Why Taiwan is offering vouchers at Taoyuan Airport
Taiwan will greet transit visitors with spending money at its main gateway. Starting November 1, 2025, foreign travelers who enter Taiwan during a layover of up to 24 hours at Taoyuan International Airport can pick up a NT$600 voucher, roughly US$19.50. The Tourism Administration says the new benefit is designed to nudge passengers to step out of the transfer area, sample local flavors, and support shops inside the airport.
- Why Taiwan is offering vouchers at Taoyuan Airport
- Who qualifies and how to claim
- Where and how the voucher can be used
- How long the campaign runs and how to register
- Clearing immigration during a layover
- Free half day tours add another layover option
- How Taiwan stacks up with other transit rewards
- What travelers and retailers can expect
- At a Glance
The vouchers are available only to people who do not hold a Taiwan passport and who have a confirmed onward international flight. Interested travelers must register on the campaign website before arrival, then present their passport and boarding pass at a Visitor Service Center in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. Staff will verify eligibility and issue the voucher on the spot.
Airport merchants across dining, duty free, souvenir, and retail categories will accept the voucher. The Tourism Administration says a full list of participating brands is posted on the campaign site for quick reference. By easing the first purchase, Taiwan seeks to turn short stops into small discoveries, from noodles and tea to take home snacks, and to channel more sales to businesses based at the airport.
Taoyuan International Airport Corp recorded 178,698 transit passengers in 2024. Officials hope the new perk will lift that group’s spending, and showcase Taiwan at a time when many hubs compete to attract and keep connecting traffic. The campaign is titled Enter Taiwan, Enjoy a Gift and is scheduled to run through October 31, 2026.
Who qualifies and how to claim
Eligibility is straightforward. You must be a foreign national who enters Taiwan during a layover that lasts no longer than 24 hours at Taoyuan International Airport. You must hold a passport issued by a country other than the Republic of China (Taiwan). You also need proof of a connecting international flight departing from Taoyuan within that 24 hour window.
Before you fly, complete a short sign up on the campaign website. On arrival, follow signs for immigration rather than the transfer desk. After you clear entry formalities, bring your passport and onward boarding pass to a Tourism Administration Visitor Service Center. Centers operate in both terminals, with service hours of 7:00 to 23:30 in Terminal 1 and 5:30 to 24:00 in Terminal 2.
Staff will check your registration and documents and then issue the NT$600 voucher. The process is designed to be quick, so most passengers can return to their gates with time to spare. Even a modest layover can be enough to claim the voucher and use it for a snack, a gift, or toiletries before boarding your next flight.
Where and how the voucher can be used
The voucher can be used only inside Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at participating merchants. Categories include restaurants and cafes, duty free operators, souvenir and specialty stores, bookstores, convenience stores, and other retail services. The campaign website lists eligible shops and any special conditions. Check the logo or ask at the counter if you are unsure.
Plan your time. Boarding gates at Taoyuan usually open 45 to 60 minutes before departure for international flights, sometimes earlier for long haul routes. Leave a comfortable buffer to pass security and reach your gate. If your layover is very tight, it may be smarter to claim and spend the voucher near your departure gate rather than roaming between terminals.
The voucher is intended for purchases, not for cash. It is valid only during the eligible layover and only at participating merchants. The program is designed for international transit passengers with an onward international flight departing from Taoyuan.
How long the campaign runs and how to register
The Tourism Administration says the voucher campaign starts at 12:00 p.m. on November 1, 2025 and runs through October 31, 2026, or until funding is fully distributed. Registration is online and takes only a few minutes.
- Confirm that your layover at Taoyuan is 24 hours or less
- Check that you are eligible to enter Taiwan under visa free rules, a visa, or a Travel Authorization Certificate
- Register on the campaign website before you fly
- On arrival, clear immigration instead of staying in the transfer area
- Visit a Visitor Service Center in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 with your passport and onward boarding pass
- Receive the NT$600 voucher and spend it at participating shops before departure
Clearing immigration during a layover
To claim the voucher, travelers must enter Taiwan, which means clearing immigration and customs. This is different from remaining airside in the transfer area. Many nationalities can enter visa free for short stays. Others may need a visa or a Travel Authorization Certificate. Always check entry rules for your nationality before you travel.
Give yourself ample time. Immigration queues can vary by time of day. After collecting the voucher and making any purchases, you must pass outbound security and immigration again to board your next flight. Airlines will not delay departure for passengers who arrive late from shopping or dining.
Passengers who are not eligible to enter Taiwan cannot claim the voucher, since pickup requires a passport check after entry. Travelers who hold a Taiwan passport are excluded from the campaign. The offer applies to international passengers who connect through Taoyuan and who meet the time and document requirements set by the Tourism Administration.
Free half day tours add another layover option
Taiwan also runs free transit tours from Taoyuan that let eligible passengers see nearby sights during layovers of 7 to 24 hours. Options include guided bus tours and a self guided route. Guided tours require that you come from a visa exempt country or hold a valid Taiwan visa. The self guided route fits travelers who enter Taiwan for no more than 24 hours and who do not hold a Taiwan passport.
The self guided option includes complimentary tickets for the Taoyuan Airport MRT and coupons for shops. Guided tours require advance booking because each tour has a limited seat count. Registration for guided tours opens from 5 to 90 days before arrival, and some same day seats may be available at the Visitor Service Centers if capacity remains. Details and registration appear on the official tourism website at halfdaytour.taiwan.net.tw and the registration page at halfdaytour.taiwan.net.tw/Register.
How Taiwan stacks up with other transit rewards
Major hubs compete for connecting travelers with speed, comfort, and small perks. Singapore Changi has long offered a transit reward that provides a retail credit to eligible passengers. Airports in Doha, Dubai, and Seoul promote extensive dining and shopping with time limited deals aimed at transit customers. Taiwan’s NT$600 voucher, about US$19.50, sits in the same space, giving travelers a reason to enter the country and interact with airport brands.
Transit traffic matters to a hub’s bottom line and to airlines based there. More time spent landside often means more spending on food, gifts, and essentials. That spending supports retailers and can help smooth revenue across travel seasons. If a small subset of transit guests decides to return for a longer visit, the benefit extends beyond the airport.
What travelers and retailers can expect
For travelers, NT$600 can cover a sit down meal, a coffee and a pastry, or a box of pineapple cakes to take abroad. Many shops accept international credit cards and mobile wallets, and staff at the Visitor Service Centers can point travelers to participating stores near their gates. The airport layout is compact enough to walk between concourses inside a terminal, though moving between terminals can take longer.
Retailers inside the airport will look for quick conversions, so simple signage and staff prompts will matter. Clear rules at the till, such as whether vouchers can be split across items, help speed transactions. The campaign aims to concentrate benefits inside the airport footprint, which means most nearby off site businesses will not be eligible to accept the voucher.
Travelers should plan for practicalities. Luggage must stay secure when you leave the transfer area. Storage facilities and porter services operate at Taoyuan for a fee. Keep an eye on boarding time and gate changes through your airline or the airport app. If you hope to join a free tour, arrive early and book in advance during peak travel periods.
At a Glance
- Voucher value is NT$600, about US$19.50, for eligible layover travelers at Taoyuan International Airport
- Offer applies to people who do not hold a Taiwan passport and who enter Taiwan during a layover of up to 24 hours
- Registration is online, then claim the voucher at Visitor Service Centers in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 with passport and onward boarding pass
- Service Center hours: Terminal 1 from 7:00 to 23:30, Terminal 2 from 5:30 to 24:00
- Vouchers can be used at participating airport merchants across dining, duty free, souvenir, and retail categories
- Campaign runs from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026, or until funds are fully distributed
- Entry to Taiwan is required, so travelers must be eligible under visa free rules, a visa, or a Travel Authorization Certificate
- Taoyuan International Airport Corp counted 178,698 transit passengers in 2024, a key target group for the spending boost
- Free half day transit tours, guided and self guided, are available to eligible passengers and can be booked at the official tourism site
