Taiwan
Last update 07 April 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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Taiwan
Bulgaria adheres to the principle of "One China", regards Taiwan as a part of China and does not maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei. The information provided below and all references to Taiwan and the Taiwan authorities should be considered in this context.
With regard to consular issues, Bulgarian citizens visiting Taiwan or residing there for a longer period can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Beijing, China or the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Shanghai, China.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Beijing, People's Republic of China
Address: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 4, Beijing – 10060, China
Telephone: +86 10 6532 1946; +86 10 6532 1916
Fax: +86 10 6532 4502
Consular service
Administrative service of Bulgarian citizens: Mon to Fri, 10.00 - 12.00 h
To submit documents for a visa or receive a visa: Tue and Thu, 10.00 - 12.00 h
Information service to citizens on visa matters: 14.00 - 16.00 h
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/china
Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Address: 7K, Hongqiao Business Center, № 2272, Hongqiao Road, Shanghai, 200336, China
Telephone: +8621 62376183; +8621 62376185
Fax: +8621 62376189
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.mfa.bg/embassies/chinagc
The Taiwanese Representative Office in Athens, Greece services Bulgaria.
Taipei Representative Office in Greece
Address: 57, Marathonodromon Ave, 154 52 Paleo Psychico, Athens, Greece
Phone: +30 210 677 6750
Fax: +30 210 677 6708
Office Hours: 10:00-12:30
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.roc-taiwan.org/GR
General information
general information
Local currency
New Taiwan dollar (NT$)
Crime and safety
The level of criminality is relatively low. Particularly in the large cities, one should be on guard against pickpockets and bag theft. Misuse of credit cards is also possible. For this reason, it is recommended to use credit cards only in reputable hotels and trade centers.
In the past, Taiwan was repeatedly shaken by severe earthquakes, which took away human lives. One should bear in mind the existing danger of new earthquakes.
From May until October, the country is hit by typhoons. Before each journey to Taiwan, it is important to obtain information about the up-to-date meteorological situation.
Customs requirements
It is allowed to bring in local currency not exceeding 60 thousand New Taiwan dollars and foreign currency not exceeding 10 thousands US dollars. You can bring in duty-free gold not exceeding the value of 20 thousands US dollars. It is advisable to have on you euros or US dollars, traveler’s checks and credit cards. Also duty-free, you can bring in up to 1 liter alcohol, 200 pieces of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 250 g tobacco.
It is forbidden to import food products, communist propagandistic literature, weapons, munitions and pornographic magazines. Drug trafficking and trading drugs are punishable by death.
It is allowed to take out local currency not exceeding 60 thousand New Taiwan dollars, foreign currency not exceeding 10 thousands US dollars and gold not exceeding the value of 20 thousands US dollars. It is forbidden to export large quantities of food products, compact disks, cassettes and video cassettes, weapons, munitions, drugs and protected animals.
Specifics of legislation
The Bulgarian citizens, while travelling in Taiwan, are subject to Taiwan law. Penalties for possession or use of, or trafficking in, illegal drugs in Taiwan are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Taiwan law also provides for the death penalty for certain violent crimes and drug offenses. Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography is a crime.
Traffic
Taiwan has a well-developed network of road, railroad and air transport. Taipei has its own underground and high speed trains. When traveling on the train, you need to reserve your tickets three days in advance. The motorways are in a very good condition.
Healthcare
Since February 2012, isolated cases of Avian Influenza (H5N2) have been established. It is necessary to observe the following recommendations: avoid contacts with live birds in each area with bird flu occurrences and the places with poultry farms or poultry slaughterhouses. Avoid eating poultry meat and eggs, except when boiled very hard.
When running high temperature after a contact with animals from the regions with infection, you should immediately seek medical help.
The infection may be spread also by means of clothing, shoes and vehicles.
The recommended vaccine against bird flu does not prevent directly the disease. However, it decreases the danger of getting infected with new flu viruses.
The medical service corresponds to the European standards. The medical doctors, specialists in different diseases, usually speak English as well. Most pharmacies in Taiwan are open until late at night and offer large quantities of internationally familiar medicines.
Upon arrival at the international airports, it is possible to be subject to measurement of the bodily temperature as preventive measure against H1N1/2-, SARS, respectively bird flu. If you are found to run high temperature, it is possible to be denied access to the territory of the country.
Climate
The climate in Taiwan is typically very humid – up to 98% and the temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius. The hottest months are from May until October, when temperatures exceed thirty degrees. Winter is humid, with temperatures reaching below 10 degrees. Typhoons are frequent phenomenon during the summer period.
Travel papers and visas
Bulgarian nationals can travel to Taiwan without visa up to 90 days as tourists with passport having a term of validity at least six months from the date of traveling.
There are no special vaccine requirements for entering the country, except in the event of going to regions with infections – in this case, a vaccine against yellow fever is required, which in the remaining cases in not necessary.
Competitive service
Certifications and legalisations
In order to be recognized by Bulgarian institutions, Taiwanese official documents should bear the stamp of the ”Ministry of Foreign Affairs” in Taipei. These documents can be further legalized in one of the following ways:
- by the Taipei Representative Office in Athens, Greece. The stamp of the Taipei Representative Office in Athens shall be further legalized by the Embassy of Bulgaria in Greece;
- by the Hungarian Trade Office in Taipei under an agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary. The legalization of the Hungarian Trade Office should be further legalized by the “Legalizations and Certifications” Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The documents legalized in one of the abovementioned ways should then be translated into Bulgarian language by a certified translator in accordance with the current regulations of the Rules on the legalization, certifications and translations of documents and other papers in Bulgaria.
In order to be recognized in Taiwan, Bulgarian official documents should be legalized by the The Representative Office certifies documents with a Bulgarian apostille directly. That office also legalizes documents with the signature and the stamp of the Bulgarian Embassy in Greece, without preliminary certification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece.
The Embassy of Republic of Bulgaria in Beijing and the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Shanghai, China, are authorized to issue a Bulgarian birth certificate and a death certificate for the birth or death of a Bulgaria citizen on the territory of Taiwan upon presentation of the Taiwanese relevant document certifying the event.