Taipei before you go: weather & what to wear, money, mobile data, entry, transport cards, holidays

Monthly weather & what to wear

Taipei (high–low)Central Weather Administration normals (1991–2020), Taipei station; rainy days are days with 0.1mm or more of precipitation

Rain: Taipei station normally has about 163 rainy days a year, 12–16 days every month, so carry an umbrella.

Plum rain: the Central Weather Administration says the plum rain season occurs in months 5–7 each year and moves north over time, affecting Taiwan first, then southern and central China, Japan and Korea.

Typhoons: based on Central Weather Administration 1991–2020 climatology, about 3.2 typhoons hit Taiwan per year on average; during typhoon season, watch for Central Weather Administration typhoon warnings before heading out.

Heat: month 7 averages a daytime high of 34.8°, the hottest month of the year.

Money & payment

Currency

New Taiwan dollar (NT$ / TWD).

Card payments

Taiwan Tourism Administration: major credit cards such as American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Diners Club are accepted.

Currency exchange

Foreign currency can be exchanged for Taiwan dollars at government-designated banks and hotels; to change unused Taiwan dollars back before departure, you need the original exchange receipt. Many shops don't accept traveler's checks, so change them into Taiwan dollars first.

Shopping tax refund

At designated stores displaying the “Taiwan Tax Refund” sign, spending NT$2,000 or more (incl. tax) at the same store on the same day qualifies for a refund; it applies to foreign visitors staying no more than 183 days after entry, and goods must leave the country with you within 90 days of purchase.

Airport tax refund process

Before check-in, take your passport and VAT refund application forms to an electronic refund kiosk or refund service counter for verification; if the system requires a customs check, bring the list, receipts and goods to the customs counter, then take the refund approval to the designated bank or cash counter at the departure airport to collect your refund.

Voltage, plugs, mobile data

Voltage

110 volts, 60Hz. Bring an adapter or transformer for appliances from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia; many buildings have 220V sockets, mainly for air conditioners.

Your phone must support 4G calling (VoLTE)

Taiwan shut down its 3G network on 2024/6/30; if your phone or SIM doesn't support 4G voice (VoLTE), you can't make calls, not even emergency calls. Use a VoLTE-capable phone, or rent a phone service at the airport.

Mobile data: eSIM

If you're using an eSIM, first check that your phone supports it: iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later do; the phone must not be SIM-locked.

Entry procedures

Online arrival card (TWAC)

National Immigration Agency: from 2025/10/1, paper arrival cards were fully replaced by online arrival cards. Foreigners entering on a visitor visa or visa-free, Hong Kong and Macau residents with multiple-entry permits and others must fill it in free on the official site within 3 days before arrival; without submitting it, you can't complete entry.

Visa-free 90 days

MOFA Bureau of Consular Affairs: nationals of the US, Canada, the UK, Japan, Korea, Australia, EU countries and others can stay visa-free for 90 days.

Visa-free 30 days, 14 days

Nationals of Singapore, Malaysia and others get 30 days visa-free; nationals of Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines get 14 days (trial until 2027/7/31, excluding diplomatic and official passports). Vietnam and Indonesia aren't on the visa-free list and need a visa.

Visa-free entry requirements

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry; you need a confirmed return or onward air (or sea) ticket and any visa required for your next destination.

Checked

The rules above were checked on 2026-10-23; visa-exempt countries and durations may change, so follow the announcements of the MOFA Bureau of Consular Affairs before you go.

1. Before you go: make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months and check visa-free eligibility; fill in the online arrival card on the National Immigration Agency website within 3 days before arrival.
2. Immigration: show your passport and follow the officer's instructions.
3. Customs: after collecting your bags, declare items as required.

Transport card

Tap your credit card directly

From 2026/7/1, the entire Taipei Metro accepts domestic and foreign contactless credit and debit cards and mobile payments for entry and exit; card brands include Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay, Diners Club and Discover, and phones can use Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. On iPhone, set the card as an Express Transit card and you won't need to unlock.

Discounts you don't get when tapping a credit card

Rides paid by credit card don't accumulate toward the Taipei Metro frequent-rider discount; EasyCard, iPASS, icash2.0 and QR ride codes still get frequent-rider and transfer discounts.

EasyCard

A regular card costs NT$100 (excluding stored value) and is sold at the four main convenience store chains, 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life and OK, and elsewhere; it can be topped up repeatedly, up to NT$10,000 on the card. When you no longer need it, you can return it and get the balance back.

iPASS

The Taipei Metro also accepts iPASS; an adult card costs NT$100.

Transfer discount

With EasyCard, iPASS or icash, transferring between MRT and bus within 1 hour gives adults NT$8 off; transferring between the MRT and the Danhai, Ankeng or Sanying lines gives adults NT$8 off.

Single-journey ticket

Blue plastic single-journey tokens are still in use; tap them on the token reader at the gate to enter and exit.

Holidays & crowds

Based on the government office calendars for ROC years 115 and 116 (2026, 2027) published by the Executive Yuan's Directorate-General of Personnel Administration; private companies follow Ministry of Labor rules, and each store's hours are as announced by the store.

Tipping & etiquette

Tipping

Taiwan Tourism Administration: hotels and restaurants customarily add a 10% service charge.

No eating or drinking on the MRT

In Taipei Metro no-eating-or-drinking areas, you can't drink water, eat, or chew gum or betel nut; under Article 50 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act, violators can be fined NT$1,500 to NT$7,500. Keep food and drinks in your bag.

Emergency numbers & help

Police

110

Fire, ambulance

119

Emergency numbers when mobile reception is poor

112

24-hour travel information hotline

0800-011-765 (toll-free), Taiwan Tourism Administration, with service in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean.

Foreigner living assistance hotline

1990