15 Feb 2023 | 03:58 AM UTC
Taiwan: Authorities to allow individual travelers from Hong Kong and Macau from Feb. 20 /update 82
Taiwan to allow individual travelers from Hong Kong and Macau from Feb. 20. Restrictions on visitors from mainland China remain in effect.
Event
Officials in Taiwan will lift all travel restrictions on Hong Kong and Macau residents from Feb. 20. Residents from these territories may apply for individual entry permits, instead of groups of at least five people. Hong Kong and Macau passport holders can apply for an entry permit at Taiwan's National Immigration Agency website by clicking here. Foreign passport holders may apply using Taiwan's e-visa platform by clicking here.
Visitors from mainland China remain barred from entering for tourism; exemptions are in effect for those entering for business, education, and family purposes.
Domestic Measures
Taiwan will ease COVID-19 facemask requirements from Feb. 20. Individuals will no longer need to wear a facemask in most indoor settings, except for public transport and medical facilities. The facemask mandate for schools will be lifted from March 6. The government advises individuals with fever or respiratory symptoms, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems to wear a facemask in crowded places.
The self-quarantine period for locally acquired COVID-19 cases is five days. People that receive a negative RAT result on day five do not have to practice self-health management. Individuals that test positive must practice self-health management until they receive a negative RAT result or reach seven days of self-quarantine. Household contacts of COVID-19 cases do not have to self-quarantine, but they must continue self-health monitoring for seven days. Asymptomatic close contacts can continue to enter the public provided they have a negative RAT result within the previous 48 hours.
International Travel Restrictions
Taiwan permits entry without quarantine for approved entrants. Travelers must take a self-administered RAT if they develop COVID-19 symptoms during the seven-day self-health monitoring period. Authorities will provide inbound passengers with one free rapid antigen test (RAT) kit.
Officials permit cruise ships. However, flights to mainland China remain restricted indefinitely; airlines can only fly to airports in Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (SHA, PVG), Xiamen (XMN), and Chengdu (CTU).
Advice
Follow all official instructions. Allow additional time for health screenings when arriving in or traveling across Taiwan.
