Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Taipei and other cities are slowly modernising facilities.
Eden Social Welfare Foundation
(
http://engweb.eden.org.tw
) provides advice and assistance for travellers with disabilities.
Visas
At the time of writing, citizens of many countries could enter Taiwan without a visa. The
period granted cannot be extended under any circumstances. All travellers need a pass-
port that is valid for six months and an onward ticket with confirmed seat reservation.
Countries permitted 90-day stays are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
Thirty-day stays apply to citizens of Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Those coming to Taiwan to study, work or visit relatives for an extended period of time
should apply at an overseas mission of the ROC for a visitor visa, which is good for 60 to
90 days. Visas can be extended up to six months under certain circumstances on the
Na-
tional Immigration Agency
(
www.immigration.gov.tv
) website. If you're planning to stay
longer than six months, the law requires you to have an ARC. See the
Bureau of Consu-
lar Affairs
(
www.boca.gov.tw
)
website for more information.
Volunteering
Animal groups need volunteers to work in shelters, walk dogs, participate in fundraisers
and also foster dogs and cats (something you can do even if you are in Taiwan for a short
time). Contact
Taiwan Animal SOS
(
www.facebook.com/taiwananimalsos
)
and
Taiwan
SPCA
(
www.spca.org.tw
)
.
You can volunteer at an organic farm through
WWOOF
(
www.wwooftaiwan.com
).
Women Travellers
Taiwan (and especially Taipei) is a safe place to travel, but women should take normal
precautions at night and in uncrowded areas. Apart from the usual attention given to for-
eign travellers, women travellers should not expect any special attention. If you have to
take a taxi home alone at night, call for one as this will be recorded. For additional safety
let the driver see a friend write down the taxi licence-plate number. If the driver can also
see that you have a mobile phone, trouble is less likely.
Women travelling to Taiwan for business should dress modestly and conservatively (as
should men). Drinking and smoking are a part of Taiwanese business culture, but
