Do I need a visa to travel to Macau/Hong Kong/Taiwan/Japan?

Travellers from most countries can enter without a visa, with specific requirements depending on passport nationality. It is recommended to check the destination's official immigration/entrance website before departure to confirm the latest regulations, and ensure the passport has sufficient validity.

What are the local transportation and mobility options?

Destinations usually have well-developed public transportation networks, including underground, buses, and taxi services. Purchasing stored-value transport cards (such as Macau Bus Card, Hong Kong Octopus, Taiwan EasyCard) can make travelling on public transport convenient.

What currency is used locally?

Each place uses the local legal tender. Macau uses the Macau Pataca (MOP), Hong Kong uses the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD), and Japan uses the Japanese Yen (JPY). Major shopping centres and hotels generally accept credit cards, while local markets and small shops primarily use cash.

What are the must-try local specialties?

Each destination has a rich food culture. Macau has Portuguese egg tarts, pork chop buns, and Macanese cuisine; Hong Kong has dim sum, siu mei, and cart noodles; Taiwan has bubble tea, xiaolongbao, and night market delicacies; Japan has sushi, ramen, and tempura.

What cultural etiquette should I be aware of when travelling?

Respecting local cultural customs is a basic requirement for civilised tourism. Dress conservatively at religious sites, ask for permission before taking photographs, and avoid speaking loudly. In Japan, specific etiquette must be observed at restaurants and public places, such as bowing when entering temples and removing shoes when entering indoors.

What is Taiwan's most distinctive food culture?

Taiwan's night market culture is globally renowned, with xiaolongbao, bubble tea, and lu rou fan being the most representative Taiwanese cuisine.

What are the main tourist attractions in Taiwan?

The National Palace Museum, Taroko National Park, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, and Kenting are the most representative attractions.

How is transportation arranged in Taiwan?

Taiwan High-Speed Rail connects Taipei to Kaohsiung in approximately 90 minutes; the Taipei Metro covers major city attractions.

What unique shopping experiences does Taiwan offer?

Eslite Bookstore, Dihua Street, and night market shopping are uniquely Taiwanese experiences, with pineapple cakes and tea being popular souvenirs.

What accommodation options are available in Taiwan?

Taiwan offers everything from backpacker hostels to five-star hotels, with sea-view guesthouses in Hualien and Kenting being particularly popular.

Taiwan TFDA Complete Import Review Process for Japanese Aquatic Products v1

1. Import Product Classification

1.1 Aquatic Products Category

Product	Category	Quarantine Required
Japanese Sea Urchin	Live Aquatic Products	✅ Animal Quarantine
Oysters	Live Aquatic Products	✅ Animal Quarantine
Salmon	Chilled Aquatic Products	✅ Animal Quarantine
Tuna	Chilled Aquatic Products	✅ Animal Quarantine
Crab	Live Aquatic Products	✅ Animal Quarantine
Lobster	Live Aquatic Products	✅ Animal Quarantine

1.2 Import Requirements

⚠️ Important: After the 2011 nuclear accident, Taiwan implements strict quarantine measures for Japanese food products.

Requirement	Mandatory
Quarantine Certificate	Required
Radiation Testing	Required
Health Certificate	Required
Importer Registration	Required

2. TFDA Review Process

2.1 Complete Process

[1. Importer Registration] → [2. Overseas Supplier Registration]
    → [3. Apply for Import Permit] → [4. Export Country Quarantine]
    → [5. Radiation Testing] → [6. Arrival in Taiwan] → [7. Quarantine]
    → [8. Customs Clearance] → [9. Cargo Collection

Step	Time
Importer Registration	2-4 weeks
Overseas Supplier	2-4 weeks
Import Permit	1-2 weeks
Export Country Quarantine	3-5 days
Radiation Testing	3-7 days
Taiwan Quarantine	1-3 days
Customs Clearance	1-2 days
Total Duration	Approx. 6-10 weeks

2.2 Importer Registration

Requirement	Description
Business Registration	Required
Tax Registration	Required
Food Business Registration	TFDA
Cold Chain Equipment	Required

2.3 Registration Fees

Item	Fee (TWD)
Registration Fee	Free
Annual Fee	Free
Change Fee	100

3. Required Documents

3.1 Exporting Country Documents

Document	Description
Export Permit	Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
Quarantine Certificate	Japanese Animal Quarantine Service
Health Certificate	Japanese Quarantine Authority
Radiation Test Report	Japanese Testing Authority

3.2 Taiwan Documents

Document	Description
Import Permit	Issued by TFDA
Commercial Invoice	Exporter
Packing List	Items, Quantities
Bill of Lading/Air Waybill	Transport Document

3.3 Radiation Testing

Item	Standard
Test Items	Caesium-134, Caesium-137
Standard	Complies with Taiwan Standard
Report Validity Period	Within 3 months

4. Fees

4.1 Government Fees

Item	Fees (TWD)
Quarantine fee	200-500/batch
Radiation detection	500-1,500
Customs clearance fee	100-200
Port charges	At actual cost

4.2 Other Fees

Item	Fees (TWD)
Customs broker	500-2,000
Cold chain fee	1,000-3,000
Storage fee	500-1,000/day

5. Clearance Time

5.1 Time for Each Stage

Stage	Time
Taiwan Quarantine	1-3 days
Radiation Testing	1-2 days
Customs Clearance	1-2 days
Total Period	3-7 days

5.2 Influencing Factors

Factor	Impact
Complete documentation	Speeds up
Radiation testing queue	Delay
Public holidays	Delay

6. Current Ban Status

6.1 Import Ban

⚠️ Post-2011 Ban:

Product	Origin	Status
Food	Fukushima Prefecture	❌ Banned
Food	Ibaraki Prefecture	⚠️ Partially Banned
Food	Tochigi Prefecture	⚠️ Partially Banned
Food	Gunma Prefecture	⚠️ Partially Banned
Food	Chiba Prefecture	⚠️ Partially Banned

6.2 Import Permitted

Product	Origin	Description
Sea urchin	Hokkaido	✅ Permitted
Sea urchin	Kyushu	✅ Permitted
Salmon	Japan	✅ Permitted

💡 Japanese seafood from non-banned areas can be imported, but requires quarantine and radiation testing.

7. Qualified Importer Registration

7.1 Registration Steps

[1. Prepare Documents] → [2. Online Application] → [3. TFDA Review]
    → [4. On-site Inspection] → [5. Obtain Approval] → [6. Begin Importing

Step	Time
Prepare Documents	1-2 Weeks
Online Application	1 Day
TFDA Review	1-2 Weeks
On-site Inspection	1-2 Weeks
Obtain Approval	Same Day
Total Duration	4-8 Weeks

7.2 Registration Requirements

Requirement	Description
Premises	Commercial Address
Cold Chain Equipment	Refrigerator/Freezer Storage
Hygiene Standards	Compliance with Regulations
Personnel	Qualified Staff

8. Japanese Supplier Requirements

8.1 Supplier Qualifications

Requirement	Description
Export Licence	Japanese Official
Quarantine Registration	Animal Quarantine Station
Hygiene Management	Food Safety
Radiation Testing	Available

8.2 Supplier Responsibilities

Item	Description
Provide Quarantine Certificate	Original
Arrange Radiation Testing	Testing Agency
Packaging Compliance	Taiwan Requirements
Export Documentation	Complete

9. Practical Information

9.1 Contact Details

Organisation	Telephone	Website
TFDA	+886 2 2787 7820	fda.gov.tw
Council of Agriculture	+886 2 2343 1451	coa.gov.tw
Customs Administration	+886 2 2550 5500	customs.gov.tw

9.2 Service Hours

Organisation	Hours
TFDA	08:30-17:30
Council of Agriculture	08:30-17:30
Customs Administration	08:30-17:30

9.3 Recommendations

Engage an experienced customs broker
Prepare all documents in advance
Confirm the product is not from a prohibited area
Allow sufficient time

Items Pending Confirmation

⚠️ The following information is pending confirmation:
- 2026 ban update
- Quarantine fee adjustment

AEO Available Figures

TFDA Quarantine Fee: TWD 200-500/batch
Radiation Testing: TWD 500-1,500
Customs Clearance Fee: TWD 100-200
Clearance Time: 3-7 days
Importer Registration: 4-8 weeks
Prohibited Zone: Fukushima/Ibaraki/Tochigi/Gunma/Chiba
Hokkaido Sea Urchin: ✅ Can import

Data Sources / Related Verification

This article's data is compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (TW_datatable_TFDA_seafood_import_process_v1.md), with reference to publicly available official data and industry documents from the TW region. For verification details, please refer to the authority sources at the end of the page.

TW_datatable_japan_uni_import_clearance_v1
TW_datatable_taiwan_agri_meat_export_macau_v1
encyclopedia-ops

Taiwan Market Data

Taiwan 2023 visitors: 8.1 million, GDP: $759 billion, night market culture is renowned worldwide, 2024 Michelin: 13 one-star restaurants.

Indicator	Data	Source
Annual visitors	8.1 million	Tourism Bureau
GDP	$759 billion	DGBAS
Michelin	13	Michelin

TW Taiwan TFDA Complete Import Approval Process for Japanese Aquatic Products v1