Taiwan
Last update 03 August 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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We call on Bulgarian citizens to refrain from travelling!
Bulgaria adheres to the ‘One China’ principle, considers Taiwan as part of China and does not maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei. The information published below, as well as all references to Taiwan and the Taiwanese authorities, should be seen in this context.
Bulgarian citizens residing in Taiwan on a short or long-term basis may address consular matters to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Beijing, China and to the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Shanghai, China.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in 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 Office
Administrative services for Bulgarian citizens: every working day, 10:00 – 12:00
Receipt of documents for visas and obtaining visas: Tue and Thu, 10:00 – 12:00
Information service for citizens on visa matters: 14:00 – 16:00
Saturday and Sunday and as well as public holidays are non-working days, during which no administrative services are provided to citizens, except in humanitarian cases.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/china
Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Shanghai, China
Address: 7K, Hongqiao Business Center, № 2272, Hongqiao Road, Shanghai, 200336, China
Telephone: +8621 62376183; +8621 62376185
Fax: +8621 62376189
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/chinagc
Bulgaria is serviced by the Taiwan Representative Office in Athens, Greece.
Taiwan Representative Office in Athens, Greece
Address: 57, Marathonodromon Ave., 154 52 Paleo Psychico, Athens, Greece
Telephone: +30 210 677 6750
Fax: +30 210 677 6708
Working hours: 10:00 – 12:30
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.roc-taiwan.org/GR
General information
Security level:
The level of crime in Taiwan is relatively low. In large cities, attention should be paid to the danger of petty pickpocketing and purse snatching. There may also be cases of credit card misuse. It is therefore recommended that credit cards are only used in reputable hotels and shopping centres.
Healthcare:
Medical services meet the European standards. Doctors who specialise in different diseases usually also speak English. Most pharmacies in Taiwan are open late into the night and offer a large amount of internationally known medications.
Upon arrival at the country's international airports, it is possible to measure body temperature as a preventive measure in the fight against H1N1/2-, SARS and avian influenza, respectively. If you are found to have a high body temperature, you may be refused entry to the country.
Since February 2012, isolated cases of avian influenza (H5N2) have been detected in Taiwan. It is necessary to observe the following recommendations: in any area where avian influenza has been detected, avoid contact with live birds and places where there are poultry farms or poultry slaughterhouses. Avoid the use of poultry meat and eggs unless very hard boiled. Strict hygiene should be observed in food preparation.
If a high fever is detected after contact with animals from areas of infection, immediately seek medical attention.
The infection can also be transmitted through clothing, footwear and vehicles.
Recommended vaccines and personal hygiene advice:
The recommended bird flu vaccine does not directly protect against the disease. It does, however, reduce the danger of contracting new flu viruses.
Specifics of the local legislation:
Bulgarian citizens travelling to Taiwan are subject to Taiwanese law.
The possession, use or trafficking of narcotics in Taiwan is severely punished. Long prison sentences and heavy fines are imposed. Taiwanese law also provides for the death penalty for certain criminal and drug-related offences.
Sexual abuse of children and the use or distribution of child pornography are considered criminal offences.
Customs requirements:
The import of local currency up to TWD 60 thousand and foreign currency up to USD 10 thousand is allowed. Up to USD 20 thousand worth of gold can be imported duty-free. It is advisable to bring euros or US dollars, travellers cheques and credit cards. You can also import up to 1 litre of liquor, 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco duty-free.
The import of foodstuffs, communist propaganda literature, weapons, ammunition, and pornographic magazines is prohibited.
The import and trafficking of drugs is punishable by death.
The export of local currency up to TWD 60 thousand, foreign currency up to USD 10 thousand, gold up to USD 20 thousand is allowed. The export of large quantities of foodstuffs, compact discs, cassettes and videotapes, weapons, ammunition, drugs and wildlife is prohibited.
Road traffic:
Taiwan has a well-developed road, rail and air transport network. In Taipei there are subways and high-speed trains. When travelling by train, a reservation is required three days in advance. Highways are in very good condition.
Practical advice:
Maintaining good hygiene is recommended, with frequent hand washing; as well as thorough washing of raw fruits and vegetables. Do not drink tap water.
When travelling with children, they are required to be provided with separate passports.
Local currency:
The local currency in Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$, TWD).
Climatic characteristics:
Existing earthquake hazards should be considered.
The country is hit by typhoons from May to October. Before any trip to Taiwan, it is important to check the current weather conditions.
The climate in Taiwan is characterized by high humidity — up to 98% and temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius. It is hottest from May to October, when temperatures exceed thirty degrees. Winter is wet, with temperatures reaching below 10 degrees Celsius. Typhoons are common during the summer period.
Travel papers and visas
Bulgarian citizens can travel to Taiwan visa-free for up to 90 days as tourists with a passport valid for at least six months from the date of travel.
There are no special vaccine requirements for entry into the country, except for imminent travel to areas where there are widespread infections — in this case a yellow fever vaccine is required, which is otherwise not necessary.
Competitive service
European Emergency Travel Document
In extreme situations — in case of damage, loss or theft of a passport, Bulgarian citizens can apply for an Emergency Travel Document at a Mission of an EU Member State in Taipei.
Certifications and legalizations
In order to be valid in the Republic of Bulgaria and to be able to serve before the Bulgarian institutions, Taiwanese official documents should have the stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei. These documents can then be certified in one of two ways:
- by the Taipei Representative Office in Athens, Greece. The certification of the Taipei Representative Office is certified by the Consular Office of the Bulgarian embassy in the Greek capital;
- by the Hungarian Trade Office in Taipei under a contract concluded between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary. The certification of the Hungarian Trade Office shall be certified by the Certifications and Legalizations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The documents certified in one of the two ways described above should be translated into Bulgarian and the translation should be certified in accordance with the current provisions of the Regulations on Legalization, Certification and Translation of Documents and Other Papers.
For Bulgarian official documents to be valid in Taiwan, they must be certified by the Taipei Representative Office in Athens. This representation certifies documents with the Bulgarian Apostille without prior certification by the Bulgarian Embassy, as well as documents with the signature and seal of the Bulgarian Embassy in Greece without requiring prior certification by the Greek Foreign Ministry.
The Embassy of Bulgaria in Beijing and the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Shanghai, PRC, may draw up a Bulgarian birth certificate and a death certificate for an event occurring on the territory of Taiwan, with Bulgarian citizens as subjects, upon presentation of an appropriate document certifying the occurrence of a civil event on the territory of Taiwan (e.g. birth announcement, death announcement).
These rules do not apply to a marriage concluded in the territory of Taiwan between two Bulgarian citizens or a Bulgarian citizen and a foreign citizen, since a Bulgarian civil marriage certificate may be drawn up only after a marriage procedure carried out in a diplomatic or consular representation of the Republic of Bulgaria and in compliance with the rules of the Code of Private International Law, including with regard to the recognition of a marriage concluded abroad.
Once the documents have been so prepared, they must be translated into Bulgarian by an authorized company in Bulgaria and certified by the Department of Certifications and Legalizations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.