After You Arrive

Your First Days in Taiwan

A simple plan for your first day, your first 3 days and your first week as a student in Taiwan. It also covers your resident card (ARC). Prices are in New Taiwan dollars (NT$).

Taiwan Arrival Timeline

Get from the airport: From Taoyuan Airport, take the Airport MRT, a metro train. The express reaches Taipei Main Station in about 39 minutes.
Check in to your room: Keep your rental contract or dorm papers. You need proof of address for the ARC.

Priority
First 24 Hours: Land and Settle

Get from the airport to your room and keep your papers safe.

Essential Tasks

Travel from the airport: The Airport MRT express takes about 39 minutes to Taipei Main Station and costs NT$160.
Check in to your room: Keep proof of your address. Your ARC application needs it.

Quick Tips

Emergency contacts to save

Police: 110
Fire and ambulance: 119
Emergency call when your phone signal is weak: 112
Help line for foreigners, 24 hours, in English: 1990

First Day Advice

Keep your passport, admission letter and visa in your hand luggage.
From Taoyuan Airport, the Airport MRT express to Taipei runs from about 6 am to 11 pm.
Keep your rental contract or dorm papers safe. You need them for the ARC.

First 3 Days: Find Your Way

Meet the people who will help you, and learn the key numbers.

Campus & Administration

Visit the international office: Ask about enrollment, insurance and help with your ARC.
Get proof of enrollment: You will upload it for your ARC. It must be issued within the last month.

Local Orientation

Learn your way to campus: Find your faculty, the international office and the nearest station.
Save emergency numbers: 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free.

First Week: Get Your Papers Done

This week is for your university and your ARC.

Official Registration

Complete university registration: Hand in your attested graduation certificate and full mark sheets on registration day.
Apply for your ARC online: Use the online system of Taiwan's immigration office (NIA) for students. Upload clear colour files that are small, 512 KB or less.
Get health insurance: Your school helps you with private insurance first. NHI starts after 6 months with an ARC.

Social & Practical

Go to orientation: Ask your international office when the new student events are.
Check your class dates: At National Taiwan University (NTU), fall classes began on 7 September 2026 and spring classes begin on 22 February 2027. Other universities set their own dates.

Safety and Emergency Numbers

Save these numbers in your phone on day one.

Emergency Numbers

Service	Number
Police	110
Fire and ambulance	119
Emergency call when your phone signal is weak	112
Help line for foreigners, 24 hours, in English	1990
Free counselling line, 24 hours	1925

Safety Tips

Calls to 110, 119 and 112 are free.
If your phone does not support 4G voice calls (VoLTE), it may not call emergency numbers in Taiwan. Check this when you get a local SIM.
Feeling low or stressed? Call 1925 for free counselling, 24 hours a day.