2024 Entry Regulations for Taiwan: Be Careful What You Bring or Risk a Fine!

Bottom line: Starting June 26, 2024, the duty-free allowance for luggage items carried by arriving passengers in Taiwan has been increased from NT$20,000 to NT$35,000 (about USD$645 to USD$1,129). However, food items such as raw milk, fresh milk, fresh/frozen/vacuum-packed meats, dried meat and meat floss, and fresh truffles are strictly prohibited from entry, regardless of packaging. Before bringing souvenirs back from Bali, be sure to check whether the items are on the prohibited list to avoid confiscation or fines by customs.

According to the latest rules from the Ministry of Finance’s Customs Administration, starting June 26, 2024, the duty-free allowance for luggage items carried by arriving passengers has been raised from NT$20,000 to NT$35,000 (approximately USD$645 to USD$1,129), letting travelers shop freely! But do you know which items cannot be brought back into Taiwan? Many people may not be aware, so to avoid having your items confiscated by customs, be sure to understand Taiwan’s entry regulations—don’t waste your money!

Duty-Free Allowance Raised to NT$35,000

The duty-free allowance for luggage items carried by arriving passengers has been increased from NT$20,000 to NT$35,000 (about USD$645 to USD$1,129) starting June 26, benefiting all travelers shopping abroad during summer vacation. Additionally, under the current ‘Regulations Governing the Declaration, Inspection, and Duty Payment of Luggage and Goods Carried by Incoming Passengers,’ each passenger is allowed a duty-free allowance of NT$20,000 for personal or household items, excluding controlled goods and tobacco/alcohol. Amounts exceeding this must be declared. However, this does not apply to those clearly engaging in commercial activities or frequent travelers with violation records.

★For the latest information, please refer to:

• Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs - Detailed Export Restriction List
• Taipei Customs, Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance - Entry Customs Declaration Guide

Taiwan Entry Regulations and Restrictions

Food Items

• Raw milk and fresh milk: Not allowed entry, including fresh milk roll cakes.
• Fresh, chilled, frozen, cooked vacuum-packed meats: Not allowed entry.
• Fresh truffles: Not allowed entry.
• Dried meat and meat floss: Banned regardless of packaging, including vacuum-sealed.
• Foie gras: Glass jars not allowed, but metal packaging is permitted.
• Canned goods and instant noodles: Allowed entry.
• Mentaiko (marinated cod roe) and salmon roe: Allowed entry.
• Fish floss: Allowed entry.
• Long-life milk, milk powder, cheese, yogurt: Allowed entry.
• Soft canned goods: Allowed entry if labeled as high-temperature sterilized.
• Rice: Allowed entry, up to 1 kg.
• Tea leaves: Allowed entry, up to 1 kg.
• Dried shiitake mushrooms: Allowed entry, up to 1 kg.
• Dried chili peppers: Allowed entry, up to 6 kg.
• Cooked peanuts and garlic: Allowed entry, up to 1 kg.
• Bird’s nest: Allowed entry, market value not exceeding NT$20,000 (approx. USD$645); must declare if over.

Cosmetics and Skincare

Non-medicated cosmetics (including hair dye, perm solutions, sunscreen, and whitening products) such as sheet masks, eye creams, lip masks, toners, and serums: up to 12 bottles per type, with a total of no more than 36 bottles. If the total value of a single item exceeds NT$20,000 (approx. USD$645), it must be declared for tax.

Contact Lenses

If carrying more than the following personal-use limits, you must apply for a ‘Medical Device for Personal Use’ permit from the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration and declare it to customs.

1. Daily disposable contact lenses: Up to 60 lenses per prescription strength, limited to 1 brand and 2 strengths.
2. Corrective lenses: No more than 1 pair.

Tobacco and Alcohol

Each adult traveler aged 20 or older (note: as of January 1, 2023, the age limit for bringing alcohol is adjusted to 18, but the age for tobacco remains 20) may bring the following quantities of tobacco and alcohol products. These limits include all tobacco and alcohol products in both carry-on and checked luggage (including items purchased at duty-free shops, onboard, abroad, or brought back from Taiwan). For more details, refer to the Taipei Customs ‘Tobacco and Alcohol’ guidelines.

• Tobacco:

• Duty-free allowance (no declaration needed): 200 cigarettes, or 25 cigars, or 1 pound of pipe tobacco.
• Limited allowance (with declaration): 5 cartons of cigarettes (1,000 cigarettes), or 125 cigars, or 5 pounds of pipe tobacco.

(★Reminder: Under the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, all e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products that have not passed health risk assessment are completely banned from manufacturing, importing, selling, supplying, displaying, advertising, and use. When shopping abroad, remember that regardless of quantity, you cannot import or bring these items into the country. Whether as gifts or for personal use, you risk fines, and they cannot be used as a means of profit. If caught, violators face a maximum fine of USD$161,290 under Article 26 of the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, and the goods will be confiscated and destroyed.)

►For more information, please visit the E-cigarette Prevention Zone on the website of the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare.

＊Alcoholic Beverages:

• Duty-Free Allowance (no declaration required): Total 1 liter
• Limited Allowance (with declaration): Total 5 liters (but for alcoholic beverages from Mainland China, which are not open for import, the limit is 1 liter)

Notes

Image source: Taipei Customs, Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance

►Explanation of Duty-Free Allowance:

1. Not exceeding the duty-free allowance: No need to declare to customs.
2. Exceeding the duty-free allowance: Must declare at the Red Channel to customs before clearance. Tobacco and alcohol products within the limited allowance can be released after inspection and payment of duties.

►Explanation of Limited Allowance:

1. Not exceeding the limited allowance: After deducting the duty-free allowance, duties are levied and the goods are released.
2. Exceeding the limited allowance: Must provide a tobacco and alcohol import license, fill out an import declaration form in accordance with Article 17 of the Customs Act, and clear customs as a business entity, or arrange for the excess portion to be returned.

Medications

For regulations on bringing personal medications into the country, please refer to the following:

• Tablet or capsule food products: Maximum 12 bottles (boxes, cans, packs, bags) per type, with a total not exceeding 36 bottles (boxes, cans, packs, bags). * Non-prescription Western medicine: Maximum 12 bottles (boxes, cans, tubes, sticks) per type, with a total not exceeding 36 bottles (boxes, cans, tubes, sticks). * General prescription Western medicine: Limited based on whether a doctor’s prescription or supporting documents are carried (injectable products require a prescription or supporting documents):

1. Without documents: Limited to a 2-month supply.
2. With documents: Not exceeding the reasonable dosage prescribed, with a maximum of a 6-month supply.

(★ For the above three categories, you must apply for a Personal Use Medication Import Permit from the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, and declare it to customs upon entry.)

• Controlled prescription Western medicine: Must carry a doctor’s prescription or supporting documents, limited to treating the traveler’s own illness, not exceeding the prescribed dosage, and capped at a 6-month supply.

(★ You must apply for a Patient’s Declaration for Carrying Controlled Drugs into and out of the Republic of China from the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, and declare it to customs upon entry or exit.)

• Traditional Chinese Medicine:

1. Chinese herbal materials: Maximum 1 kilogram per type, with a total weight not exceeding 12 kilograms.
2. Oral Chinese medicine preparations: Maximum 12 bottles (boxes, cans, tubes, sticks) per dosage form, with a total not exceeding 36 bottles (boxes, cans, tubes, sticks), and a total weight not exceeding 1.2 kilograms.

(★ You must apply for a Personal Use Import Permit for Chinese Herbal Materials and Preparations from the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, and declare it to customs upon entry.)

Cash and Valuables

If carrying amounts exceeding the limit, please fill out the Customs Declaration Form and the Passenger or Crew Member Declaration Form for Carrying Cash, Securities, Gold, and Other Items, or use the Online Pre-Declaration System → Proceed through the Red Channel to declare to customs.

• New Taiwan Dollars: Limit of NT$100,000 (approx. USD$3,226). Any excess must be shipped back (sealed by customs and retrieved upon departure).

• Chinese Yuan: Limit of CNY 20,000. Any excess must be shipped back (sealed by customs and retrieved upon departure).

• Foreign Currency: Up to USD$10,000 equivalent. Can be fully brought in.

• Bearer Securities: Up to USD$10,000 equivalent. Can be fully brought in.

• Gold: Up to USD$20,000 equivalent. If total value exceeds USD$20,000, you must also apply for an Import Permit from the Bureau of Foreign Trade (Tel: 02-23510271) before completing customs procedures.

• Diamonds, gemstones, and platinum beyond personal use: Up to USD$500,000 equivalent. If total value exceeds USD$20,000, you must also apply for an Import Permit from the Bureau of Foreign Trade (Tel: 02-23510271) before completing customs procedures.

Prohibited Items

• Stun guns, flashlight-style stun guns
• Tear gas spray, pepper spray, self-defense spray
• Knives, folding knives, throwing stars, stun guns, etc.
• All types of drugs, pharmaceutical raw materials, and substances prohibited or used to produce or convert into drugs
• Marijuana, THC, or products containing cannabis components (CBD requires an import permit)
• Counterfeit goods
• All types of meat products and meat floss (including ham, jerky, sausages, etc.), beef, lamb, pork, duck, goose, etc., are prohibited

Booking and saving tips right here:

Regarding the latest entry regulations, it’s not just about adhering to duty-free allowances and restricted items—you also need to know which items are completely prohibited. This will help you avoid unnecessary trouble, ensuring a smooth customs clearance when you return home and allowing you to enjoy the wonderful memories of your trip. I hope this article provides you with useful information. Wishing you a pleasant journey!