Taiwan launches NT$600 vouchers for Taoyuan layover travelers

A short stop in Taiwan now comes with spending money

Foreign travelers connecting through Taoyuan International Airport can now receive a NT$600 shopping voucher, worth roughly US$19.50, if they enter Taiwan during a layover of no more than 24 hours. The Tourism Administration's Enter Taiwan, Enjoy a Gift campaign began at noon on November 1, 2025, and is scheduled to continue through October 31, 2026, or until its funding is fully distributed.

The benefit comes with a condition that matters for anyone planning a connection: passengers must clear immigration and enter Taiwan. Remaining in the airport's international transfer area is not enough. Travelers must also hold a passport issued by a country other than the Republic of China (Taiwan), have a confirmed onward international flight from Taoyuan, and register online before arrival.

The Tourism Administration wants the voucher to encourage connecting passengers to step beyond the transfer area, try local food and buy from businesses inside the airport. Participating merchants include restaurants, cafes, duty free operators, souvenir shops and other retailers. A short visit could mean noodles and tea, snacks to take home, or a purchase before the next flight.

Taoyuan International Airport Corp recorded 178,698 transit passengers in 2024. Officials hope the incentive will increase spending by that group while giving travelers a taste of Taiwan. The campaign also arrives as major airports compete to attract connecting traffic and keep passengers engaged during the hours between flights.

Who can receive the NT$600 voucher?

The offer is for foreign nationals who enter Taiwan while connecting through Taoyuan on a layover lasting up to 24 hours. Travelers must have proof of an onward international flight leaving the same airport within that window. People who hold a Taiwan passport are excluded.

Eligibility for the campaign and permission to enter Taiwan are both necessary. Depending on nationality and circumstances, entry may be possible under visa exemption rules, with a visa, or with a Travel Authorization Certificate. Passengers should check which entry rules apply before traveling.

Travelers who cannot enter Taiwan cannot collect the voucher, because collection takes place after entry and requires a passport check. The benefit is therefore aimed at passengers who can leave the transfer area, complete the entry process and still return for their departing international flight.

The voucher is intended for purchases, not cash. It is valid only during the eligible layover and at participating businesses inside Taoyuan International Airport. Travelers should check the campaign website for the merchant list and any special conditions before deciding where to spend it.

How registration and collection work

Travelers must register on the campaign website before arrival. The online registration takes only a few minutes. Before flying, passengers should confirm that their connection meets the 24 hour limit and that they have the documents needed both to enter Taiwan and to demonstrate their onward journey.

On arrival at Taoyuan, registered passengers should follow signs for immigration rather than remain on the transfer route. After completing entry formalities, they can collect the voucher from a Tourism Administration Visitor Service Center in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2.

Staff will check registration, the traveler's passport and the onward boarding pass, then issue the NT$600 voucher on the spot. The process is designed to be quick, allowing passengers to make a purchase and return to their departure gate with time to spare. A modest layover may allow a snack, gift or toiletries purchase, provided there is enough time for the required airport procedures.

The Visitor Service Centers have different opening hours:

• Terminal 1: 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• Terminal 2: 5:30 a.m. to midnight.

Arrival time matters alongside layover length. A traveler may meet the campaign's eligibility rules but still need to plan around the collection desk's operating hours. Passengers can ask center staff which participating shops are convenient for their departure gate.

Where the voucher can be spent

The voucher can be used only at participating merchants within Taoyuan International Airport. Eligible categories include restaurants and cafes, duty free shops, souvenir and specialty stores, bookstores, convenience stores and other retail services.

The campaign website carries the full list of participating brands and any special conditions. Travelers can also look for the campaign logo or ask at a shop counter before ordering or buying. Checking first helps avoid reaching the till with a purchase that falls outside the offer.

NT$600 can cover purchases such as a meal at a restaurant, coffee and a pastry, or a box of pineapple cakes to take abroad. Many airport stores accept international credit cards and mobile wallets. The voucher gives passengers a starting amount to spend while leaving them free to choose among participating businesses.

Passengers should confirm the rules for their intended purchase, including whether the voucher can be split across items. Clear information at the till will matter for retailers serving customers who may have only a short time before boarding.

The campaign concentrates its benefits inside the airport. Most nearby businesses outside the airport will not be eligible to accept the voucher. Travelers planning to leave the airport for sightseeing should therefore keep its spending restrictions in mind.

Entering Taiwan adds steps to a connection

Collecting the voucher requires clearing immigration and customs. That changes the journey from a transfer inside the airport's international area into a brief entry to Taiwan, followed by departure formalities before the next flight.

Immigration queues can vary by time of day. After collecting the voucher and making purchases, passengers must pass outbound security and immigration again. Airlines will not delay departure for travelers returning late from shopping or dining.

Boarding gates at Taoyuan usually open 45 to 60 minutes before international departures, sometimes earlier for long haul routes. Travelers should leave a comfortable buffer for security, immigration and the walk to the gate, while checking their airline's boarding information.

A tight connection calls for a limited shopping plan. Claiming the voucher and spending it near the departure gate may be more practical than moving between terminals. Walking between concourses within one terminal is manageable, but changing terminals can take longer.

Luggage also needs attention when leaving the transfer area. Bags must remain secure, and Taoyuan has storage facilities and porter services available for a fee. Passengers should continue checking boarding times and gate changes through their airline or the airport app throughout the stop.

The campaign's dates and the travel checklist

The campaign opened at 12:00 p.m. on November 1, 2025. Its scheduled closing date is October 31, 2026, although distribution will end earlier if the available funding is fully used. Travelers should check the campaign website before relying on the voucher for a future connection.

The main steps follow the order of the journey:

• Before travel: confirm that the Taoyuan layover is no longer than 24 hours and that the onward international flight departs from Taoyuan.
• Before arrival: check entry eligibility under visa exemption rules, a visa or a Travel Authorization Certificate, then register on the campaign website.
• After arrival: clear immigration and entry formalities, then take the passport and onward boarding pass to a Visitor Service Center in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2.
• Before departure: collect the NT$600 voucher, use it at participating airport shops and allow time for outbound formalities and boarding.

The two dates defining the campaign are separate from each passenger's spending window. Even though the program is scheduled to run for a year, an individual voucher is valid only during that traveler's eligible layover.

Free tours offer a longer look at Taiwan

Passengers with more time can also consider Taiwan's free transit tours from Taoyuan. These are available to eligible travelers with layovers of 7 to 24 hours and include guided bus tours and a route travelers follow independently.

The guided tours require passengers to come from a country eligible for visa exemption or to hold a valid Taiwan visa. The independent option is for travelers who enter Taiwan for no more than 24 hours and do not hold a Taiwan passport.

The independent route includes complimentary tickets for the Taoyuan Airport MRT, the rail service linking the airport with destinations beyond it, as well as shop coupons. It offers an option for passengers who want to explore without joining a guided bus group.

Guided tours have limited seats and require advance booking. Registration opens from 5 to 90 days before arrival. Some seats may be available on the day at the Visitor Service Centers if capacity remains, but passengers hoping to take a tour should book ahead, especially during busy travel periods.

Details appear on the official transit tour website, with booking available through the tour registration page. Travelers should allow enough time for the chosen route as well as airport departure procedures.

How the offer compares with other airport rewards

Singapore Changi has long offered a transit reward providing a retail credit to eligible passengers. Airports in Doha, Dubai and Seoul also promote dining and shopping through deals available for limited periods and aimed at connecting travelers.

Taiwan's NT$600 benefit occupies a similar place among airport incentives, giving passengers a reason to spend during a connection. Its requirement to enter Taiwan also encourages eligible travelers to move beyond the transfer area and interact with airport businesses.

Connecting traffic matters to an airport's finances and to airlines based there. More time spent in the public area beyond immigration can bring more spending on food, gifts and essentials. For retailers, purchases by transit passengers can help support sales across different travel seasons.

The Tourism Administration also hopes a brief encounter with Taiwan will encourage a longer visit later. If some travelers return for a holiday, spending could extend beyond the airport to other businesses. For now, the voucher's immediate focus is the purchase made during the connection.

What passengers and airport retailers can expect

Travelers gain a modest amount to put toward food, a souvenir or something needed for the next flight. The most useful purchase will depend on the time available, the location of participating shops and the departure gate.

Retailers will be looking to turn the incentive into purchases made quickly between flights. Simple signs, staff reminders and clear payment rules can help customers choose and pay without unnecessary delays. Information about eligible items and whether vouchers can be split across purchases will be especially useful at busy counters.

The Visitor Service Centers provide a practical starting point for passengers who need help locating participating stores. Travelers planning both shopping and a tour should organize the stop around the time needed to return for their flight, rather than treat the full layover as free time.

The campaign brings together a small spending benefit and the chance to experience Taiwan during a connection. Its value to each passenger depends on meeting the entry rules, collecting it during service hours and leaving enough time to spend it without rushing the journey onward.

At a Glance

• Eligible travelers can receive NT$600, roughly US$19.50, during a Taoyuan International Airport layover of up to 24 hours.
• Passengers must not hold a Taiwan passport, must enter Taiwan and must have an onward international flight departing from Taoyuan.
• Online registration is required before arrival. Collection requires a passport and onward boarding pass.
• Visitor Service Centers open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. in Terminal 1 and from 5:30 a.m. to midnight in Terminal 2.
• Vouchers are for purchases at participating airport merchants and are valid only during the eligible layover.
• The campaign began at noon on November 1, 2025, and runs through October 31, 2026, or until funding is fully distributed.
• Taoyuan International Airport Corp recorded 178,698 transit passengers in 2024.
• Free guided and independent transit tours provide another option for eligible passengers with layovers of 7 to 24 hours.
• Travelers must allow time for entry, outbound immigration, security and boarding.