Visa Requirement

Visa is in general required for foreign-passport holders upon entry to Taiwan. However, if your passport and the length of your stay satisfy the following three terms, no visa is required:

l    You are holding a passport issued from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Holland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK, and U.S.A.; and

l    Your passport is valid for more than 6 months; and

l    The length of your stay is less than 14 days.

Visa can be obtained from Taiwan’s embassies, consulates or designated representative offices. Please check with your travel agent for necessary procedures.
　

Attention:

Holders of Mainland China passports should visit the web page of 『The Bureau of Immigration of the Ministry of the Interior』 (http://www.immigration.gov.tw/ns/maind5.htm) for visa application procedures.  Visa application is due two months before traveling.

Climate
Taiwan enjoys warm weather all year round. The strongest fluctuations in weather conditions are during spring and winter, while during summer and autumn the weather is relatively stable. Taiwan is extremely suitable for traveling, as the annual average temperature is a comfortable 22 degrees Celsius with lowest temperatures ranging from 12 to 17 degrees Celsius (54-63 Fahrenheit). Therefore, with the exception of a few mountain areas where some traces of snow can be found during winter, no snow can be seen throughout Taiwan. When summer is about to dismiss spring (March to May), continuously drizzling rain will sometimes fall on Taiwan. When visiting Taiwan during this period, remember to carry an umbrella at all times; because although it might seem romantic to have a stroll in the rain, it is no fun to travel when you're soaking wet. During the summer (June to August) typhoons sometimes reach the island.

Currency and Banks
The Country’s currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$).  The exchange rate in recent months is around NT$33~35 for US$1.  Foreign currencies can be exchanged at hotels, airports and government-designated banks.  Major credit cards are widely accepted, and traveler’s checks may be accepted by tourist-oriented shops and at most international tourist hotels and banks.  Banks open whole day from 09:00 to 15:30, Mon-Fri and closed at weekend and public holidays.

Electricity
110 Volts / 60HZ A.C.

Cell Phone System
GSM 900/1800, GPRS, PHS, CDMA2000, WCDMA 

Time Zone
Taiwan is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+8).

MRT
The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system run by the city government provides the most convenient commuting service between downtown and suburbs of Taipei. Five lines are in operation.   The website of the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation is http://www.trtc.com.tw

Useful Numbers & Links
Taiwan Taoyuan (CKS) International Airport                    Tel: +886 3 398 2050            http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/CKSeng/

 Tourism Bureau                                                                    Tel: +886 2 2717 3737         http://202.39.225.132/jsp/Eng/html/search/index.jsp