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TAIWAN.TVL
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Taiwan - Consular Information Sheet
September 19, 1994
Country Description: Taiwan is continuing its transition toward democracy
and has a strong and well-developed economy. Tourist facilities are widely
available.
Entry Requirements: A passport is required. Visas are not required for
stays up to five days. Visas valid for stays of up to two weeks can be
obtained at Chiang Kai Shek International Airport upon arrival, provided
that the traveler's passport is valid for at least six months from the date
of arrival, and the traveler is in possession of a return air ticket. Two-
week validity visas may not be extended. Visas for stays of up to two
months are free of charge and must be obtained prior to entry. For specific
visa information, travelers may contact the Coordination Council for North
American Affairs (CCNAA), 4201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20016-2137; Telephone: (202) 895-1800. CCNAA also has additional offices in
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Guam, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Medical Facilities: Health facilities in Taiwan are fully adequate for
routine medical treatment. Doctors and hospitals may expect immediate cash
payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid
outside the United States. Supplemental overseas medical insurance,
including coverage for medical evacuation, has proven useful. The
Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment of medical services
outside the United States. The international travelers hotline at the
Centers for Disease Control (404) 332-4559 has additional useful health
information.
Information on Crime: The overall crime rate on Taiwan is low. Residential
burglaries and thefts are the predominant types of crimes which affect
foreigners on Taiwan, but other more serious street crimes do occasionally
occur. Generally, U.S. citizen visitors to Taiwan should follow the basic
security precautions that they would follow in a large city. Local police
assistance throughout Taiwan is considered to be good. Local police
departments all have foreign affairs sections which are normally staffed by
English-speaking officers. Police contact numbers for the major cities on
Taiwan are as follows: Taipei - (02) 556-6007, Kaohsiung - (07) 221-5796,
Tainan - (06) 222-9704, Taichung - (04) 220-3032. Some foreign businesses
have also been the victims of criminal extortion attempts. The loss or
theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local
police, and to the American Institute in Taiwan, in either the Taipei or the
Kaohsiung office. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting
personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of
State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad". It is available from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
D.C. 20402.
Drug Penalties: Travelers are subject to the laws and legal practices of
the country or area in which they travel. Penalties for possession, use, or
trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect
lengthy jail sentences and/or large fines.
Registration: Americans who register at the American Institute in Taiwan
may obtain updated information on travel and security within Taiwan. The
American Institute in Taiwan does not issue U.S. passports directly;
passport applications are sent to the American Consulate General in Hong
Kong for processing. Processing time for U.S. passports takes three weeks.
If immediate travel is necessary, the American Institute in Taiwan can issue
a travel letter for travel to Hong Kong or the U.S., but not for any other
destination.
Embassy Location: Unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan are
conducted through the American Institute in Taiwan whose offices are
authorized by law to perform American citizen services. For assistance,
U.S. citizen travelers can contact the American Institute in Taiwan at No. 7
Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road Section 3 Taipei, Taiwan; Telephone: (886-2) 709-2000
or the American Institute in Taiwan at no. 2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th
floor, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, telephone: [886-7] 224-0154. In case of
emergencies after working hours, the duty officer at Taipei can be contacted
at (886-2) 709-2013.
No. 94-220
This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated August 24, 1994, to
provide updated information on requirements for entry into Taiwan,
additional information on crime, and the correct address of the American
Institute in Taiwan at Kaohsiung.