2023 TAIWAN TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Still Visa-Free? Quarantine & Testing Needed?

Is Taiwan part of your 2023 travel plans? If so, you probably have a lot of questions brewing in your head. Is Taiwan still visa-free for Filipinos? Do I still need to undergo mandatory quarantine? What are the testing requirements? Should I bring proof of vaccination? But don’t worry. We’ll answer all these questions (and more) in this article.

Taiwan was the last destination we had visited just before the pandemic reared its ugly head and brought the world to its knees in early 2020. We even got stranded in the island for a few days! So it’s kind of apt — poetic even — that it is also our first destination in 2023, the year that we all expect things to fully go back to normal.

In fact, Philippine Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, has added one more flight to Taiwan. PAL now flies to the Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) twice a day:

• PR 890
  Departure: 06:25 AM
  Arrival: 08:45 AM
• PR 894
  Departure: 5:50 PM
  Arrival: 8:05 PM

This may change in the future, so make sure to double-check and visit PAL’s official website for the latest schedule and fares.

So yes, things are starting to go back to normal. But what are the travel requirements when visiting Taiwan?

YES. Philippine Passport holders can visit Taiwan without a visa for up to 14 days.

Filipino tourists are included in Taiwan’s visa-exempt program until 31 July 2023. After this date, you’ll probably be required to secure a visa or an e-visa. I say “probably” because if history is any indication, the Taiwanese government is likely to extend it again for another year as they always did pre-pandemic. But that’s not guaranteed, so don’t count on it.

Note that this applies to Filipinos traveling to Taiwan for leisure. A visa might still be required from those traveling to study or work, with which I’m not familiar.

While Taiwan remains visa-free for Filipino tourists, it doesn’t mean that you could simply waltz in. Here are the full list of requirements when visiting Taiwan for leisure:

• Passport, with over 6 months of validity
• Proof of accommodations, which may be hotel booking confirmation or address and phone details of your contact in Taiwan
• Exit ticket, which may be a return ticket to the Philippines or an onward ticket to another country
• Sufficient funds

These are the documents that the Immigration Officer might ask you to present. I say “might” because…