Taiwan Tourist SIM Card: Prices, Operators & Registration

Taiwan’s main tourist SIM choices come from Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone. Local cards usually combine short-term unlimited domestic data with a Taiwanese mobile number and some voice credit.

The buying process deserves as much attention as the headline price. Taiwan requires subscriber identification, operator sales channels differ, and some 5G tourist plans place a separate limit on hotspot sharing.

Taiwan Tourist SIM Card Prices

Prices and terms checked September 3, 2026. They can change. Taiwan Mobile’s NT$450 7-day figure is a promotional prepaid-card price running through December 31, 2026; its published original listed price for that version is NT$550. reservation can show an additional temporary discount, so reservation pricing is not used as the normal comparison benchmark.

Local operator pages publish card or promotional prices, but they do not all provide a separate breakdown proving that SIM, activation and service fees are always zero at every sales point. The amounts above therefore represent the advertised offer price rather than an assumed guaranteed all-in counter total.

Can Tourists Buy a SIM Card in Taiwan?

Yes. Taiwan’s major operators sell short-validity prepaid products intended specifically for visitors, so the plans compared here do not depend on a residential mobile contract.

Subscriber registration is mandatory before a Taiwanese number can be assigned. Current NCC rules require telecom companies to verify foreign subscribers using original identification documents. Foreign nationals normally need a passport or valid Alien Resident Certificate plus another original identity document sufficient to establish identity.

The current legal framework is available in the NCC subscriber-number registration regulations.

That second-document requirement is easy to overlook. Arriving with a passport may not be enough, depending on the operator and the documents you hold.

Chunghwa gives visitors a relatively broad list of possible secondary documents. Its tourist-card information includes documents such as an entry permit, visa, residence document or international student card, and it also describes circumstances where qualifying government-issued photo ID from the visitor’s home country can be used.

Taiwan Mobile publishes its own list. Foreign visitors can use a foreign passport as the primary document, while accepted secondary identification can include a valid ARC, Taiwan-issued driver’s license, National Health Insurance card, visa or entry/exit permit.

Chunghwa Telecom Tourist SIM

Chunghwa Telecom has of the widest published ranges of short-validity tourist cards in Taiwan.

Its current 4G day-pass lineup includes:

• 3 days: NT$300 with unlimited domestic data and NT$100 voice credit

• 5 days: NT$300 with unlimited domestic data and NT$50 voice credit

• 7 days: NT$500 with unlimited domestic data and NT$150 voice credit

• 10 days: NT$500 with unlimited domestic data and NT$100 voice credit

• 15 days: NT$700 with unlimited domestic data and NT$100 voice credit

• 30 days: NT$1,000 with unlimited domestic data and NT$430 voice credit

Some validities also have higher-priced versions with more included voice credit, so two products with the same number of days are not always identical.

The 7-day NT$500 card is a sensible benchmark for a typical-week visit. Longer stays can move directly to the 15- or 30-day tourist products without using a resident subscription.

Current options are listed on the official Chunghwa Telecom tourist prepaid card page.

Hotspot rules on Chunghwa 5G tourist cards

Chunghwa’s 5G tourist cards need a closer look if tethering matters.

Current 3-, 5- and 7-day 5G cards include unlimited domestic data on the phone, but their published hotspot-sharing allowances are 3GB, 5GB and 7GB respectively.

Heavy laptop use can therefore make a 4G tourist card or a fixed-data eSIM more practical than choosing 5G solely because the handset allowance says unlimited.

Buying Chunghwa

Chunghwa says tourist prepaid cards can be handled through its local business counters and designated service centers.

Bringing both original identification documents is important. Visitors under 18 face additional application requirements involving a legal representative, so younger users should verify the procedure before visiting a counter.

Taiwan Mobile Tourist SIM

Taiwan Mobile sells tourist prepaid service as both physical SIM and eSIM. Its current tourist setup combines unlimited domestic data with included communication credit on voice-capable plans.

The company’s July 2026 tariff notice clearly separates temporary promotional pricing from the original listed price. That distinction matters because the promotional amount should not be presented as Taiwan Mobile’s permanent normal tariff.

Current examples include:

• 3-day 4G: NT$300 promotional price; NT$400 original listed price

• 5-day 4G: NT$300 promotional price; NT$400 original listed price

• 7-day 4G: NT$450 promotional price; NT$550 original listed price

• 10-day 4G: NT$500 promotional price; NT$700 original listed price

Those promotional tariffs are officially scheduled through December 31, 2026. Other variants at the same validity can cost more when they include additional communication credit.

Taiwan Mobile’s reservation system can show still lower pickup prices. A 7-day card, for example, may appear below the published NT$450 promotional tariff when reserved. That extra reservation discount is temporary and should be checked at the time of booking rather than treated as the standard card price.

Current tourist application channels and requirements are published on the Taiwan Mobile Tourist SIM Card page.

Where Taiwan Mobile can be purchased

Taiwan Mobile currently gives tourists three clear application routes:

• airport counter

• online reservation with pickup

• Taiwan Mobile physical store

Store pickup can be useful when you prefer to skip the airport counter without giving up staff-assisted registration.

Payment methods published for foreign tourist applications include New Taiwan dollars, credit cards, China UnionPay and Alipay.

Taiwan Mobile ID requirements

Foreign visitors need original documents.

Taiwan Mobile lists a foreign passport as a primary document for most international travelers, with a qualifying secondary document such as a valid ARC, Taiwan-issued driver’s license, NHI card, visa or entry/exit permit.

The tourist card’s validity is tied to the purchased period and cannot be extended. Taiwan Mobile calculates validity in 24-hour periods from activation.

Far EasTone Tourist SIM

Far EasTone also sells short-term 4G tourist cards with unlimited domestic data and included voice/SMS credit.

Its published tourist lineup currently includes:

• 3 days: NT$300 with NT$100 voice/SMS credit

• 5 days: NT$300 with NT$50 credit

• 5 days: NT$500 with NT$300 credit

• 7 days: NT$450 with NT$100 credit

• 8 days: NT$450 with NT$50 credit

• 10 days: NT$500 with NT$100 credit

• 15 days: NT$700 with NT$100 credit

• 30 days: NT$1,000 with NT$430 credit

Seven days at NT$450 makes Far EasTone slightly cheaper on headline price than Chunghwa’s NT$500 7-day benchmark, although a NT$50 difference should not outweigh registration convenience or purchase location.

The current official tourist product is described as Taoyuan Airport store. Earlier wording that suggested nationwide direct-store availability should not be used for this specific tourist offer.

Check the current plan range on the official Far EasTone Tourist Prepaid Card page.

Buying Far EasTone

Far EasTone lists tourist-card sales at its Taoyuan Airport stores.

That limitation makes the operator less flexible if you leave the airport without purchasing. Visitors planning to buy later in Taipei or another city should not assume the same tourist package will be available from an ordinary Far EasTone store.

The published tourist card is usable in Taiwan. Regional roaming should not be inferred from its domestic unlimited-data allowance.

Where to Buy a Taiwan Tourist SIM

Purchase options vary more than the plan prices suggest.

Chunghwa Telecom

• business counters

• designated service centers

• tourist-oriented airport or destination counters where offered

Taiwan Mobile

• airport counters

• physical Taiwan Mobile stores

• online reservation with store pickup

Far EasTone

• Taoyuan Airport stores for the official tourist offer covered in this guide

Airport buying works well when you want registration completed soon after landing. City-store availability is more flexible with Chunghwa and Taiwan Mobile, while Far EasTone’s published tourist offer currently has the clearest airport-only restriction.

Stock and operating hours can change. This national guide therefore does not turn airport counter schedule into a countrywide availability claim.

Broader connectivity choices, including roaming and WiFi, are covered in internet options in Taiwan.

Taiwan SIM Registration, Activation and Payment

Two-document verification is the most important preparation step.

Bring:

• your original passport

• a second original identity document accepted by the operator

• an unlocked phone

• a payment method supported by the chosen sales point

Passport rules should be checked before arrival rather than while standing at the counter. Operator-specific lists are not identical, even though all providers must comply with Taiwan’s subscriber-registration framework.

Activation follows registration of the prepaid number. Exact processing time should not be assumed across all stores or airports because the operators do not promise universal activation time for every tourist purchase.

Payment also varies by operator. Taiwan Mobile explicitly lists cash in New Taiwan dollars, credit cards, UnionPay and Alipay for tourist applications. Comparable payment detail is not consistently published across every tourist sales channel, so Taiwan Mobile’s payment policy should not be generalized to Chunghwa or Far EasTone.

Local SIM vs Roafly eSIM

Local prepaid service has a strong case when you need a Taiwanese number, included voice credit or unlimited domestic phone data.

Roafly serves a different type of trip. Taiwan packages are data-only and can be set up before travel, so there is no physical SIM swap and no dependency on finding a local tourist-SIM counter after arrival. Your primary SIM can remain installed, while hotspot is supported across the purchased Roafly data allowance without a separate hotspot quota.

Roafly lists Chunghwa and Taiwan Mobile as local networks for its Taiwan service. That listing does not imply guaranteed 5G, automatic network switching, fastest speeds or guaranteed coverage.

Taiwan eSIM plans may suit trips where mobile data matters more than having a Taiwanese phone number.

Visitors comparing travel-eSIM choices rather than local prepaid operators can use eSIM options for Taiwan.

Hotspot Use: Check More Than “Unlimited”

Unlimited handset data and unlimited tethering are not the same thing.

Taiwan’s local 5G tourist products can apply a separate hotspot allowance even when ordinary phone usage remains unlimited. Chunghwa, for example, publishes 3GB of hotspot sharing on its 3-day 5G card, 5GB on its 5-day card and 7GB on its 7-day card.

Taiwan Mobile also publishes hotspot-specific allowances on current 5G tourist products. Its July 2026 tariff information shows 6GB for 3 days, 10GB for 5 days and 14GB for 7 days on the data-only promotional 5G versions.

Someone using a phone mainly for maps, messaging and browsing may barely notice that distinction. Remote work, laptop tethering or sharing data with several devices makes it much more important.

Roafly’s owner-verified Taiwan terms are simpler on this point: hotspot uses the purchased data allowance, with no separate hotspot quota.

Which Taiwan Tourist SIM Fits Your Trip?

3 to 5 days

Short local tourist cards are easy to match to this trip length.

Chunghwa, Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone all publish options starting around NT$300 in their current 4G tourist ranges. A local SIM is particularly appealing when unlimited domestic phone data and a Taiwanese number are useful.

Airport purchase also makes sense on a short stay because spending part of the trip searching for a SIM later can cancel out a small price saving.

Around week

Seven-day plans expose the clearest price difference.

Chunghwa lists NT$500 for its 7-day 4G tourist card. Taiwan Mobile’s current promotional tariff is NT$450, while Far EasTone also advertises NT$450 at Taoyuan Airport.

The difference is NT$50 between those examples. Buying convenience, accepted identification and hotspot needs can matter more than the headline price.

10 to 15 days

Local prepaid cards remain attractive when unlimited domestic data is the priority.

Chunghwa has 10- and 15-day options, Taiwan Mobile publishes several short-validity variants, and Far EasTone offers both 10- and 15-day tourist cards through its airport product.

Roafly becomes easier to compare when you already know your likely data use and prefer a fixed allowance rather than unlimited handset data.

Around 30 days

Chunghwa and Far EasTone both advertise 30-day 4G tourist products at NT$1,000.

Taiwan Mobile also publishes 30-day tourist variants, but promotional and original listed prices differ by version and included credit. Checking the exact card offered at purchase is safer than assuming every 30-day variant is identical.

A local SIM can be the stronger value for sustained heavy phone data use. Roafly can still be more practical when the priority is pre-travel setup, keeping the primary SIM in place and avoiding local registration.

Laptop-heavy travel

Hotspot policy should move near the top of the checklist.

Unlimited local 5G data can still come with a finite tethering allowance. Fixed-data eSIM service may be easier to budget when most of the allowance will be shared with a laptop or tablet.

Taiwan Tourist SIM FAQ

Is a passport enough to buy a tourist SIM in Taiwan?

Usually not. Current Taiwan regulations require foreign subscribers to present qualifying original identity documents, and the main operators apply two-document verification.

Bring your passport plus another accepted original identity document. The exact second-document options vary by operator.

Do Taiwan tourist SIM cards include a local number?

The Chunghwa, Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone tourist cards discussed here are prepaid mobile-number products. Voice-capable versions also include varying amounts of communication credit.

Roafly’s Taiwan service is data-only and should not be chosen when a Taiwanese mobile number is essential.

Can I buy a Taiwan SIM outside the airport?

Yes with some operators.

Chunghwa publishes wider counter and service-center availability, while Taiwan Mobile supports airport purchase, physical stores and reservation with pickup. Far EasTone’s current official Tourist Prepaid Card page specifically limits that tourist offer to Taoyuan Airport stores.

Is an airport SIM more expensive than a city SIM?

No general price difference should be assumed without matching the same operator, package and date.

Some airport products are promotional offers, while some operators also sell through city stores. Comparing unrelated plans can create a false airport-versus-city saving.

Does unlimited data mean unlimited hotspot?

Not always.

Several local 5G tourist cards separate phone data from hotspot sharing. Check the tethering allowance instead of relying on the word “unlimited.”

Can a Taiwan tourist SIM be used abroad?

Domestic tourist data should not be treated as regional roaming unless the exact product explicitly includes it.

Far EasTone’s tourist prepaid page states that the card can be used in Taiwan, and Chunghwa describes its tourist data allowance as domestic use. Buying a local card should therefore not come with an assumption that the same data will work elsewhere in Asia.

Final Recommendation

Taiwan gives visitors three credible local prepaid choices, but there is no need to force a single operator into a universal “best” position.

Chunghwa stands out for a broad published range of tourist validities and buying through its service network. Taiwan Mobile offers flexible purchase channels, physical SIM or eSIM, and current promotional tariffs that need to be distinguished from its original listed prices. Far EasTone has competitive airport pricing, but its official tourist offer is currently tied to Taoyuan Airport stores.

Local SIMs make the most sense when unlimited domestic phone data, a Taiwanese number or voice credit matters. Roafly is the more convenient alternative when data-only service is enough and you prefer setup before travel, no SIM swap and hotspot use across your purchased allowance.

Roafly publishes this guide and offers the travel-eSIM alternative discussed above.