
Area : 36,000 square kilometers
Population : 23 million
Capital : Taipei City
Language : Mandarin / Taiwanese / Hakka / Indigenous Languages
Religion : Buddhism / Taoism / Christianity/ Islam
VISA
Foreign nationals may obtain tourist visas if they hold foreign passports or travel documents valid for more than six months in the Republic of China for purposes of sightseeing, business, family visits, study or training, medical treatment, or other legitimate activities.Visa requirements included one completed application form, incoming and outgoing travel tickets, one photo, documents verifying the purpose of the visits,and other relevant documents. The Visitor Visa Application Form can be downloaded from the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The completed form should be submitted to an overseas mission of the Republic of China for visa issuance.
30-day visa-free privileges are afforded to citizens of 31 countries and 30-day landing visas are afforded to citizens of 3 countries. For any further information, please visit the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For any further questions about visa application, please contact : e-mail: post@boca.gov.tw
Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Address: 3-5F., Central United Office Building, No.2-2, Sec.1, Jinan Rd., Taipei City
TEL: +886-2-2343-2888
Fax: +886-2-2343-2968
Service: Apply for Visas, Passport, Authentication
Open Hours: 08:30 ~ 17:00, Monday to Friday
The currency of Taiwan is the new Taiwan dollar (NT$):
- Paper Currency: NT$2,000, NT$1,000, NT$500, NT$200, and NT$100
- Coins: NT$50, NT$20, NT$10, NT$5, and NT$1
Changing Money:
- Foreign currencies can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels.
- Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure.
Foreign Exchange Banks:
Government-authorized banks and international hotels offer currency exchanges serivces. Please keep your currency exchange receipts in a secure place. You will need to show these receipts in order to exchange unused ROC currency for other currency.
Opening hours: Mondays through Fridays, 09:00 - 15:30.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.
Electricity:
- Taiwan uses an electric current of 110 volts at 60 cycles. Many buildings also have 220-volt sockets.
- Visitors with appliances of different voltages should bring an adapter.
Telephone:
Both coin and card pay public phones are available in Taiwan:
- Coin phones accept coins in denominations of NT$1, NT$5, and NT10.
- Card phones accept both magnetic strip and IC stored value cards available in amounts of NT$100, NT$200 and NT$300. The cards are sold in railway stations, bus stations and convenience stores.
- Local calls from public phones are charged at NT$1 per minute.
- International direct calls are charged at NT$5 per specified unit of time.
When making local calls it is not necessary to dial the area code. When making long-distance calls, first dial the area code of the receiving party (see explanation on the public telephone) and then the number itself.
Tipping & Tax
Sales tax is included in the listed price in Taipei City.
Tipping is not customary in Taipei, but some hotels and restaurants automatically add a 10% service fee to the bill. Otherwise there are no hard and fast rules. Of course you can always make someone happy with a small reward for good service.
Travel Information
Tourism Bureau, MOTC, R.O.C
Open Hours : 08:00 ~ 19:00 daily
Address : 1F-4, No.240, Dunhua N. Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City 105
(Institute of Transportation Building)
Tourist Information Hotline : +886-2-2717-3737
Taichung Office : +886-4-2254-0809、0800-422-022
Tainan Office : +886-6-226-5681、0800-611-011
Kaohsiung Office : +886-7-281-1513、0800-711-765
Office Hours : 09:00 ~ 17:00 Mon.-Fri.
Department of Information and Tourism,Taipei City Government