COVID-19 update for the British Business Community
In light of ongoing Covid measures effecting the UK-Taiwan commercial relationship and British companies and British nationals in Taiwan, John Dennis, Representative at the British Office in Taipei, wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) last month to set out the issues raised by British companies. These included the UK’s inclusion on Taiwan’s “high risk” list; the reintroduction of visas for essential business travel; a shortened quarantine period for fully vaccinated travellers; an extension the recent change which allows dependents of Taiwan passport holders to apply for visas to enter Taiwan; and Taiwan’s exit strategy for border reopening.
UK Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt also raised these issues with MOEA Deputy Minister CC Chen during Trade Talks themselves on 18 September. We are aware that a number of other trade officers and Chambers have raised similar issues with MOFA and MOEA.
We are pleased to share that the CECC have announced that from 6 November 2021, all passengers arriving directly from the UK, or those who have been in the UK in the previous 14 days, will no longer be required to complete their mandatory 14 day quarantine at a designated quarantine facility in Taiwan. These travellers instead will be permitted to choose whether they wish to complete their mandatory quarantine at either a quarantine hotel or a designated quarantine facility.
The CECC also recently announced its intention to reduce the mandatory quarantine period to 10 days hotel quarantine, followed by 4 days home quarantine for travellers. There will also be a ‘7+7’ option for travellers to quarantine for 7 days in at a designated hotel or facility, followed by 7 days of home quarantine. These measures will come into effect from 14 December to 14 February 2022, and full details are both on the CECC website and our Taiwan Travel Advice on GOV.UK. Further relaxations to border control measures will be made in line with the pandemic situation in Taiwan.
The British Office Taipei remains in close and regular contact with the relevant authorities and we will continue to work with concerned parties to represent British business interests and support those impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. The UK and Taiwan have the shared goals of driving economic recovery and emerging stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic, and we appreciate the support and assistance of the Taiwanese authorities.
Our Taiwan Travel Advice page provides further information and advice to help British nationals make informed decisions about their safety in Taiwan. We review the information on this page regularly and update it following any significant changes which might affect British nationals in Taiwan, including, border control measures and travel restrictions. You can sign up for Travel Advice alerts by email here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/taiwan/email-signup