First Day in Taiwan: Complete Arrival Guide for International Students

Most international flights arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), about 40 kilometres from Taipei. A smaller number of regional flights use Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) within the city — check your ticket before you travel.

Short-term exchange students typically enter Taiwan in one of two ways. Understanding which applies to you matters — not just at the immigration counter in Taiwan, but before you even board your flight home.

Option A: Student Visa (resident visa / 居留簽證)

If your program is formally recognised and your university applied on your behalf, you may have arrived with a student visa already in your passport. This gives you a defined period of legal stay tied to your enrollment, and is the cleaner option administratively. At Immigration, have your passport, arrival card, and university admission letter ready. The officer will stamp your entry and your permitted stay period is determined by your visa.

Option B: Visa-Free Entry

Many short-term exchange students — particularly those on semester exchange programs from countries with visa-free agreements — simply enter Taiwan without a visa at all. Most Western passport holders receive 90 days visa-free; some nationalities receive 30 days. This is enough for a short semester, but there are a few things you need to know before you fly.

At the Taiwan immigration counter on visa-free entry, have these ready:

• Valid passport — check that it has at least 1–2 blank pages for entry stamps
• Completed arrival card (Taiwan switched to an online arrival card system (TWAC) in October 2025 — complete it before your flight at the NIA website)
• Confirmed return or onward flight booking
• University acceptance letter (useful if an officer asks about your purpose of stay)
• Address of your accommodation in Taiwan

Visa-Free and Staying Longer: The “Visa Run”

If your program or stay runs close to or beyond your visa-free period, the standard solution is a visa run — leaving Taiwan briefly and re-entering to receive a fresh entry stamp and a new visa-free allowance. This is extremely common among international students and long-term visitors, and it is completely legal.

Popular destinations for a Taiwan visa run include Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and the Philippines — all reachable on cheap flights in a few hours. Many students turn their visa run into a long weekend trip, which fits neatly into the Taiwan exchange experience. Your new 90-day (or 30-day) visa-free period begins from the date you re-enter Taiwan, giving you a fresh clock. Check with your university’s OIA if you’re unsure whether a visa run is the right approach for your specific program length and nationality.

After clearing Immigration, collect your bags and pass through Customs. The green (nothing to declare) lane is fine for most students. Declare cash over NTD 100,000 or foreign currency over USD 10,000.

Do this before you board your transport — no exceptions. Taiwan has excellent 4G/5G coverage everywhere, and you’ll need data immediately for maps, messaging, translation, and contacting your landlord or housing office.

Option A: Set Up an eSIM Before You Land

If your phone supports eSIM, you can set up mobile data before your flight and connect as soon as you arrive. This is useful if you want to message your landlord, check Google Maps, open LINE, or book a ride without waiting at an airport SIM counter.

Option B: Buy a Taiwan SIM Card at the Airport

All three major carriers have counters in the arrivals hall of both terminals:

• Chunghwa Telecom — largest network, best coverage outside cities
• Taiwan Mobile — popular with students, solid data plans
• Far EasTone — good value prepaid tourist options

For a semester stay, a 30-day prepaid SIM is usually a practical first step. You only need your passport. Top it up monthly, or switch to a longer plan once you’re settled.

Four solid options — the MRT is the right call for most students arriving in Taipei:

Most short-term students in Taiwan rent a private room — either in a shared apartment or a student house. Unlike a hotel, your landlord is a real person with their own schedule, so the coordination starts before you land. Here’s how to handle the full check-in process smoothly.

Before You Arrive: Contact Your Landlord

As soon as you know your arrival date and flight details, message your landlord on LINE (almost all Taiwanese landlords use it as their primary communication tool). Confirm your check-in time and give them a heads-up if anything changes. If you’re landing late at night, ask in advance whether they can arrange a key pickup spot so you can let yourself in — many landlords are happy to organise this rather than wait up.

Get Cash Before You Meet Them

This is the step most first-timers miss. Your landlord will almost certainly require cash in NTD for the security deposit — and possibly the first month’s rent too. Most landlords do not accept credit cards, and international PayPal or bank transfers come with fees that can complicate things. Sort your cash at the airport before you leave:

• Currency exchange counters are available throughout the arrivals terminal — rates are fairly similar across shops
• Bank of Taiwan ATMs in the airport are reliable and typically charge no withdrawal fee (check what your home bank charges for international withdrawals)
• When withdrawing from an ATM, always choose to defer the conversion — you’ll get a significantly better exchange rate than accepting the ATM’s rate on the spot
• ATM withdrawal limits are typically NTD 10,000–20,000 per transaction, so plan accordingly if your deposit is larger
• Cathay United Bank ATMs (found in most MRT stations and convenience stores) are also a good option with no foreign ATM fees for many international cards

At Check-In: What to Expect

When you meet your landlord, three things happen: you sign the rental contract, you pay the security deposit, and you get the house rules. Take each seriously:

• Inspect the room first, then sign. Walk through the room before putting pen to paper. Note any existing damage — scuffs, broken fixtures, anything — and photograph it. This protects your deposit at check-out
• Ask for the contract in English. You’re entitled to understand what you’re signing. Reputable landlords will have an English version or be willing to translate key clauses
• Security deposit is typically 1–2 months rent, paid in cash and returned at the end of your stay minus any damage deductions. Confirm with your landlord how and when it will be returned
• Understand the house rules. Shared apartments have trash schedules, cleaning rotas, and quiet hours. These aren’t suggestions — knowing them from day one prevents friction with housemates
• Clarify how rent and utilities are paid monthly. Most landlords accept cash or local bank deposit. Get the details in writing so there’s no confusion later

Most short-term rentals in Taiwan come furnished with a bed frame, desk, and wardrobe — but bedding, towels, and everyday supplies are usually not included. Getting your room liveable is a day-one or day-two priority, and Taiwan makes it easy. Here’s where to go depending on what you need.

IKEA — For Bedding, Pillows, and Room Basics

IKEA is the go-to for international students setting up a room from scratch. Prices are reasonable, everything is available in one trip, and the product range is familiar if you’re coming from Europe or North America. You’ll find everything here: fitted sheets, duvet covers, pillows, blankets, hangers, desk lamps, storage boxes, and kitchen basics. There are locations in Taipei (Xinzhuang and Neihu), Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. Budget around NTD 1,500–3,000 for a full bedding set and basic room supplies. Take the MRT and grab an Uber or taxi back — you’ll have bags.

Poya (寶雅) — The Student Favourite for Daily Supplies

Poya is a Taiwanese lifestyle chain that most international students discover within their first week and visit constantly thereafter. Think of it as a well-organised drugstore crossed with a home goods shop: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, skincare, toothbrushes, razors, laundry detergent, hangers, storage organisers, small fans, extension cords, phone accessories, and a surprisingly good snack section. Prices are low, stores are everywhere, and the layout is easy to navigate even without Mandarin. If you need it for daily life, Poya almost certainly has it.

Watson (屈臣氏) — Pharmacy and Personal Care

Watson is Taiwan’s most widespread pharmacy chain, found in most MRT station exits and shopping malls. It’s the right stop for medicine, vitamins, contact lens solution, sunscreen, skincare, feminine hygiene products, and branded cosmetics. Prices are slightly higher than Poya for equivalent items, but Watson’s pharmacy section and branded product range is broader. Watson staff can often point you toward the right product even with limited English.

Cosmed — For Skincare and Health Products

Similar to Watson but with a stronger focus on Taiwanese and Japanese skincare brands, Cosmed is popular with students who want more variety in beauty and health products. You’ll typically find one near any major shopping district or university area. Worth knowing as an alternative when Watson doesn’t carry what you’re after.

PX Mart (全聯) — Everyday Groceries at the Best Prices

PX Mart is Taiwan’s most affordable supermarket chain and where most locals do their weekly grocery shopping. It’s the right place for rice, noodles, eggs, cooking oil, fruit, vegetables, drinks, instant meals, and pantry staples. No frills, no English signage, but incredibly cheap. If you’re cooking in your apartment, PX Mart should be your first stop. There’s almost certainly one within walking distance of your rental.

Carrefour (家樂福) — One-Stop for Everything

Carrefour hypermarkets are Taiwan’s version of a big-box store. In a single visit you can buy groceries, bedding, towels, cleaning supplies, small appliances (fans, kettles, rice cookers), kitchenware, and storage furniture. If the idea of going to multiple shops feels overwhelming in your first few days, Carrefour is the most efficient single destination to get your room and kitchen operational. Locations are typically in larger shopping areas or standalone stores with parking — check Google Maps for the nearest one.

Mia C’bon — Western and International Imports

Formerly known as Jason’s Marketplace, the chain was acquired by Carrefour and most locations have been rebranded as Mia C’bon. It still serves the same purpose: imported cheeses, European bread, Western breakfast cereals, international sauces, craft beer, and specialty items that are hard to find in regular supermarkets. When you’re homesick for something specific from home, this is where to look. Prices are higher than local supermarkets, but the import selection is unmatched. Found primarily in upscale malls and central city areas.

Traditional Markets (傳統市場) — For Fresh Food at Local Prices

Every neighbourhood has a traditional wet market, usually open from early morning until around noon. This is where Taiwanese people buy fresh meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, and tofu at the lowest prices available anywhere. It’s chaotic, crowded, and entirely in Mandarin — but vendors are used to pointing and holding up fingers for prices. Going once a week with a housemate who has some Mandarin is a genuinely enjoyable experience and will cut your grocery bill significantly.

You don’t need a local bank account or Taiwanese ID to function well as a short-term student. Your home debit or credit card handles most things. A few app setups will make the rest dramatically smoother:

Download These Immediately

• LINE — messaging; your entire social life runs through this app
• Google Maps — excellent in Taiwan, includes live MRT and bus arrival times
• YouBike 2.0 — city bike sharing linked to your EasyCard; first 30 minutes free
• Uber Eats / Foodpanda — delivery in under 30 minutes, surprisingly affordable
• Google Translate — download Traditional Chinese offline; camera mode reads menus and signs instantly

Register for YouBike

YouBike is Taiwan’s city bike network and one of the best ways to explore. Register through the app using your EasyCard number — the first 30 minutes of each ride are free at most stations. In Taipei especially, this is how a lot of students get between MRT stops, explore riverside parks, and generally feel like they live in the city rather than just visiting it.

Visit Your University’s OIA Early

The Office of International Affairs (OIA) is your official home base on campus. Drop in during your first two days. They manage orientation schedules, the buddy program, emergency contacts, and the social calendar for incoming exchange students — and they’ll answer any visa or admin questions so you don’t have to figure things out alone.

This is what most arrival guides skip — and for a 3–5 month stay, your social connections will define your experience far more than any administrative task. Taiwan is one of the most genuinely welcoming countries in Asia for foreign students. The opportunities to build real friendships are everywhere if you show up for them.

Your University’s Buddy Program

Almost every Taiwanese university with an exchange program runs a buddy system that pairs incoming international students with local Taiwanese students. Sign up before you arrive if you can, through your OIA’s pre-arrival portal. Your buddy is your most valuable resource: they know the campus, the city, the best cheap food spots, and — most importantly — they genuinely want to spend time with you. Many of the deepest friendships international students form in Taiwan begin here. Don’t skip this.

Orientation Events — Go to All of Them

The first two weeks are packed with orientation activities: campus tours, welcome dinners, day trips, cultural events. Taiwanese universities put genuine effort into these, and they work. The people you meet standing awkwardly at the same welcome barbecue in week one become your travel crew by week three. Say yes to everything early; you can be more selective once you’ve found your people.

Language Exchange Partners

Language exchange is deeply embedded in Taiwanese student culture. Campus bulletin boards are covered in notes from local students looking for English conversation partners in exchange for Mandarin practice. Apps like HelloTalk and Tandem make finding partners even easier. Beyond the language benefit, these meetups are one of the most natural ways to build genuine one-on-one friendships with Taiwanese students — outside the structured environment of class or orientation events.

Join a Student Club (社團)

Taiwan’s 社團 (shè tuán) culture — student clubs — is one of the best-kept secrets of Taiwanese university life. There are clubs for hiking, photography, traditional music, cooking, martial arts, film, board games, and dozens of things in between. Most clubs actively welcome international students and hold a club fair (社團博覽會) at the start of each semester. This is where many Taiwanese students form their closest friendships, and it’s genuinely open to you. Even with zero Mandarin, most clubs have English-speaking members who are happy to include you — and curious to know you.

Facebook Groups and Meetup Events

Search Facebook for “International Students [Your City]” or “Expats in Taipei” (or Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung). These groups post weekly events, hiking trips, group outings, and casual hangouts. The international student communities in Taiwan’s major cities are active and welcoming. Meetup.com also has English-language hiking groups, language exchanges, and social events in most cities.

The Easiest Conversation Starter in Taiwan

Food. Always food. Express genuine curiosity about where to eat, accept recommendations, and say yes to being taken somewhere you’ve never heard of. Taiwanese people take enormous pride in their food culture — sharing it with someone who appreciates it creates an immediate bond. Some of the best meals of your stay will happen at a plastic table under fluorescent lights in a spot a new friend insisted you had to try.

Once you’ve handled the basics, the joy of Taiwan is how quickly it starts to feel like home. A few things that accelerate that process:

Public Transport Is Genuinely Excellent

Taipei’s MRT is clean, punctual, and covers the city well. Buses extend everywhere the MRT doesn’t, and your EasyCard works on all of it. For longer trips, the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) connects Taipei to Kaohsiung in 90 minutes — which makes weekend trips to the south completely realistic. Taiwan is a small country with a lot of variety packed in; use the transport network to explore it.

Night Markets: Go Often, Go Hungry

Night markets are not tourist traps — they’re where local life actually happens after dark. Shilin and Raohe in Taipei, Fengjia in Taichung, and Liuhe in Kaohsiung are the most famous. Go with people from your dorm floor. Wandering a night market together is one of the most reliable Taiwan bonding experiences there is — it’s hard to be strangers after you’ve shared a stinky tofu debate at midnight.

Say Yes to Day Trips Early

Don’t save the big experiences for your last month. Jiufen (the mountain town that inspired Spirited Away), Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake, and the hot springs of Beitou are all reachable in a day. Taiwanese students and exchange students alike love organising day trips — say yes early and you’ll build the memories and the friendships simultaneously.

Learn a Little Mandarin

You don’t need fluency. But 10–15 phrases will noticeably change how locals respond to you. “謝謝” (xièxiè — thank you), “好吃” (hǎo chī — delicious), and “這個” (zhège — this one, for ordering) go further than you’d expect. Taiwanese people are visibly pleased when foreign students make any effort with Mandarin at all — it signals respect, and it opens conversations that otherwise wouldn’t happen.