The short version
Taiwan uses the New Taiwan dollar (NT$). You can change money at designated banks and international tourist hotels; keep the receipt. Taiwan Cooperative Bank says foreign PLUS, Cirrus and UnionPay cards can withdraw cash at its ATMs showing those logos, up to NT$20,000 per withdrawal. A shop that has signed up to take cards may not refuse your card, cap the amount or add a fee without good reason, but no shop has to take cards. When you arrive, declare more than NT$100,000, more than US$10,000 in foreign currency, or more than RMB 20,000.
The New Taiwan dollar
- Notes NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, NT$1,000 and NT$2,000.
- Coins NT$0.5, NT$1, NT$5, NT$10, NT$20 and NT$50.
The central bank (中央銀行) says the NT$200 and NT$2,000 notes mean people carry fewer NT$100 and NT$1,000 notes, and it encourages "big notes for big payments, small notes for small". When it checked Shilin Night Market in 2017, most stalls said they already accepted NT$200 and NT$2,000 notes.
Exchanging money
Taoyuan City's tourism site says you can change currency at designated banks or international tourist hotels. Keep the receipt: you need it to change leftover NT dollars back.
Licensed exchange counters
Some shops, hotels, stations, temples and other businesses hold a licence from Bank of Taiwan to change money as a side business (外幣收兌處). The rules for them:
- They only change foreign cash or foreign currency traveller's cheques into NT dollars, not the other way.
- At most US$3,000 equivalent per person each time (RMB cash: RMB 20,000).
- Their customers are defined as foreign travellers holding a foreign passport, and travellers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau with an entry permit.
- You change money in person. The counter checks your original passport or permit, writes your details on an exchange slip (外匯水單), and you sign it.
- The rate follows the designated banks' buying rates and must be posted. The licence must be on display.
Bank of Taiwan has a search for licensed counters.
Using a foreign card at an ATM
Taiwan Cooperative Bank says holders of foreign PLUS, CIRRUS or UnionPay cards can withdraw NT dollars at its ATMs that show those logos. Under the interbank rules the maximum is NT$20,000 per withdrawal. Your card issuer sets the daily maximum. At the end of 2022, about 97% of ATMs in Taiwan (30,306) were bilingual.
→ Inside Taipei's everyday tips page has sections on ATMs that take foreign cards and on paying by card, phone and cash; Inside Tainan's everyday tips covers the same for Tainan.
Credit cards: the no-surcharge rule
The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC, 金融監督管理委員會) says a merchant (特約商店) may not, without good reason, refuse a card payment, limit the amount, or add a fee. The rule is part of the contract every card-accepting shop signs with its bank. It binds shops that take cards; it does not make any shop take cards.
Transit cards and mobile payment
- EasyCard: as well as transport, it pays for small purchases at designated shops such as convenience stores, supermarkets and restaurants. EasyCard says it has over 55,000 payment points in Taiwan.
- iPASS: pays at stores showing the iPASS logo by tapping the reader at the till. Where the same reader also takes credit cards, tell the staff you are paying by iPASS. It also works on vending machines and lockers.
- Electronic payment: the FSC reports that 81.6% of people aged 20 and over in Taiwan use electronic payment (2024 survey).
→ Getting around explains the transit cards. → Everyday apps covers payment apps.
Bringing cash into Taiwan
Declare these at the red channel when you arrive, on the customs declaration form:
| What you carry | Declare if over | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| NT dollars | NT$100,000 | The excess is sent back even if declared. Undeclared excess is confiscated. |
| Foreign currency (including Hong Kong and Macau currency) | US$10,000 equivalent | Undeclared excess is confiscated. |
| RMB | RMB 20,000 | The excess is sealed at customs until you leave. Undeclared excess is confiscated. |
| Traveller's cheques, cheques and similar | US$10,000 face value | Not declaring brings a fine equal to the undeclared value. |
| Gold | US$20,000 | Needs an import permit and customs clearance. |
Each limit is applied separately.
Questions
Which ATMs take my foreign card?
Taiwan Cooperative Bank says its ATMs showing the PLUS, Cirrus or UnionPay logo take foreign cards on those networks. We haven't confirmed other banks' ATMs. The maximum is NT$20,000 per withdrawal, and your card issuer sets the daily limit.
Can a shop charge me extra for paying by card?
Not without good reason, if it takes cards. Under FSC rules a card-accepting merchant may not refuse your card, limit the amount or add a fee without good reason. A shop that has never signed up to take cards does not have to.
How much cash can I bring into Taiwan?
You can bring more, but you must declare over NT$100,000, over US$10,000 in foreign currency, or over RMB 20,000. NT dollars above NT$100,000 are sent back even if declared, and undeclared excess is confiscated.
→ Opening a bank account and getting a phone · Tuition and living costs · Arrive and live
Sources (14)
Checked November 2026.
Central Bank, New Taiwan Dollar Notes and Coins, Central Bank, release on NT$200 and NT$2,000 notes (2017), Taoyuan City tourism, currency, 外幣收兌處設置及管理辦法, Bank of Taiwan, exchange counters, Taiwan Cooperative Bank, foreign card withdrawals, FSC Banking Bureau, bilingual services (2023), FSC Banking Bureau FAQ, 信用卡業務機構管理辦法 art. 27, FSC, financial inclusion indicators (2026), EasyCard, iPASS, store payment, Taipei Customs, declaring cash (English).