Asia and Oceania

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• The UK does not recognise Taiwan as a state and has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan so limited consular-type services are available to British nationals. If you are staying for longer than four weeks you should register with the British Trade & Cultural Office. See General - British Trade and Cultural Office.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
  
  
• Around 38,000 British nationals visit Taiwan every year. Most visits are trouble-free. See General - Consular Assistance Statistics. Nevertheless, you should maintain the same level of vigilance as you would at home, and take sensible precautions.
  
  
• The typhoon/tropical storm season in Taiwan normally runs from May to November. The Japan Meteorological Agency provides information and forecasts (in English) about approaching storms. See Natural Disasters.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Taiwan. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime

Small-scale petty crime affecting foreign nationals is not commonplace but exists.

If your passport is lost or stolen contact the British Trade and Cultural Office.

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime - Advance Fee Frauds

People and companies in the UK (and elsewhere) often receive letters, faxes and e-mails, offering them large sums of money provided they send various 'advance fees' to Taiwanese bank accounts. The fraudsters have obtained the details from telephone or commercial directories, so recipients are not being specifically targeted.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) investigates advance fee frauds in the UK.  You are recommended not to reply to these types of communication. The SOCA website contains more information on this type of fraud.

Safety and Security - Local Travel

There is a risk of road blockages and landslides following typhoons, especially in central and southern Taiwan. You should check the Central Weather Bureau website and the Directorate General of Highways website before travelling to these areas.

Safety and Security - Road Travel

If you intend to drive in Taiwan, you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP). Once in Taiwan, you will need to take your passport, IDP and a passport photograph to the nearest Vehicle Registration Dept and apply for a driver's licence visa, which will then be secured in your IDP.

Be alert crossing roads, even on protected crossings.

See our Driving Abroad page. 

Safety and Security - Political Situation

Taiwan Country Profile

You should avoid large-scale political gatherings.

If found guilty of smuggling, trafficking, possession or use of illegal narcotics you can expect to receive a severe jail sentence or, in some cases, the death penalty.

See our Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas

You may spend up to 90 days in Taiwan without a visa. You can then extend this by a further 90 days once you have entered Taiwan. If you plan to stay in Taiwan for longer than 180 days you must have a visa before you arrive.

Specific rules exist for naturalised British Citizens born in the People's Republic of China and holders of British National (Overseas) passports wishing to enter under the visa waiver scheme.

For further information on entry requirements, contact the Taipei Representative Office in London, 50 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0EB; tel: 020 7881 2650/4; fax: 020 7730 3139 or in Edinburgh, 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7PE   Tel: 01312 206886/90 website: http://www.roc-taiwan.org/uk/ before travelling.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity

You must hold a valid passport to enter Taiwan. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Taiwan.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children

For information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Taipei Representative Office (as above) before travelling.

Entry Requirements – Medications
When bringing medications into Taiwan, visitors must also bring a prescription from a hospital, clinic or doctor, stating that the medicines are for the use of the individual, and the amount brought in must be consistent with the amount on the prescription.

Contact your GP around eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre, and useful information about healthcare abroad, including a country-by-country guide of reciprocal health care agreements with the UK, is available from NHS Choices.

Taiwan has adequate health and dental facilities to handle routine, emergency and outpatient treatment. Some have English-speaking staff. Hospitals operate on a "pay as you use" basis so it is wise to take sufficient money with you. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. You might also be required to produce your passport. You should be aware that, unlike the UK, it is not normal practice for a paramedic to accompany an ambulance.

If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Taiwan you should seek immediate medical attention.

If walking in rural areas you should be wary of poisonous snakes.

You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 119 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Our Travel Health pages offer further advice on how to stay healthy when overseas.

The typhoon/tropical storm season in Taiwan normally runs from May to November, sometimes resulting in local flooding and landslides.

Listen to Typhoon Alerts on ICRT, BCC and PRS radio stations, or alternatively monitor the following websites:

Japan Meteorological Agency
Taiwan Central Weather Bureau
ICRT

See our Tropical Cyclones page for advice about what to do if you are caught up in a typhoon.

General - Emergency Services Numbers

Police – 110
Medical/Fire – 119

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check for any exclusions and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - British Trade and Cultural Office

The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The British Assistance and Services Section of the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei can provide certain limited consular-type assistance.  However, they cannot issue full validity passports.  You must send your passport application to the British Consulate General in Hong Kong (www.ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk) for renewal.  In cases of genuine emergency, the BTCO may be able to issue you with an emergency travel document.

If you are staying for longer than four weeks please register on LOCATE before you leave the UK, or on your arrival in Taiwan.

General - Money

Western Union, Moneygram and Travellers Express have offices in Taipei.  However, operating hours are restricted.  Bank transfers can be slow. Some branches of The Bank of Taiwan and HSBC will accept British credit cards, but you will incur handling charges.  ATMs are plentiful but not all accept British bankcards. Designated banks will accept American Express, Citibank or Thomas Cook travellers’ cheques (up to 1,000 US Dollars per day) but you should be prepared to produce your purchase certificate or receipt as well as your passport when cashing them in. If in doubt, check whether your travellers’ cheques will be accepted in Taiwan before you travel.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics

Around 38,000 British nationals visit Taiwan every year. Most visits are trouble-free. 14 British nationals required consular assistance in Taiwan in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011 for the following types of incident; three deaths; one hospitalisation; and six arrests, for a variety of offences.