Confirmed: Taiwan reopening to tourists from 13 October

Taiwan previously announced that it would scrap mandatory quarantine and reopen its borders to tourists from “around” 13 October 2022, ending more than 30 months of isolation from the world. 

13 October 2022 has now been confirmed as the actual date, and tourists can look forward to a fully-restored visa waiver scheme for nationals of more than 60 countries, and ART testing replacing PCR tests on arrival. Vaccinations will not be required for entry.

Taiwan reopens to tourists on 13 October

🇹🇼 Summary: Travel to Taiwan from 13 Oct 2022

Visa waiver scheme fully restored for Singapore and other countries No restrictions on mode of transport from airport to accommodation Take self-administered ART on Day 0, 2, 4, 6 (day of arrival is day 0) Ban on tour groups lifted Vaccinations not required No mandatory travel insurance requirement

From 13 October 2022, Taiwan will permit tourist arrivals from all countries, regardless of vaccination status.

The current system of “3+4” (where arriving travellers are subject to three days of quarantine and four days of self-health monitoring) will be replaced by a system of “0+7” (no quarantine and seven days of self-health monitoring). 

Taiwan’s visa-waiver scheme will be restored for all countries that were eligible pre-COVID, and arrivals will only be required to take an on-arrival ART at the airport, with no isolation necessary.

Visa-waiver scheme

Taiwan has fully restored its visa-waiver scheme for all previously eligible countries including Singapore. 

The visa exemption period for Singaporeans is 30 days. Nationals of other countries may be eligible for an exemption of up to 90 days.

Testing regime

Taiwan removed its pre-departure test requirement from 15 August 2022 for all international arrivals, although anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past seven days is not permitted to travel. 

The current regime of on-arrival PCR testing at the airport will be replaced by ART testing instead. Travellers aged 2 and above will be issued 4x ART kits on arrival. They will do self-administered tests on Day 0, 2, 4 and 6.

There is no need to report a negative result. Visitors who test positive will need to quarantine at designated hotels.

Masking requirements

Masks are not required on flights to or from Taiwan, although EVA Air and China Airlines continue to enforce the rule. Singapore Airlines passengers will not be required to mask, as per the airline’s latest global mask policy. 

Masks are currently required at Taipei Airport and all other indoor and outdoor locations, except in the following situations:

• When exercising outdoors or indoors;
• When taking individual/group photos indoors or outdoors;
• When driving a vehicle or riding a scooter or bicycle by oneself or with live-in family members;
• When livestreaming, filming, moderating an event, reporting, delivering remarks, giving a speech, lecturing, or during activities or events involving conversations with others;
• When outdoor workers working in open spaces;
• When people are in forests/mountains (including forest recreation areas) and on the beach;
• When people are in hot/cold springs, dry sauna rooms, spas, steam rooms, saunas, during water activities, or in venues where masks can get wet easily.
• Masks may be removed when consuming food/beverages outside.
• Masks may be temporarily removed in venues or during activities (e.g. art performers performing a show, film crews/TV news anchors when filming, and athletes and referees participating in sports competitions) that comply with the CECC’s or competent authority’s epidemic prevention and control rules.

The full list of masking requirements can be found here. 

However, Taiwan also plans to progressively loosen its mask requirements as restrictions lift, except on public transport.

Flights to Taiwan

As of October 2022, flights between Singapore and Taipei are operated by Singapore Airlines, Scoot, China Airlines, EVA Air and Starlux. There are a total of 24 flights per week in each direction, though that should increase given the reopening (Singapore Airlines goes daily on this route from November). 

From SIN to TPE

From TPE to SIN

Singapore Airlines operates its Boeing 787-10 on this route, which has 337 seats, split into 36 Business Class and 301 Economy Class.

Passengers can look forward to its 2018 Regional Business Class seats, which offer full flat beds in a 1-2-1 configuration. While they’re certainly narrower than the Business Class seats Singapore Airlines offers on its long-haul flights, I still find them highly comfortable and private. 

A full review of this product can be found below.

Review: Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class Seoul to Singapore

How much do awards cost?

Here’s the cost of KrisFlyer awards on the Singapore – Taipei route. Do remember that First and Premium Economy awards are not available on the B787-10, since it has Business and Economy cabins only. 

Redemption Cost from Singapore to Taipei (Flight on Singapore Air)
	Saver (One-Way)	Advantage (One-Way)
Economy	16,500	30,000
Premium Economy	N/A	N/A
Business	34,000	50,000
First	N/A	N/A

Business Saver awards are available from early November.

Alternatively, KrisFlyer members can redeem 46,000 miles for a Business Class award on EVA Air. A total of S$130 of fuel surcharges will apply on a one-way award from Singapore, and award space is available from early November too.

Conclusion

Taiwan is set to reopen to tourists from 13 October 2022, and while there were rumours they might go with a “Japan-style reopening” and make visitors join closely-controlled tour groups, I’m glad that common sense has prevailed with free-and-easy travel available from the get go.

Will you be planning a Taiwan trip?