Taiwan customs
Apply for visa
Free import
• For travelers aged 18 or older: 1.5 L of alcoholic beverages (any number of bottles).
• For travelers aged 20 or older: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 1 lb (454 g) of tobacco, or 200 sticks of heated tobacco products approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
• Used personal belongings in reasonable quantities, each item worth less than TWD 10,000.
• Other goods for personal or household use (not tobacco, alcohol or controlled goods) worth up to TWD 35,000 in total. This allowance does not apply to goods clearly for business use, or to frequent travelers (2 or more trips in 30 days, or 6 or more in 6 months) with a prior customs violation.
• Goods above these allowances must be declared in the Red Channel and duty paid. Dutiable goods are limited to USD 20,000 per person; up to 1,000 cigarettes or 125 cigars or 5 lb of tobacco and up to 5 L of alcohol (only 1 L if made in China) may be brought in with duty paid.
• The Green Channel is only for travelers with nothing to declare. Customs may inspect bags in both channels, and undeclared goods can be confiscated and fined.
Currency
• Cash in New Taiwan dollars over TWD 100,000 must be declared. Amounts above this limit may not be brought into Taiwan.
• Chinese yuan (renminbi) over CNY 20,000 must be declared. The excess is sealed and held by Customs and returned when you leave Taiwan.
• Foreign currency (including Hong Kong and Macau dollars) over USD 10,000 or equivalent must be declared. There is no upper limit once declared.
• Bearer securities (such as traveler's checks) with a face value over USD 10,000, gold worth over USD 20,000, and diamonds, precious stones or platinum not for personal use worth over TWD 500,000 must be declared.
• Declare on the customs declaration form and the report form for money laundering controlled items (or online in advance). Failure to declare can lead to confiscation or a fine equal to the undeclared amount.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs
• Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids, heated tobacco products not approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, snuff, snus, chewing tobacco and hookah (shisha) tobacco
• Fresh fruit
• Meat and other animal products, including pork products, sausages and fresh or frozen seafood (dried or marinated seafood and products meeting quarantine rules are allowed). Undeclared meat products can be fined TWD 10,000 to TWD 1,000,000, and pork products from countries affected by African swine fever carry a fine of TWD 200,000 for a first offence. Foreigners who cannot pay the fine may be refused entry.
• Live animals, except dogs, cats and rabbits imported under quarantine rules. Pit bull terriers may not be imported.
• Live marine mammals and their products (for example seal oil)
• Imitation guns that look like real firearms and can be modified to cause harm
• Counterfeit currency or securities and moulds for making them
• Goods that infringe patents, trademarks or copyright
Restricted
• Firearms, ammunition and knives such as swords need prior permission from the police authorities (Ministry of the Interior).
• Seeds, live plants and fresh plant products are allowed only if they meet the quarantine requirements of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA). Declare all animal and plant products in the Red Channel; APHIA has a counter in the baggage hall.
• Agricultural products: up to 6 kg in total, and no more than 1 kg each of rice, peanuts, garlic, dried day-lily flowers, dried mushrooms and tea. Products from China: up to 1.2 kg each of dried scallops, dried abalone, edible bird's nest and dried shark fin, and 6 cans of each canned product. More needs an import permit.
• Food of one kind over 6 kg or worth over USD 1,000 needs an inspection by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) before clearance.
• Medicines for personal use only: up to 12 packs of each non-prescription medicine (36 in total); prescription medicines up to 2 months' supply without a prescription, or up to 6 months' supply with a prescription. Injectables need a prescription. Chinese medicine: up to 1 kg of each ingredient (12 types at most) or 12 packs of each preparation (36 in total). Larger amounts need a TFDA permit. Cannabis-based medicines are not allowed even with a prescription.
• Dogs, cats and rabbits must be declared in the Red Channel. Dogs and cats need an APHIA import permit, a veterinary certificate on the APHIA form, and a rabies antibody test if coming from a country not free of rabies. They are quarantined on arrival.
• Endangered species and their products (for example American ginseng) need a CITES permit or certificate.
• Wireless devices (phones, laptops, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi devices): fewer than 5 in total for personal use need no approval; more need approval from the National Communications Commission.
• Glass ampoule cosmetics need prior approval from the TFDA.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: 1.5 L of alcoholic beverages (any number of bottles).
• For travelers aged 20 or older: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 1 lb (454 g) of tobacco, or 200 sticks of heated tobacco products approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
• Used personal belongings in reasonable quantities, each item worth less than TWD 10,000.
• Other goods for personal or household use (not tobacco, alcohol or controlled goods) worth up to TWD 35,000 in total. This allowance does not apply to goods clearly for business use, or to frequent travelers (2 or more trips in 30 days, or 6 or more in 6 months) with a prior customs violation.
• Goods above these allowances must be declared in the Red Channel and duty paid. Dutiable goods are limited to USD 20,000 per person; up to 1,000 cigarettes or 125 cigars or 5 lb of tobacco and up to 5 L of alcohol (only 1 L if made in China) may be brought in with duty paid.
• The Green Channel is only for travelers with nothing to declare. Customs may inspect bags in both channels, and undeclared goods can be confiscated and fined.
Currency
• Cash in New Taiwan dollars over TWD 100,000 must be declared. Amounts above this limit may not be brought into Taiwan.
• Chinese yuan (renminbi) over CNY 20,000 must be declared. The excess is sealed and held by Customs and returned when you leave Taiwan.
• Foreign currency (including Hong Kong and Macau dollars) over USD 10,000 or equivalent must be declared. There is no upper limit once declared.
• Bearer securities (such as traveler's checks) with a face value over USD 10,000, gold worth over USD 20,000, and diamonds, precious stones or platinum not for personal use worth over TWD 500,000 must be declared.
• Declare on the customs declaration form and the report form for money laundering controlled items (or online in advance). Failure to declare can lead to confiscation or a fine equal to the undeclared amount.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs
• Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids, heated tobacco products not approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, snuff, snus, chewing tobacco and hookah (shisha) tobacco
• Fresh fruit
• Meat and other animal products, including pork products, sausages and fresh or frozen seafood (dried or marinated seafood and products meeting quarantine rules are allowed). Undeclared meat products can be fined TWD 10,000 to TWD 1,000,000, and pork products from countries affected by African swine fever carry a fine of TWD 200,000 for a first offence. Foreigners who cannot pay the fine may be refused entry.
• Live animals, except dogs, cats and rabbits imported under quarantine rules. Pit bull terriers may not be imported.
• Live marine mammals and their products (for example seal oil)
• Imitation guns that look like real firearms and can be modified to cause harm
• Counterfeit currency or securities and moulds for making them
• Goods that infringe patents, trademarks or copyright
Restricted
• Firearms, ammunition and knives such as swords need prior permission from the police authorities (Ministry of the Interior).
• Seeds, live plants and fresh plant products are allowed only if they meet the quarantine requirements of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA). Declare all animal and plant products in the Red Channel; APHIA has a counter in the baggage hall.
• Agricultural products: up to 6 kg in total, and no more than 1 kg each of rice, peanuts, garlic, dried day-lily flowers, dried mushrooms and tea. Products from China: up to 1.2 kg each of dried scallops, dried abalone, edible bird's nest and dried shark fin, and 6 cans of each canned product. More needs an import permit.
• Food of one kind over 6 kg or worth over USD 1,000 needs an inspection by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) before clearance.
• Medicines for personal use only: up to 12 packs of each non-prescription medicine (36 in total); prescription medicines up to 2 months' supply without a prescription, or up to 6 months' supply with a prescription. Injectables need a prescription. Chinese medicine: up to 1 kg of each ingredient (12 types at most) or 12 packs of each preparation (36 in total). Larger amounts need a TFDA permit. Cannabis-based medicines are not allowed even with a prescription.
• Dogs, cats and rabbits must be declared in the Red Channel. Dogs and cats need an APHIA import permit, a veterinary certificate on the APHIA form, and a rabies antibody test if coming from a country not free of rabies. They are quarantined on arrival.
• Endangered species and their products (for example American ginseng) need a CITES permit or certificate.
• Wireless devices (phones, laptops, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi devices): fewer than 5 in total for personal use need no approval; more need approval from the National Communications Commission.
• Glass ampoule cosmetics need prior approval from the TFDA.