{Guide} How to travel from Singapore to Taiwan during COVID-19 | 2020
Yes...... this is a guide.... going to be fun to remember how traveling will be done during this interesting period and also help similar folks who struggle to find relevant information.
Reminder: Only for essential or business-related travels only (Info valid as of September 2020)
Step 1: Research into travel restrictions and complete company required assessments
Most of the MNCs will have their own processes, it is important for compliance to make sure that this is completed before any booking. E.g. getting line manager approval before booking air tickets.
For my company, a Travel Risk Assessment (TRA) is required to be completed and approved by both your Line Manager and the Regional Manager.
Even if there isn't any formal questionnaire or checklist, it is important to at least think about the following points:
- Travel dates
- COVID-19 situation (e.g. In Taiwan, it is not as bad as other countries and they do accept essential or business-related travelers. Please check with relevant colleagues or official websites for this kind of information. For Taiwan: https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En ) In particular, some countries have different risk classifications which allow you to go for a shortening of the quarantine period (Usually 14 days).
In particular, Singapore is classified as medium risk countries by Taiwan, as a result, Singaporeans traveling from Singapore qualify for shortening of the quarantine period to 7 days.
https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Category/Page/QRHGhEDI4_a4wbknqJ8KXw
More on that later.
Step 2: Book Air Tickets
This is important as the flight itinerary is required for various document submission. Please also check on possible dates and give yourself at least 2 weeks' notice as you will need to run through a lot of processes which I will share more below.
Usually check with your company's travel agent who will assist with the booking. Some flights allow for changes (free) during this period (e.g. Singapore Airlines) but there might still be change fees related to your travel agent.
Step 3: Get the invitation letter
Depending on the nature of your business trip, which is most likely related to contract obligations, training, technical assistance, witnessing of products/services, etc.. Please get an invitation letter from your host company (This can be the Customer or your local office), outlining the period and also why they needed you in Taiwan.
- Name, Passport Number, Dates of visit, Nature of visit, local contact details of hosts
This will need to be used later in the Visa application, so please make sure that the letter is stamped and the scanned copy is provided to you.
Step 4: Arrange for the hotel booking
Depending on your budget, you can check out the following list of hotels.
https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=A0EDC3930FBE7EFC&sms=5B794C46F3CDE718&s=6CBBBD4737D9391D
Most of them have an updated list in excel on the availability of the rooms as well as estimated room rates. Please contact them directly and get a quote for your stay. if you are like me, applying for the shortened quarantine period, then it is ok to book for less than 14 days, but if you don't have an apartment, please then just book for the required period with the hotel. This will include 3 meals.
Once you get the confirmation booking info, please save a copy as later you will need it.
Step 5: Visa Application
For all travelers, you will need a special COVID-19 visa to enter Taiwan. For that, you can go to their website https://www.roc-taiwan.org/sg_en/index.html for the Taipei Representative Office in Singapore which is located at PSA Building.
Please note that they only do applications in the morning as the afternoon is specially allocated for document collection.
You will need to fill in the visa application online at https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw/BOCA_EVISA/
then print that out and go to the Taipei Representative Office. (Note: Need to go to TRO within 30 days if not you need to complete the online form again)
Please note that if you are applying for the shortening of the quarantine period, you will need to submit additional documentation and make it known to the Rep Office that you plan to shorten as they will need to indicate to the MOFA.
Additional documentation required are found here
https://www.cdc.gov.tw/File/Get/t_G8F7eV8OdE8HHRP-gS6g
Which includes Annex 2,3,4,5 (though 4 and 5 are optional) as Annex 4 is auto-generated later within 48 hours from departure using the health declaration form.
The most important one is the travel itinerary which needs to be stamped by the local host company, so please fill that up.
Things that you will need:
Call them and let them know and most likely you will need to email them the following:
1) Approval for the pre-departure test from MTI from the link https://go.gov.sg/mti-pdt
2) Scanned Copy of Passport and IC
3) Flight details
Time Taken: The FAQ states the test will be available 48 hours, but please check with the clinic. I did mine at 2pm on Sunday and was informed around late afternoon on Monday that the test is ready for collection. They will also email you but I prefer to collect the original copy.
Step 7: At the Airport, Health declaration form
At the airport, you will need to provide all the relevant information to the travel counter staff for them to approve the tickets.
Also, they will let you know that you will need to fill up the details here http://hdhq.mohw.gov.tw/
For me, I filled up the day before as this can be done within 48 hours of your flight.
Conclusions:
Not the most convenient way to travel so please wait till borders reopen if you can. If not, ask me if there are any questions on the steps above and I will try to help.
More on the shortening quarantine process in the next post!
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