Traveling to Taiwan in 2021: Airports, Quarantine Measures, and More
Updated: Jan 2, 2022
Are you coming back to Taiwan in 2021 after visiting your home country or getting the jab overseas? Read on to see what you’re likely to experience when you touch down.
Whether you’re returning to Taiwan or it’s your first time coming here, you’ll likely wonder what will expect you when you arrive at Taoyuan International Airport in 2021. Having just come back from a long-overdue business & personal trip in August of 2021, I thought I’d use my time in quarantine to give you a personal account of what I have experienced. Taiwan has made a name for itself around the globe for its thorough COVID response measures, and despite a short resurgence in May, Taiwan bounced back quickly, with no more than a few local cases per day thanks to many of these measures. Though traveling in COVID times comes with its challenges, the good news is, once you’re out of quarantine, you’re ready to enjoy all the perks of life in Taiwan! I’m sitting here in my hotel room, feeling super motivated by my post-quarantine bucket list, which starts with hiking, picnics in Da-An park with friends, and eating some 蔥油餅!
I’ve compiled my notes about my experiences, from leaving Taiwan, to boarding my flight back, and also getting into and out of quarantine as well. Hopefully they’re helpful to you!
Before You Leave Taiwan
If you have friends in Taiwan or already have your home here, get yourself or a friend to prep a bag with some quarantine essentials to be dropped off to you at your quarantine hotel, once you arrive back in Taiwan. My own plates, cups, cutlery, dishtowels, photos, my yoga mat, my own pillowcases, and my own towels really helped to make my hotel room feel more like a temporary home.
Before your Flight Back to Taiwan
Recognize that there are potential quarantine subsidies, but only for citizens and permanent residents. If you’re new to Taiwan, you’ll need to pay for your quarantine all by yourself.
Book a quarantine hotel before traveling. An important tip: having windows that open, or even better, having a balcony, will make all the difference! Here’s info on hotels in Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taiwan Overall, and Governmental quarantine facilities.
Make sure you inform your hotel of your expected arrival time: I found asking for the hotel’s Line chat app info beforehand to be the best way to communicate this.
Take your PCR test 24-72 hours before your flight. Ask the doctor or facility how long they will need to give you results to plan your time accurately. Some facilities will be able to provide next day service, but others may need 72 hours, so this is a crucial time frame.
Fill in the quarantine entry form along with your online check-in 24-48 hours before your flight, or do it as you check-in at the check-in counter. It’ll take around 5 minutes if you have your quarantine hotel information handy. Here’s what it looks like:
