🔹 Basic Entry Procedures and Document Requirements
- Starting from October 1, 2025, international travelers entering Taiwan must complete the online Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) within 3 days prior to arrival. The traditional paper arrival card will no longer be in use.
- Normal immigration procedures have resumed, and there are no longer any COVID-19-related home quarantine restrictions. However, if you experience fever or flu-like symptoms upon arrival, you should still proactively inform airport/port quarantine personnel.
📦 Bringing Items, Declaration, Prohibited/Restricted Items (Individual Travelers)
When entering Taiwan with personal belongings, you must be aware of whether they need to be declared or if they exceed quantity limits. Below are some recent important restrictions/regulations.
Medications, Health Supplements, Cosmetics, Medical Devices
- Tablets/capsules of health supplements/vitamins/collagen, etc.: A maximum of 12 containers (bottles/boxes/cans/packs/bags) of each type, with a total limit of 36 containers across all items.
- Non-prescription Western medicines (e.g., cold medicine, pain relievers, etc.): A maximum of 12 containers (bottles/cans/strips/tubes) of each type, with a total limit of 36 containers.
- Prescription Western medicines: Without a doctor's prescription, you may carry a maximum of a '2-month supply'. If you have a prescription or proof, the quantity must not exceed a reasonable amount and is limited to a maximum of a 6-month supply.
- Controlled medicines: You must carry a doctor's prescription or supporting documents. The quantity is limited to the amount prescribed by the doctor for treating your own illness, up to a maximum of a 6-month supply. You must also declare them to customs upon entry/exit.
- Chinese herbal medicines/Chinese medicinal preparations: For Chinese herbal medicines, a maximum of 1 kg of each type, and a maximum of 12 types in total. Chinese medicinal preparations are similar to Western medicines: a maximum of 12 containers of each type, with a total limit of 36 containers. Quantities exceeding these limits require a medical certificate and an import permit.
Prohibited, Restricted, or Dutiable Items
- Prohibited items include narcotics, firearms and ammunition, smuggled goods, protected wild animals and their products, etc. Illegal possession may result in confiscation or legal penalties.
- If carrying large amounts of cash, negotiable securities, gold, etc., you must declare them according to regulations. For example, New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) exceeding NT$100,000, or gold exceeding a certain value threshold, may require declaration or prior permission.
🛂 Common Entry/Exit Precautions
- Before departure, please check your passport's validity period. Some countries require passports to be valid for at least 6 months.
- If you are unsure whether an item needs to be declared, it is advisable to proactively consult with customs officers — especially for sensitive items such as high-value goods, negotiable securities, controlled medicines, plants, and animals.
- If a traveler carries items on behalf of another person, they are still responsible for the items carried, even if acting as a proxy shopper.
✅ Recommended Preparations Before Entry/Exit
- Before departure, ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months (if traveling to other countries)
- If you are not a Taiwanese national, complete the TWAC form within 3 days prior to arrival
- If carrying medications, health supplements, cosmetics, or other potentially restricted items, first confirm if they fall under 'reasonable personal use' / require declaration / require a permit
- If you have high-value items, cash, negotiable securities, gold, valuables, etc., declare them according to regulations and retain proof of purchase (e.g., invoices, certificates)
- Before departure, check the customs 'prohibited' or 'restricted' items list to avoid carrying prohibited items