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Cars 4 Rental Information on Taiwan

General

Area: 36,006 sq km (13,969 sq miles).

Population: 22,216,107 (2000).

Population Density: 617.0 per sq km.

Capital: Taipei. Population: 2,646,474 (1999).

GEOGRAPHY: Taiwan (China) is the main island of a group of 86 islands. It is dominated by the Central Mountain Range covering 75 per cent of its land area and running its full length north to south on the eastern seaboard. Over 100 peaks exceed 3000m (9850ft), the highest being Yu Shan (Jade Mountain) at 3952m (13,042ft), and most are heavily forested. About 25 per cent of the country is alluvial plain, most of it on the coastal strip. The Pescadores (Fisherman's Isles), which the Chinese call Penghu, comprise 64 islands west of Taiwan (China, PR) with a total area of 127 sq km (49 sq miles). The offshore island fortress of Quemoy (Kinmen) and Matsu forms part of the mainland province of Fukien.

Government: Republic since 1912. Head of State: President Chen Shui-bian since 2000. Head of Government: Prime Minister Yu Hsi-kun since 2002.

Language: The official language is Northern Chinese (Mandarin). Taiwanese is widely spoken, and English is taught as the first foreign language in schools.

Religion: Buddhism; also Taoism, Christianity and Islam.

Time: GMT + 8.

Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz.

Communications:

Telephone

Full IDD is available. Country code: 886. Outgoing international code: 002. There is an extensive internal telephone system.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900 and 1800 networks. Network operators include Far Eastone Telecommunications (website: www.fareastone.com.tw), KG Telecom (website: www.kgt.com.tw) and Taiwan Cellular Corporation (website: www.twngsm.com.tw).

Fax

Facilities are widely available.

Internet

Internet cafes provide public access to Internet and e-mail services. ISPs include Asia Pacific Online (website: www.apol.com.tw) and Chunghwa Telecom/Hinet (website: www.hinet.net).

Telegram

Telegrams may be sent from post offices and hotels.

Post

Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 10 days. Poste restante facilities are available in main cities.

Press

English-language daily papers include The China Post and Taiwan News. English-language journals include Taipei Journal (weekly) and Taipei Review (monthly).

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of NT$1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of NT$50, 10, 5 and 1, and 50 cents.

Currency exchange: All travellers are required to make a currency declaration in writing together with the baggage declaration. Unused currency can be reconverted on departure, on production of exchange receipts.

Credit & debit cards: Accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops.

Travellers cheques: Accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars.

Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is limited to NT$40,000 and a permit from the Ministry of Finance is required for amounts over NT$8000. The import and export of foreign currency is unlimited, although amounts over US$10,000 must be declared on arrival. All exchange receipts must be retained.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the New Taiwan Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May '04
£1.00= 54.88 57.65 60.70 59.41
$1.00= 34.40 33.97 33.35 33.26

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat 0900-1200.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No 1
Cholera Yes 2
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria No N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required of travellers arriving from infected areas.

2: A cholera vaccination certificate is a condition of entry if arriving or having passed through an infected area.

3: Vaccination against typhoid is advised.

Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Immunisation against hepatitis A, B, diphtheria and tuberculosis is recommended. Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, influenza and visceral leishmaniasis occur. Rhesus negative blood is rare.

Health care: Health care facilities are good and doctors well trained. Imported medicines are expensive, but locally produced and manufactured medicines are plentiful. Health insurance is recommended.

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Climate

A subtropical climate with moderate temperatures in the north, where there is a winter season. The southern areas, where temperatures are slightly higher, enjoy sunshine every day, and there is no winter season. The typhoon season is from June to October.

Required clothing: Light- to mediumweights, with rainwear advised.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes 1 Yes
Australian Yes 1 Yes
Canadian Yes 1 Yes
USA Yes 1 Yes
OtherEU Yes 1 Yes
Japanese Yes 1 Yes

Restricted entry and transit: Nationals of China (PR) are not currently permitted to enter Taiwan unless on business.

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except the following, provided they have no criminal record, have a confirmed return air ticket or air ticket and visa for next destination, and seat reservation for departure:
1. nationals of countries referred to in the chart above (except nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia who do require a visa), and nationals of Brunei, Costa Rica, Iceland, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland for stays of up to 30 days (this period cannot be extended).

Note: (a) Nationals of Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland are eligible to apply for a Landing visa on arrival at CKS International Airport or Kaohsiung International Airport, on condition that they are holding tickets for an onward destination, and have no criminal record. The Landing visa is valid for 30 days and cannot be extended. They must provide a passport-size photo of themselves with a completed application form and pay a fee of NT$1200, plus a handling fee of NT$800. Nationals from countries who have a reciprocal agreement with Taiwan receive this visa free of charge.
(b) Passengers arriving at Kaohsiung International Airport (including passengers arriving from China (PR), may apply for a temporary entry permit at the Kaohsiung Station Aviation Police Bureau. They must convert the permit into a visa at the Bureau of Consular Affairs or its Kaohsiung Office within 3 days. If they fail to do so, they will be subject to a fine.
(c) Nationals holding Hong Kong (SAR), British National (overseas) or Macau (SAR) passports, if born in Hong Kong or Macau or if having previously visited Taiwan, may obtain a visa on arrival, valid for up to 14 days.
(d) Passengers arriving at CKS International Airport may apply for a landing visa at the Visa Office at CKS International Airport, Bureau of Consular Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Types of visa and cost: Single-entry visitor: £25. Multiple-entry visitor: £50. Landing: NT$1200, plus NT$800 handling fee. Multiple-entry visas are issued for business purposes only and require a document from employer regarding purpose of visit.

Validity: Single-entry visitor: up to 3 months; up to two extensions of 60 days each may be granted by local police stations for certain applicants, if they have stayed in Taiwan for an initial period of at least 60 days and documents have been submitted that provide evidence for the necessity of an extension. These visas are valid for 3 months from date of issue. Multiple-entry visitor: 6 months from date of issue. Landing: 30 days. A visa is not required by travellers continuing their journey by the same or connecting aircraft on the same day, provided holding confirmed onward tickets and the necessary travel documentation and provided not departing from the transit lounge.

Note: Travellers intending to stay more than 3 months in Taiwan will be required to take an AIDS test. If the test is positive, they will be required to leave the country.

Application to: Visa section of Taipei Representative Office (see Contact Addresses section).

Application requirements: (a) Application form. (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) Passport (valid for at least 6 months). (d) Documents verifying purpose of visit, or most recent bank statement, or letter from a sponsor in Taiwan (if appropriate). (e) Fee payable in cash, Company cheque, by postal order or banker's draft. (f) For a postal application, a registered, stamped addressed envelope. (g) Confirmed return air ticket and visa for next destination and confirmed seat reservation. (h) Cholera and yellow fever vaccinations are required if arriving from an infected area.

Working days required: 1. However, some visa applications may be subject to delay. Applicants who have paid rush handling fees may collect their visas at 1630 on the same day.

Temporary residence: Those wishing to stay more than 6 months must apply for a Resident visa. Contact the Taipei Representative Office for further information (see Contact Addresses section).

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