Before you arrive

The checklist

• Passport Valid for more than six months, with blank pages (BOCA, the Bureau of Consular Affairs).
• Resident visa Needed even if your country is visa-exempt, because the ARC (resident certificate) requires it (NTU). BOCA's list: the online form printed with its bar code and signed, two 2"x2" color photos on white taken in the last six months, your admission letter, proof of financial support and a health certificate.
• Diploma and transcripts Your highest diploma and transcripts, authenticated by a Taiwan (ROC) mission abroad. NTU says this "may take more than 2 months" and cannot be done after you arrive. Documents not in English need an authenticated Chinese or English translation.
• Health certificate The Taiwan CDC residence health exam, valid for three months.
• Insurance Cover for your first six months, before National Health Insurance (NHI). Schools set their own rules (below).
• Under 18 NTU asks students under 18 to bring a guardian consent letter.
• Money Cash for the first weeks, and a debit card that works at overseas ATMs (NSYSU).
• Medicines Bring what you need with a detailed prescription. NCCU says most drugs are sold in Taiwan pharmacies, but may have different brand names.
• Plug adapter Taiwan uses 110V, 60Hz, with Type A and Type B sockets (NTUT, NCHU and others).

The visa itself, its fees and the full document list are in → Student visa. What to wear and the weather by region are in → Culture, dress and weather

The health certificate

Taiwan CDC says foreign and overseas Chinese students staying six months or more submit the "Health Certificate for Residence Application" (居留或定居健康檢查項目表) when they apply for a resident visa or resident certificate. The report is valid for three months. It covers:

• A chest X-ray for tuberculosis.
• A stool test for parasites.
• A blood test for syphilis.
• Proof of measles and rubella antibodies, or measles and rubella vaccination certificates.
• An examination for Hansen's disease.

Students from some listed countries are exempt from the stool and Hansen's disease tests. Students from Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines use hospitals listed by Taiwan CDC. Students from other countries use hospitals approved by the local ROC embassy or mission. If a result fails, you complete treatment or vaccination at home and get a "passed" certificate before applying.

Short-term students use a shorter form (短期研修健康檢查項目表): measles and rubella proof and a chest X-ray, also valid three months. Pregnant women are exempt from the X-ray.

Good to know: many schools also run their own health check after you arrive, separate from the visa exam. NCHU says it needs two exams, and suggests doing both at home together, though its own exam can be done after arrival.

What schools ask for

Each school adds its own steps. These are from each school's own page or handbook.

• NTU (National Taiwan University, 國立臺灣大學, Taipei): fill in the online pre-arrival survey (it opens in late May for September entry and late December for February entry), which also covers the dorm application. NTU enrolls degree students in group medical insurance before NHI: NT$3,000 for six months, non-refundable. Arrange your own travel insurance for the trip.
• NCCU (National Chengchi University, 國立政治大學, Taipei): bring diploma and transcripts notarized by TECO, which "may take several working days". Buy overseas medical and injury insurance for at least six months and bring English proof. The on-campus health check costs NT$650 and is done within a month of the semester starting.
• NCHU (National Chung Hsing University, 國立中興大學, Taichung): apply for the resident visa, fill in your arrival details online, read the student handbook, change currency, arrange housing and select courses. Foreign Student Insurance for the first six months is about NT$600 a month, in the tuition bill.
• Tunghai University (東海大學, Taichung): reply by the deadline in your admission notice, so the university can arrange dorms and airport pick-up. Bring insurance proof authenticated by an ROC office, valid at least six months from entry.
• NSYSU (National Sun Yat-sen University, 國立中山大學, Kaohsiung): there is no airport pick-up. NSYSU suggests arriving in Kaohsiung five days before classes. Orientation is usually the Friday before classes and is compulsory for freshmen. Registration fees are paid in cash.
• NDHU (National Dong Hwa University, 國立東華大學, Hualien): bring the residence health certificate authenticated by a Taiwan embassy. Without verified diplomas and transcripts, registration cannot be completed. The school insurance plan is NT$3,000 for six months.
• NIU (National Ilan University, 國立宜蘭大學, Yilan): buy medical and casualty insurance for 180 days from arrival before you come. Freshmen have a one-day health check. You collect the ARC in person at the immigration office in Yilan.

Cash and customs

Taiwan's Customs Administration asks you to declare these at the red channel, after baggage claim:

Each currency is counted separately. Taipei Customs also lists alcohol over 1.5 liters, more than one carton (200) of cigarettes, fruit, seeds, live plants and animals, personal goods over NT$35,000 and medicines over personal limits as things to declare.

How much cash to bring: the only school figure we found is NCHU's. It tells new students to bring around US$4,000, about US$2,000 for the semester bill and about US$2,000 for six months of living costs, and says scholarship payments start no earlier than two months into the semester.

Don't pack meat

• Meat products Almost all meat products from land animals are not allowed into Taiwan (Customs Administration).
• Undeclared meat A fine of NT$10,000 to NT$1,000,000.
• Pork from African swine fever areas NT$200,000 on a first offense, whatever your nationality. Foreigners who don't pay at the border are sent back. Repeat offenses: up to NT$1,000,000 (Taichung Customs).
• By post Pork found in international mail is returned or destroyed, and the person it was sent to is referred for a penalty.

From Taoyuan Airport

Most international flights land at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). The Airport MRT (Taoyuan Metro) stops at A12 (Terminal 1) and A13 (Terminal 2), with a train about every 7.5 minutes. Express trains stop at A1 Taipei Main Station, A3, A8, A12 and A13. "Extended Express" trains also stop at A18 Taoyuan HSR Station and A21. Buses leave from the Terminal 1 B1 bus area and the Terminal 2 1F bus area.

High Speed Rail (THSR) fares are standard car, reserved seat, from THSR Taoyuan Station. Bus times are the airport's own stated times. The airport's bus page gives no fares. For places south of Taichung there is no direct bus: Ubus 1627 runs 30 minutes to Zhongli Bus Station, with a two-part ticket for the onward bus bought at the counter. Taxi ranks are at Terminal 1 1F Arrivals (west side, door 12) and across from Terminal 2 1F door 26.

In Tainan, NCKU (National Cheng Kung University, 國立成功大學) says to take the TRA shuttle train from Shalun Station (next to THSR Tainan) to Tainan Station. The campus is a short walk from the station's rear exit on University Road.

The city guides explain the routes in more detail: Inside Taipei on getting to Taipei from Taoyuan Airport, and Inside Hsinchu on Hsinchu to Taoyuan Airport by HSR, train and the 1250 bus.

From Taichung Airport

Taichung International Airport (RMQ) lists these buses: route 156 to THSR Taichung Station, routes 500 and 333 to Taichung Station, and 555 (Taiwan Tourist Shuttle) to the MRT Wenhua Senior High School station. Its page gives no fares or times. Inside Taichung covers Taichung airport and the routes from Taoyuan.

From Kaohsiung Airport

• The Kaohsiung Metro Red Line stops at R4 (Kaohsiung International Airport). Exit 6 goes to the international terminal. Trains run every 4 to 6 minutes at peak and no more than 8 minutes off peak.
• NCHU's handbook says to ride to R16 Zuoying for the High Speed Rail, or to R14 for Kaohsiung train station. Change at Formosa Boulevard (R10/O5) for the Orange Line.
• From THSR Zuoying, standard reserved fares are NT$140 to Tainan, NT$410 to Chiayi, NT$790 to Taichung, NT$1,200 to Hsinchu and NT$1,490 to Taipei.
• Bus 111 runs north to Tainan city. Buses 9117, 9117A and 9117B go south to Pingtung County and Kenting, with tickets at the Pingtung Bus counter near door 5 in international arrivals.
• Taxis in the queue run on the meter, with a NT$50 surcharge at the international terminal (and at the domestic terminal from September 1, 2026).

Inside Kaohsiung explains getting around Kaohsiung from the airport, and Inside Tainan covers getting to Tainan from the airport.

To Yilan and Hualien

From Taoyuan Airport, Ubus 1661 and 1661A run to Yilan-area bus stations in about 2 h 30 min. In Yilan, NIU's guidebook says buses 771, 772 and 772A take about 9 minutes from the rear of Yilan train station to campus. We have not checked train fares and times to Hualien and Taitung. Inside Yilan covers getting to Yilan from Taoyuan Airport, and Inside Hualien covers getting to Hualien by train from Taoyuan Airport.

Your first week

• Resident certificate (ARC): apply within 30 days of entering Taiwan. NDHU's own page asks students to apply within 15 days. → The resident certificate (ARC)
• Health check on campus: NTU runs a general health exam for all incoming international students. NIU holds a one-day check for freshmen. NCCU's costs NT$650.
• Orientation: NTU has welcome activities, NCHU asks you to report to its international office and attend orientation, and NSYSU's Friday orientation is compulsory for freshmen.
• Bank and phone: NIU says to open a post office account and get a phone number with your passport, ARC and a personal seal (stamp). → Bank account and phone
• Health insurance: → Health insurance

Inside Hsinchu's first 30 days checklist covers the ARC, NHI, bank and phone in Hsinchu. It is written for workers and families, not students.

Questions

How much cash should I bring?

No government figure exists. NCHU tells its new students to bring around US$4,000: about US$2,000 for the semester bill and about US$2,000 for six months of living costs. NSYSU says registration fees are paid in cash. You must declare more than NT$100,000 in New Taiwan dollars, or more than US$10,000 in foreign currency, at customs.

Do I do the health exam before or after I arrive?

The residence health exam for the visa is done before you come, at a hospital listed by Taiwan CDC or approved by the ROC mission in your country, and is valid for three months. Many schools also hold their own health check after you arrive, such as NTU's general exam and NCCU's NT$650 check.

Will my university pick me up at the airport?

It depends on the school. NSYSU says it does not offer pick-up. Tunghai asks admitted students to reply by the deadline in the admission notice so it can arrange dorms and airport pick-up. NTU's overseas Chinese student office says it arranges pick-up based on each year's needs.

→ Student visa · The resident certificate (ARC) · Arrive and live

Sources (31)

Checked November 2026.Show

BOCA, resident visa for university study, Study in Taiwan, five steps, Taiwan CDC, medical exams for foreign students (May 2026), Taiwan CDC, health certificate for short-term students, Customs Administration, currency declaration, Taipei Customs, when to declare, Customs Administration, African swine fever and meat, Taichung Customs, pork fines, Taichung Customs, pork in parcels, Taoyuan Metro fares and timetable, THSR fares, Taoyuan Airport, public transport and buses, Taichung Airport, buses, Kaohsiung Airport, transport. Schools: NTU before arrival, upon arrival, insurance, pick-up; NCCU and before you leave home; NCHU before arrival and handbook (Fall 2026); Tunghai admission regulations; NCKU arrival; NSYSU FAQ and visiting students; NDHU new students; NIU student guidebook; NTUT electricity.