Can I use my charger from home in Taiwan?

It depends on your plug. Taiwan uses 110V/60Hz with flat two-pin (Type A) outlets, so US and Canadian two-prong plugs fit, while UK, European, Australian and NZ plugs need an adapter. If the label says '100–240V,' the plug is the only issue; a 220–240V-only device also needs a voltage converter.

Do I have to submit the online arrival card (TWAC)?

Yes. It has been fully in effect since October 1, 2025, and must be submitted before immigration can process you. You can fill it in for free from three days before arrival on the National Immigration Agency's official site (twac.immigration.gov.tw). Any site asking for a fee isn't official.

Should I buy an EasyCard at the airport or in the city?

Either is fine; the card costs NT$100 wherever you buy it. Airport MRT information counters and convenience stores in the city both sell it, so buy it wherever you pass first and ask for a top-up at the same time.

Can I bring jerky or meat-based instant noodles into Taiwan?

It's safest not to. Taiwan restricts processed meat products, and violations under Article 45-1 of the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases carry fines of NT$10,000 to NT$1,000,000. Agricultural, livestock and fishery products are also capped at 6kg in total, and items like rice and dried vegetables at 1kg each.

How much cash should I bring?

A modest amount for night markets and traditional markets is enough, and well below the declaration thresholds (over NT$100,000, or over US$10,000 equivalent in foreign currency). Department stores and chains take cards readily, but small stalls often work mainly in cash.

Taiwan Packing Checklist 2026: EasyCard, Cash & eSIM

Updated: 2026-09-15

The two must-haves for Taiwan are a plug adapter for its 110V flat two-pin (Type A) outlets, unless your plugs already fit, and the free online arrival card (TWAC), which you can submit starting three days before arrival. Almost everything else is easy to buy at convenience stores and drugstores once you're there. Information as of August 16, 2026.

Before you leave: the arrival card opens 3 days out

Handle these before you even start packing. The arrival card in particular has been online-only since October 1, 2025, replacing the paper form, so if you skip it you'll be typing it into your phone in front of the immigration counters.

Item	When	Where	If you skip it
Online arrival card (TWAC)	Starting 3 days before arrival	twac.immigration.gov.tw (free)	Must be submitted before immigration can process you
Confirm eSIM/roaming activation	The day before departure	Make sure the profile is installed from the app	No maps or ride-hailing apps when you land
Save your hotel address in (Traditional) Chinese	Before departure	Screenshot it from your booking confirmation	Hard to show taxi drivers where you're going
Check passport validity	When booking flights	—	Travelers have been denied boarding when validity was too short
Turn on overseas use for your cards	Before departure	Your bank or card issuer's app	Payments get declined in Taiwan

TWAC is free. Any site charging a service fee isn't the official one.
Some airlines and travel agencies submit it for you, so check your booking confirmation for a note saying it's done before you fill it out twice.

Airport to city

On the Taoyuan Airport MRT (桃園機場捷運), the express train takes 35 minutes from Terminal 1 and 39 minutes from Terminal 2, running 06:00–23:00 every 15–30 minutes. The commuter (all-stop) train stops at every station and takes 49 minutes from Terminal 1. Fares and last trains for each option are compared in Taoyuan Airport to Taipei.

What to pack — and what to leave home

Taiwan is humid and the air-conditioning indoors is strong, so "thin layers" is the rule in any season. There's also a clear list of things you don't need to haul from home.

Bring	Why
1–2 plug adapters for Type A outlets	Taiwan runs on 110V/60Hz with flat two-pin (Type A) outlets. US and Canadian two-prong plugs fit as-is; UK, Irish, European, Australian and NZ plugs won't go in without an adapter
Compact umbrella	Sudden downpours are common; you'll probably need it at least once
A light long-sleeve shirt or cardigan	For the chilly air-con on the MRT and in department stores and restaurants
Breathable walking shoes	Night markets and Jiufen's stairs mean a lot of walking
Basic meds (anti-diarrheal, digestive aid, fever reducer)	What's sold over the counter in Taiwan differs from home
Power bank (carry-on only)	Not allowed in checked bags

Check the rating label first. Most phone chargers and laptop power bricks are rated 100–240V, so a plug adapter is all they need. Single-voltage 220–240V devices, like a UK, European or Australian hair straightener or kettle, will underperform or not work at all on 110V and need a separate voltage converter.
Fine to leave at home: shampoo and body wash (most hotels provide them), a hair dryer (usually provided), bottled water (there's a convenience store on every block), a rain poncho, and large amounts of cash.
If it's too hot to wear two layers, a thin windbreaker is more useful than a cardigan.

EasyCard and payments: NT$100 is not balance

The quickest way to get a transit card is at a convenience store after you land. A standard EasyCard (悠遊卡) costs NT$100 for the card itself, and that price includes no deposit and no usable balance. You pay NT$100 for the card, then load money onto it separately.

Item	EasyCard (standard)
Card cost	NT$100 (does not include deposit or stored value)
Where to buy	The four big convenience store chains (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK Mart), MRT information counters in Taipei, Taoyuan and Kaohsiung, EasyCard customer service centers
Top-up	With cash; the card holds up to NT$10,000
Where it's used	MRT, buses, convenience store purchases and more
Leftover balance	Refundable by canceling the card when you're done

The NT$100 is not balance. Buy just the card and forget to top up, and the fare gate will stop you. Ask the clerk to add value when you buy it and you're done in one go.
Whether an unlimited pass (the Taipei Fun Pass range) pays off depends on how many MRT and bus rides you take a day and whether you want attraction entry bundled in. Unless you'll be crisscrossing the city for two or more days, a topped-up EasyCard is simpler.
Credit cards work well at department stores and chains, but night markets, traditional markets and small eateries are often cash-first. Always keep a little cash on you. For a comparison of ways to get Taiwan dollars, see our Taiwan currency exchange guide.

What gets flagged at customs: cash, tobacco and meat products

Most customs problems come from not knowing the rules. Processed meat products that travelers often pack as snacks, like jerky, sausages and instant noodles with meat, are the classic trap.

Category	Limit (confirmed 2026-08-16)
Cash requiring declaration	Taiwan dollars over NT$100,000; foreign currency over US$10,000 equivalent; Chinese yuan over RMB 20,000
Duty-free allowance for personal/household goods	NT$35,000 (dutiable value)
Tobacco	200 cigarettes (1 carton) / 25 cigars / 1 lb (0.453kg) loose tobacco / 200 heated-tobacco sticks
Alcohol	1.5 liters
Agricultural, livestock and fishery products, total	6kg or less
Rice, roasted peanuts, roasted garlic, dried vegetables, dried shiitake, tea leaves	1kg or less per item

The safest move is to pack no meat products at all. Under Article 45-1 of Taiwan's Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases, travelers who break the import rules are fined NT$10,000 to NT$1,000,000, and the first-offense amount depends on where you're arriving from.
The same rules apply to food saved from your in-flight meal and a half-finished bag of jerky. The simplest fix is to take them out when you pack.
If you're over the duty-free allowance or carrying cash that must be declared, use the red (goods to declare) channel. Declaring is never the problem; not declaring is.

This information is current as of August 2026 and subject to change. Reconfirm with Taiwan's Ministry of Finance Customs Administration and National Immigration Agency before you travel.

Pack what you can't buy in Taiwan first

The last lines of your checklist should be the things you can't get once you're there: your plug adapter and your usual medicines, plus mobile data the moment you land and tickets for the places you've already planned.

Install your eSIM profile before you fly and you're online as soon as you touch down, ready to check the Airport MRT timetable and your hotel's location. For places where waits vary by time slot, like the Taipei 101 observatory, and day trips with awkward public-transit connections, like Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen, booking tickets and transport together ahead of time noticeably cuts the time you spend on logistics. Each platform's lowest tracked price is in the cards below.

Compare prices for related tickets

FAQ

Can I use my charger from home in Taiwan?
It depends on your plug. Taiwan uses 110V/60Hz with flat two-pin (Type A) outlets, so US and Canadian two-prong plugs fit, while UK, European, Australian and NZ plugs need an adapter. If the label says '100–240V,' the plug is the only issue; a 220–240V-only device also needs a voltage converter.
Do I have to submit the online arrival card (TWAC)?
Yes. It has been fully in effect since October 1, 2025, and must be submitted before immigration can process you. You can fill it in for free from three days before arrival on the National Immigration Agency's official site (twac.immigration.gov.tw). Any site asking for a fee isn't official.
Should I buy an EasyCard at the airport or in the city?
Either is fine; the card costs NT$100 wherever you buy it. Airport MRT information counters and convenience stores in the city both sell it, so buy it wherever you pass first and ask for a top-up at the same time.
Can I bring jerky or meat-based instant noodles into Taiwan?
It's safest not to. Taiwan restricts processed meat products, and violations under Article 45-1 of the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases carry fines of NT$10,000 to NT$1,000,000. Agricultural, livestock and fishery products are also capped at 6kg in total, and items like rice and dried vegetables at 1kg each.
How much cash should I bring?
A modest amount for night markets and traditional markets is enough, and well below the declaration thresholds (over NT$100,000, or over US$10,000 equivalent in foreign currency). Department stores and chains take cards readily, but small stalls often work mainly in cash.