Best SIM Cards & Phone Plans in Taiwan for Foreigners (2026)

What are my mobile phone options in Taiwan?

Taiwan has three major mobile carriers: Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信), Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大), and FarEasTone (遠傳電信). These are the Big Three, and between them they cover essentially the entire island.

You may also hear about Taiwan Star (台灣之星) and GT Mobile (亞太電信). Taiwan Star merged with Taiwan Mobile, and GT Mobile merged with FarEasTone, so their customers have been absorbed into the larger networks. You might still see their branding in some places, but for all practical purposes, you are choosing between three carriers.

As a foreigner, you have three main options:

• Prepaid SIM — No contract, pay as you go. Best for tourists and short-term visitors.
• Monthly contract plan — Requires an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate). Best value for long-term residents.
• No-contract monthly plan — Available to ARC holders. More flexibility than a contract, slightly higher price.

The good news: Taiwan has outstanding mobile coverage. 4G LTE is available virtually everywhere, including rural areas, mountains, and even most hiking trails. 5G is expanding rapidly in cities. Unlimited data plans are the norm, and prices are very reasonable compared to most Western countries.

What SIM card should I get as a tourist?

If you are visiting Taiwan for a short trip, grab a tourist prepaid SIM at the airport. All three carriers have counters at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), Songshan Airport (TSA), and Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH). The process takes about 10 minutes — just bring your passport.

Here are typical prices for tourist SIMs:

Most tourist SIM packages include some domestic calling minutes (typically 50–100 minutes). The data is truly unlimited with no throttling on the shorter plans, though 15-day and 30-day plans may have a soft cap before speeds are reduced.

Our recommendation: Just pick whichever carrier has the shortest line at the airport. For tourist SIMs, the difference between carriers is negligible. Chunghwa Telecom is the safe default if you plan to travel to remote areas.

You can also buy prepaid SIMs at convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) around the island, but airport counters are easier since staff there are accustomed to helping foreigners and speak English.

How do I get a monthly phone plan with an ARC?

Once you have an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate), you can sign up for a proper monthly plan, which gives you much better value than prepaid.

What to bring to the carrier store:

1. Your ARC (valid, not expired)
2. Your passport
3. A Taiwan bank account or credit card (required for auto-pay on most plans)

Walk into any carrier store — they are everywhere, especially near MRT stations and in shopping areas. The signup process takes about 30 minutes. Larger stores in Taipei usually have staff who speak some English; if not, the process is straightforward enough with translation apps.

Contract vs. no-contract:

• Contract plans (12 or 24 months): Lower monthly price, but you pay an early termination fee if you leave Taiwan before the contract ends. The penalty decreases each month. A 24-month contract might have a termination fee starting around NT$5,000–10,000.
• No-contract monthly plans: Cost NT$50–100 more per month, but you can cancel anytime. This is the better choice if you are not sure how long you will stay.

Typical monthly plan pricing:

• Unlimited 4G data with calls: NT$499–699/month (contract)
• Unlimited 5G data with calls: NT$599–999/month (contract)
• No-contract plans add roughly NT$50–100 to these prices

If you just arrived and do not have a bank account yet, some stores will accept credit card payment or let you pay at convenience stores for the first few months while you get set up.

Which carrier is the best?

Here is how the Big Three compare:

Our recommendations:

• Living in Taipei, Taichung, or Kaohsiung? All three carriers perform equally well. Pick based on price or whichever store is closest to you.
• Frequently travel to rural areas or go hiking? Go with Chunghwa Telecom. Their coverage in mountainous and remote areas is noticeably better. This matters when you are on a mountain trail and need to check a map or call for help.
• On a tight budget? FarEasTone and Taiwan Mobile regularly offer promotional plans that undercut Chunghwa by NT$100–200/month. Check their websites or ask in-store about current deals.

Honestly, you cannot go wrong with any of the three in urban areas. Do not overthink this decision.

How much does a typical phone plan cost?

Here is a general price guide for monthly plans (no-contract pricing):

A few things to know about pricing in Taiwan:

• Most plans include unlimited domestic calls. You do not need to worry about calling minutes.
• For international calls, just use LINE, WhatsApp, or FaceTime. Almost nobody uses carrier international calling anymore. LINE is the dominant messaging app in Taiwan — everyone uses it, including businesses and government services.
• Contract plans are cheaper by about NT$50–100/month compared to the same no-contract plan.
• Student discounts are available if you are here on a student visa. Bring your student ID.
• Data sharing is available on family plans if your partner or family members also need SIMs.

For most expats, a standard unlimited 4G plan at NT$499/month is the sweet spot. That is roughly US$15/month for truly unlimited data with good speeds — hard to beat anywhere in the world.

Can I keep my foreign number? (eSIM and roaming)

Yes, you can keep your home country number active while using a Taiwan SIM. The best way to do this is with a dual SIM setup.

eSIM option: Taiwan carriers support eSIM on compatible devices (iPhone XS and newer, most recent Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and other Android flagships). This means you can:

1. Keep your foreign physical SIM in the tray for receiving texts and calls from home
2. Add a Taiwan eSIM for local data and calls
3. Switch between them in your phone settings

Some carriers even offer eSIM activation online, so you can set up your Taiwan number before you arrive — no store visit needed. Check the carrier websites for current eSIM availability.

What about just roaming with your foreign SIM?

International roaming works, but it is expensive for anything beyond a few days. Daily roaming packages from foreign carriers often cost US$5–10/day, which adds up fast. Get a local Taiwan SIM instead.

Important tip: Get a Taiwan phone number as soon as you can. You will need it for almost everything: registering for food delivery apps (Uber Eats, Foodpanda), setting up a bank account, receiving verification codes for government services, LINE account verification, and much more. A Taiwan number is not optional for daily life here.

What about home internet?

If you are renting an apartment in Taiwan, you have several internet options:

Fiber broadband (most common):

Chunghwa Telecom's HiNet is the dominant home internet provider and generally offers the most reliable service. Most apartments in Taiwan already have fiber infrastructure installed, so setup is straightforward.

Key details:

• Contracts are usually 24 months. Early termination fees apply.
• Some carriers offer bundle discounts if you get both your mobile plan and home internet from the same company. This can save NT$100–200/month.
• Installation typically takes 1–3 business days after signing up.
• Your landlord may already have internet included in the rent — ask before signing up separately.

Alternative — mobile hotspot: If you have an unlimited data plan on your phone, you can use it as a hotspot and skip home internet entirely. This works fine for one person doing basic browsing and video calls. It is not ideal for heavy use, gaming, or multiple devices, but it saves you a contract and NT$700+/month.

Many expats use the mobile hotspot approach for their first few months while getting settled, then switch to fiber once they find a longer-term apartment.

How do I top up a prepaid SIM?

If you are using a prepaid SIM, you need to add credit periodically to keep it active. Here are your options:

• Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life): Buy a top-up card at the counter. Tell the clerk your carrier name and the amount you want (NT$300, NT$500, etc.). You will get a card with a code to enter via the carrier's app or by dialing a service number.
• Carrier app or website: Most carriers let you top up online with a credit card. This is the easiest method once you are set up.
• Carrier stores: Walk in and ask to top up. They can do it on the spot.
• Some ATMs and kiosks: ibon machines at 7-Eleven and FamiPort machines at FamilyMart support top-ups.

Critical rule to remember: You must top up at least once every 180 days (6 months) to keep your prepaid number active. If you go longer than 180 days without adding credit, your number will be deactivated and eventually recycled. Even a small top-up of NT$100 resets the clock.

If you are leaving Taiwan temporarily and want to keep your number, top up before you leave and set a reminder to top up again before the 180-day window closes. You can usually do this through the carrier app from abroad.