Shipping to Taiwan: Documents, Taxes and Controlled Goods to Know Before You Send

Shipping to Taiwan, whether documents, parcels, personal effects, samples, spare parts or commercial goods, involves more than the freight cost, because the type of goods, documents, customs clearance, import taxes and the requirements of the relevant Taiwanese authorities also matter.
KTC Global Logistics ships goods from Thailand to Taiwan by air and sea, and can assess door-to-door, door-to-port and port-to-port services according to the type of goods, quantity and the conditions of each shipment.
Preparing complete product and destination details before asking for a quote helps choose the right transport mode, check import requirements in advance and reduce the chance of extra costs or delays when the goods arrive in Taiwan.

1. What are the ways to ship to Taiwan?

Choose how to ship to Taiwan based on the type of goods, weight, volume, quantity, urgency and destination city.

Air freight to Taiwan

Air freight suits documents, parcels, samples, spare parts or goods that need to arrive quickly. Charges are based on actual weight and volumetric weight, or chargeable weight.
If the goods are batteries, liquids, chemicals or dangerous goods, give the details before asking for a quote, as airlines may have extra requirements.

Sea freight to Taiwan

Sea freight suits large volumes, heavy goods or non-urgent shipments. It can be divided into:

• LCL for less than a container load
• FCL for a full container, such as 20’GP or 40’HC

Choose between LCL and FCL based on volume, weight, type of goods, destination port and total cost, not just the number of cartons.

2. Door to door, door to port and port to port: what is the difference?

Door to door

The provider handles everything from pickup at origin in Thailand to delivery at the consignee’s premises in Taiwan, within the agreed scope.
Note: door to door does not automatically mean the price includes import duty, business tax, import clearance fees or every destination charge. Check clearly which items the quotation includes.

Door to port

The provider collects the goods at origin and ships them to the destination port or airport. The consignee or their customs broker then takes over.

Port to port

Suits companies that already have a logistics team or customs broker in Taiwan. The provider is responsible for transport between ports or airports as agreed.

3. Information to prepare before asking for a Taiwan shipping quote

For an accurate freight estimate, prepare at least the following:

• Product name and description
• Number of pieces, cartons or pallets
• Dimensions (width × length × height) of each package
• Weight per package and total weight
• Value of the goods
• HS code, if available
• Country of origin, if relevant
• Pickup address in Thailand
• Delivery address in Taiwan
• Destination city and postcode
• Cargo ready date
• Incoterms, such as EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP or DDP
• Product photos, if the goods need to be checked

Saying only “I have goods to send to Taiwan, how much is it?” is not enough, because the cost depends on weight, volume, type of goods, transport mode and the actual delivery address.

4. Documents used for shipping to Taiwan

For commercial goods, the documents generally include:

Commercial invoice

Shows the seller, buyer, product name, quantity, price, currency, freight, insurance and information related to customs value.

Packing list

Shows the number of packages, weight, dimensions and packing details.

Transport documents

• Bill of lading for sea freight
• Air waybill for air freight

Taiwan Customs states that the commercial invoice and packing list are the main documents for filing an import declaration, while other documents such as the D/O or AWB, a power of attorney, catalogue, certificate of origin and import permit may be needed depending on the filing method and type of goods.
So do not assume every type of goods needs only an invoice and packing list.

5. What do you need to know about import duty and business tax?

Goods imported into Taiwan may be subject to import duty according to the HS code and country of origin, as well as business tax collected by customs at import.

Business tax on imported goods

According to Taiwan Customs, business tax on imported goods is generally 5%, and the basis is not just the price of the goods but includes the duty-paid value and import duty, plus certain taxes or fees if the goods are subject to additional levies.
So do not tell customers “freight includes tax” without checking the HS code, customs value and the service scope of the shipment.
More information is available from
Taiwan Customs – Business Tax on Imported Goods

Import duty is not the same for all goods

Import duty rates depend on the product classification and related measures, so check the HS code before estimating door-to-door or DDP costs.

6. Which goods need special checks?

Before you ship to Taiwan, check whether the goods are general goods, controlled goods or goods that need an import permit, inspection or extra certificate.
Examples of goods to check:

• Food and beverages
• Medicines and health products
• Cosmetics
• Medical devices
• Plants and agricultural products
• Animal products
• Chemicals
• Batteries and dangerous goods
• Certain electronic goods
• Goods subject to commodity inspection

Can I send food to Taiwan?

Some food can be imported, but requirements differ between imports for personal use and commercial imports.
The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) states that certain food and related products designated for inspection must apply for import inspection and declare the product details matching the customs commodity code before import.
For food imported for personal use, the TFDA has some exemptions based on value and quantity, but these should not be applied automatically to goods imported for sale.
More information is available from the
Taiwan FDA – Importing Food and Related Products

Does every product need an import permit?

Not every product needs an import permit. Taiwan Customs states that an import permit is used when the goods are subject to legal requirements or import control measures.
So check the HS code and product conditions before booking, rather than assuming every shipment needs a permit.

7. The shipping process to Taiwan

Step 1: Send the product details

Send the product name, quantity, size, weight, value, photos and the origin and destination information.

Step 2: Check the HS code and requirements

Check the duty rate, import permit, inspection and certificates that may apply to the goods.

Step 3: Choose the transport mode

Compare air freight, LCL or FCL by quantity, urgency and delivery location.

Step 4: Check the quotation

Check which costs the quotation includes, such as:

• Pickup in Thailand
• Export customs clearance
• Freight
• Origin charges
• Destination charges
• Import clearance
• Delivery to the consignee
• Import duty
• Business tax
• Inspection or agency fees, if any

Step 5: Booking and shipping

Once the service is confirmed, the booking is made, the goods are picked up, documents prepared and the goods shipped on a suitable sailing or flight.

Step 6: Import clearance

When the goods reach Taiwan, the importer or customs broker files the import declaration with the related documents and coordinates with other agencies if the goods are controlled.

Step 7: Delivery

After customs clearance, tax payment and any related inspections, the goods are delivered to the consignee within the agreed service scope.

Frequently asked questions about shipping to Taiwan

Can I send a parcel to Taiwan?

Yes, in many cases, but check the type of goods, weight, size, value and import requirements first, especially for food, medicines, plants and controlled goods.

Can I send documents to Taiwan?

Documents can be sent by air or courier. Tell us the type of documents and how urgent they are so the right service can be chosen.

Can I send food to Taiwan?

Some food can be imported, but for imports for sale, check the TFDA requirements on import inspection and related documents before shipping.

Can I ship to Taiwan door to door?

It can be arranged in many cases, but the type of goods, importer and costs included in the quotation must be checked, especially import duty, business tax and destination clearance fees.

Can I get a quote without an HS code?

You can send the product details and photos for an initial freight estimate, but the HS code matters for checking duty, taxes and import requirements.

How many days does shipping to Taiwan take?

It depends on the transport mode, origin and destination cities, schedule, customs clearance and inspection by the relevant agencies, so check the transit time of the actual shipment before confirming the booking.

Want a quote for shipping to Taiwan?

For KTC Global Logistics to assess the price and transport mode properly, prepare:

1. Product name and description
2. Quantity
3. Dimensions
4. Weight
5. Value of the goods
6. Pickup address in Thailand
7. Delivery address in Taiwan
8. Cargo ready date
9. Product photos
10. HS code, if available