Tourism Bureau, Republic of China (Taiwan)

1. Restrictions on Entering Taiwan

1. All non-R.O.C. nationals (foreign nationals and people from Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China included) who hold a valid Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) are allowed entry.
2. Nationals of designated countries which are eligible for the visa exemption entry scheme announced by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa-Exempt Entry and Landing Visa
3. The following detailed entry qualifications are mainly based on the latest announcements of the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior:National Immigration Agency - Restrictions on Entering Taiwan (update time: 2023/01/06)

2. Required preparations

One's house, friend/relative residences and hotels that comply with the conditions of "1 person, 1 room" (with a private bathroom).

（Source: Taiwan Centers for Disease Control）

What to do if your COVID-19 rapid test is positive?

Please locate a nearby video clinic (you can dial 1922 extension #7 for English service, and a person will assist you in the inquiry). Make an appointment for physical/video diagnosis and treatment by telephone, and ask a doctor to assist you in evaluating and confirming the positive result of the rapid test. COVID-19 Rapid Test Positive Results Evaluation Services Precautions for physical/telephone medical visits: 1. The individual should write his or her name and the date he or she took the test on the rapid test cassette/strip after testing positive with a rapid test. 2. Take a photo of the rapid test cassette/strip. 3. If it is necessary to have a doctor confirm the test result at a clinic, the individual should put the test cassette/strip in a zipper bag or plastic bag and seal it tightly before taking it to the clinic. 4. The individual should present the positive result of the test cassette/strip when having a video or onsite consultation with a doctor. 5. The individual must wear a mask at all times when outside and must not take public transportation. The individual can seek medical help by driving himself/herself, riding a scooter or bike, walking, or getting a ride from a friend or family member (with both parties keeping their masks on at all times).

After the doctor's diagnosis is confirmed, a follow-up notification process will be carried out. Please follow the instructions of medical staff and health units regarding 5 days of isolation at a qualified location, such as an enhanced quarantine hotel/government quarantine facility or the place where they undergo self-initiated prevention (general hotel not included). After 5 days, one begins 7 days of self-health management. At the beginning of this, take a rapid antigen test. If the result is negative, the traveler is free to enter the general community. For the detailed epidemic prevention regulations to be followed during home care, please refer to the Ministry of Health and Welfare Guidelines for Home Care Management of Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 (Chinese).

After being diagnosed, please notify your travel companions of your status. Additional rapid tests can be purchased if necessary.

Passengers can call the following toll-free consultation hotlines during their stay in Taiwan

• Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline: 1922(For English service please dial 7)
• Foreigners In Taiwan Hotline: 1990
• Travel Information Hotline: 0800-011765

Requirements for inbound tourists and the tourism industry

1. Those in the tourism industry that receive inbound tourists must ensure that foreign tourists are clearly informed by overseas agents or agencies about Taiwan's current epidemic prevention regulations, the necessity of taking out overseas medical insurance, and any related matters, such as potential out-of-pocket expenses related to the pandemic.
2. Before coming to Taiwan, overseas tourists are advised to purchase relevant insurance, including overseas medical insurance, in order to cover relevant out-of-pocket expenses in the event of virus infection. Individuals who do not agree to cooperate with relevant disease testing and treatment measures are not allowed to sign up for inbound tours.
3. Tourism industry operators (such as in the travel, lodging, and entertainment industries) that receive inbound tourists must comply with relevant measures set by the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation & Communications and other domestic epidemic prevention regulations. In addition, they must conduct epidemic prevention educational lectures and training for their employees, implement relevant prevention measures, and assign tour guides who have received appropriate epidemic prevention training.

Tourism product planning and itinerary management

1. Travel agencies must assist in ensuring that the dining, lodging, sightseeing and transportation arrangements of their group itineraries comply with all CECC health and hygiene regulations and the epidemic prevention and control measures of relevant city/county governments. Itineraries should be arranged accordingly.
2. Tour operators should confirm entry-related regulations of the countries to which their passengers will be going upon departing Taiwan. This includes confirming whether a negative PCR test report is required. If such a test report is required, arrangements to visit a local medical facility to perform the test should be included in the tour itinerary.

Epidemic Prevention Measures For Inbound

1. Overseas confirmed cases will be suspended from flying to Taiwan for seven days from the date of collection/testing.
2. Inbound travelers are required to abide by the "Self-Health Management Guidelines" during their stay in Taiwan. 
3. During the period of self-health management, tourists should take a rapid antigen test. If the test result is positive, they should cooperate in finding a designated place for care and medical treatment in accordance with the provisions of the self-health management guidelines.
4. Travelers planning to leave their hotel/residence during the self-health management period must take a rapid antigen test within two days of arrival in Taiwan. They can depart the hotel/residence once a negative test is obtained. Masks should be worn at all times in public areas, and appropriate social distancing should be maintained. Masks may be temporarily removed when eating/drinking, but should then be worn again immediately afterward.

Epidemic prevention measures during the trip

1. Tour guides should pay attention to the condition of group members at all times. If COVID-like symptoms are observed, they should immediately assist in performing a rapid antigen test and follow the provisions "In the event a tourist is suspected of having COVID-19".
   • Food: Travel agencies should arrange meals at restaurants that comply with the "Catering Industry Epidemic Prevention Management Regulations (Chinese)" issued by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration. When in a restaurant, tourists and local residents should not dine at a shared table, and all attendees must follow relevant food-related regulations. Masks should be worn when leaving the seat and immediately upon finishing the meal.
   • Accommodations: Tourists staying in general accommodations (such as hotels and homestays) with family members or other tourists are not limited to a "one person/one room" regulation. However, the list of occupants may not be changed during their stay.
     In order to receive foreign tourists, hotel operators must follow epidemic prevention guidelines, including the following:
     (1) Strengthen cleaning measures and provide alcohol sanitizers in public areas for guests to use at any time.
     (2) Hotels with attached restaurants should follow the provisions of "Catering Industry Epidemic Prevention Management Regulations (Chinese)"above and other relevant measures, such as those related to the health management and hygiene of catering employees, cleaning and disinfection of catering facilities, management of customer meals, and proper response to confirmed cases in catering establishments. The "Catering Industry Epidemic Prevention Guidelines (Chinese)"must be followed.
   • Tours: If a tourist site has its own pandemic prevention requirements, tourists should cooperate with the procedures at that location.
   • Shopping: Tourists should abide by the pandemic prevention regulations of all shopping venues.
   • Travel: If a passenger has not undergone a rapid test, the travel agency should arrange for a car or tour bus to pick up the passenger. Travelers must follow pandemic-related measures regarding transportation (Chinese)".

1. If a tourist has COVID-19 symptoms, the tour guide should immediately assist in rapid testing. If the result is negative, the trip may continue.
2. If the rapid test result is positive, the travel agency should assign a qualified person to assist the tourist, identify an appropriate nearby location for the tourist, immediately notify the local health authority, and follow the instructions of the authority to ensure that the tourist receives proper care. Any medical expenses are the responsibility of the tourist. The tourist must comply with all epidemic prevention regulations and depart Taiwan upon being released from isolation.

1. Q: Are rapid antigen tests required every day during the self-health maintenance period?
   A: According to the self-health management guidelines, negative rapid antigen tests are required before a person can go outside, with testing to be done on the day of entry and then every two days after that. For example, if the traveler arrives on October 13, a screen is required that day and then on October 15, then October 17, and so on. The regulations for self-health management require self-testing by local residents as well as overseas tourists. If a tourist has a positive rapid antigen test, the tour guide should assist the person in reporting this to the appropriate authorities.
    
2. Q: Are travelers required to purchase travel or overseas medical insurance (or any other types of insurance) before joining a tour?
   A: No, travelers are not required to have any specific type of insurance before joining a tour. However, having overseas medical insurance is highly recommended. Tour operators should clearly inform potential travelers before departure about Taiwan's current epidemic prevention regulations, the importance of having medical insurance, the potential expenses if the tourist contracts COVID while visiting Taiwan, the requirement that travelers must self-pay all related expenses if they contract COVID in Taiwan, and the importance of cooperating with Taiwan’s epidemic prevention regulations. Again, as not being insured may cause a financial burden on passengers, it is strongly recommended that passengers arrange for appropriate insurance before traveling to Taiwan.
    
3. Q: How can I avoid having a tourist on a tour who is unwilling to abide by Taiwan's epidemic prevention measures after entering the country?
   A: Please work closely with the tour operator to clearly inform potential travelers about Taiwan's domestic pandemic-related regulations. Make sure tourists understand and agree to abide by these regulations before signing up to join a tour.(Please refer to the attachment.)
    
4. Q: What are the requirements for travel industry operators?
   A: Consolidated and Class-A travel agencies must abide by the "Travel Industry Guidelines for Inbound Group Travel" and other relevant epidemic prevention measures and regulations. In addition, relevant employees and tour guides must receive appropriate epidemic prevention training.
    
5. Q: Can I arrange group meals for travelers?
   A: Group meals may be arranged, but the tourists may not share a table with local residents. Masks must be worn when a person leaves their seat during the meal and once the meal is completed.
    
6. Q: Do I need to abide by the "1 person 1 room" regulation when arranging accommodations?
   A: Inbound group passengers are exempted from the "1 person 1 room" rule during the period of self-health management. More than one person may stay in one room.
    
7. Q: What should be done is a tour guide tests positive for COVID during a tour?
   A: In this event, tour guides should immediately subject themselves to home care and receive medical treatment in accordance with the regulations of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Travel agencies should immediately replace such guides with guides that meet all relevant requirements. Passengers should monitor any possible changes in their own health. Any person who shows possible symptoms should be assisted in taking a rapid screening test.
    
8. Q: What if a passenger tests positive?
   A: Please confirm within which city/county the tour is located. The travel agency should assign a qualified person to assist the passenger, find a suitable place nearby, and immediately notify the local health authority. (Please wear a medical mask if going to a doctor; taking public transportation is forbidden.) Follow all instructions of the local government health bureau and arrange for a stay at a centralized quarantine center or an enhanced epidemic prevention hotel.
    
9. Q: Who pays for Covid-related quarantine and treatment expenses if a traveler is infected?
   A: If a foreign traveler is diagnosed with COVID while in Taiwan, he or she will undergo intensive epidemic prevention measures in a centralized quarantine facility or qualified hotel in accordance with current regulations. (Through the end of 2022, public funds can be used to pay for an isolation stay at a hotel.)
   
   **In consideration of a steady increase in the number of inbound travelers, it plans to adjust the eligibility criteria for the government's program to cover the medical expenses of people diagnosed with COVID-19 during their isolation period (based on the nationality/National Health Insurance status at the time of diagnosis). The adjustments about eligibility, which will take effect on January 1, 2023, are listed below.
   A. The government will cover the medical expenses related to isolation and treatment of R.O.C. nationals (regardless of NHI status), non-R.O.C. nationals enrolled in the NHI program, and employed foreign nationals in Taiwan (including blue-collar foreign workers, white-collar foreign workers, missing foreign workers, and foreign fishermen employed by domestic entities) during their isolation period.
   B. Non-R.O.C. nationals not enrolled in the NHI program should pay their medical expenses during their isolation period if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 in Taiwan.
    
10. Q: What procedures are to be followed if a foreign tourist is confirmed as having COVID while in Taiwan?
    A: Please refer to the latest information from the CDC's Central Epidemic Command Center.Medical assistance measures for confirmed cases.
     
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Remarks: This "FAQs" document will be updated on a rolling basis as actual operations proceed.