Info Center Taiwan

Travel and Holiday Tips

Local Info

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Public phones in Taiwan are divided primarily into two types, coin and card. Coin phones accept coins in denominations of NT$1, NT$5, and NT10. For local calls, NT$1 buys one minute of phone time. Phone cards are divided into magnetic strip stored value cards and IC stored value cards, and can be used all over Taiwan . Magnetic strip cards sell for NT$100 each, and IC cards are available in NT$200 and NT$300 versions. The cards are sold in railway stations, bus stations, scenic spots, and convenience stores. When making local calls it is not necessary to dial the area code; when making long-distance calls, however, the area code of the party being called must be dialed in first (see explanation on the public telephone) and then the number itself dialed. International calls can be made from private cell phones, public IDD phones, or hotel IDD phones. International calls are charged in units of six seconds. The procedure for making international direct dial calls from Taiwan is as follows :

1. Dial Taiwan 's international access code, 002
2. Dial the country code of the country being called (1 for the U.S. , 86 for mainland China , etc.)
3. Dial in the area code of the called party (leaving out the long-distance recognition digit, "0"
4. Dial in the number of the called party. For operator-assisted international calls, please dial "100." For international information, call this free number : 0800080100.

Reduced price periods and fees for International Subscriber Dialing (ISD) are as follows: 10:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. daily, 12:00 noon Saturday - all day Sunday - 8:00 a.m. Monday, and all day on national holidays.

For reverse charges or credit calls, dial 008 + the communication number for the country being called, as follows :

Australia 008-061-0061
Canada 008-012-0012
Germany 008-049-0049
Hong Kong 008-085-2111
Italy 008-039-0039
Japan (via KDD) 008-81-0051
South Korea 008-082-0082
Malaysia 008-60-0060
Philippines 008-63-0063
Singapore 008-065-6565
England 008-044-0044
United States (AT&T) 008-010-2880

INFO FOR FOREIGN MOUNTAINEERS

Before entering into highly restricted mountain areas, foreign mountaineers are asked to apply for entrance permit. If necessary, the ROC Mountain Association can arrange an English guide for a group of 4 or more members. But for those mountain areas less restricted, the local police stations are responsible for the issue of B Class entrance permit. The applicants have to provide their personal IDs or passports.

What's the procedure to apply for an entrance permit? The applicant has to summit an application form with the attachment of passport or alien residence permit, ID or any approval documents issued by competent authorities, to the Police Affairs Department, local police stations or the police team in the National Parks. But if the foreign visitor applies for the permit in company with a ROC citizen for a same reason, he can follow the same procedures of the ROC people.

Apply for a Foreigner's Mountain Pass

Where to apply : Foreign Affairs Section of your local police bureaus Application procedure : Fill out one application form Present following materials:

1. Passport, visa, or alien resident certificate (for inspection)
2. Certification of reason for entering mountains
3. Processing fee of NT$10
Processing time : Immediate

For further details, please check with National Police Administration at Tel:2357-7377

TIPPING AND TAX

Tipping is not customary in most of places in Taiwan. The one exception is tipping the bellboy when you check into a hotel. Foreigners who work legally in Taiwan are required to file an income tax return in May each year. The deadline is May 31. For guidelines on how to file taxes as a foreigner, please contact :

Taipei : National Tax Administration.
Kaohsiung : National Tax Administration.

ELECTRICITY AND WATER

Taiwan uses electric current of 110 volts at 60 cycles, appliances from Europe, Australia or South-East Asia will need an adaptor or transformer. Many buildings have sockets with 220 volts especially for the use of air conditioners.

FACSIMILE

24-hour facsimile service is provided at the CHT (Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.) main office for transmission of documents or pictures within Taiwan or overseas. International hotels and many convenience stores also provide this service. For further information, please visite Chunhwa Telecom Co., Ltd.