Which Products Can Be Brought to the ROC Duty Free?
Beginning May 19th, those entering Taiwan from Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, and Okinawa may bring in US$1,500 worth of goods duty free. Those entering from other areas may bring in US$3,000 worth of items duty free. However, the Ministry of Finance has stated that cigarettes, alcohol, gold, and other restricted products can not be included within the duty-free limitations.
Duty-free items are limited to those which are for personal use, in the judgment of the customs official. A list of restricted items can be provided to the traveler. Items which would commonly be permitted to enter duty free include:
(1) Food products from unquarantined areas, including up to 36 kilograms of fresh fruit, six cans each of coffee or cocoa, and six kilograms of chocolate.
(2) Household and kitchen items, including three carpets, four woolen blankets, three bed covers, and six sheets; 60 meters of material for curtains, sofas, or chairs; and four services each for coffee or tea.
(3) Home and other appliances including one each of personal computer main units, computer peripherals, floppy disk drives, and monitors; one each of record players, radios, audio tape recorders, or radio/cassette players; one each of televisions, home video recorders, and portable video recorder units; one car radio/cassette player; twelve videotapes; one set of home stereo equipment; one home entertainment system; one electric oven; two automatic rice cookers; one microwave oven.
(4) Miscellaneous items including one camera, and one each of various, different lenses; three each of both men's and ladies' wristwatches; one set of golf equipment (thirteen clubs); six fishing poles; three sets of smoking paraphenalia, six home lighting fixtures or units; 24 units each of various cosmetics (powder, face cream, lipstick, eyebrow pencils, rouge, perfume), 24 bottles of shampoo.
If the total value of the items carried exceeds the duty-free limits, then duties must be paid according to law. The rate for most common products is twenty percent of the value. The rate for appliances and electrical products is determined according to the specific type of item in question.
Simplification of Visas for Foreign Visitors to the ROC
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has revised and simplified the visa process for foreign visitors coming to the ROC This change has been approved for implementation by the Executive Yuan.
The new process differs from the current one in two significant ways:
First, it reduces the number of types of visas from eight (diplomatic, official, transit, tourist, student, commercial, entry, and special visas) to four (diplomatic, temporary stay, residence, and special visas). Thus what was originally an "official" visa will now be "diplomatic," or "special." Tourist, transit, and commercial visas are now to be categorized as "temporary stay," while entrance and student visas will become "residence" visas.
Second, the new system is based on the principle of equal and reciprocal privileges, and the time limit can be adjusted flexibly. The longest possible time is five years; in general, visas are valid for three months.
The MOFA said that this new system would go into effect simultaneously at home and at the ROC's representative offices abroad. The Ministry also noted that regardless of whether or not a foreign visitor has a temporary stay or residence visa, employment is prohibited unless first approved.