Taipei arrival guide
Why Skipping the Kiosk at Taoyuan Airport Saves Your Day
You've just landed at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) after a long flight. You want to catch the Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station, but first, you need data. You see the telecom kiosks, and so do 100 other passengers. The queue is massive, the process requires scanning your passport and boarding pass, and signing paperwork due to Taiwan's strict real-name registration laws. Here is why savvy travelers skip all of this and arrive with an eSIM already activated.
Quick verdict: Buy Saily before you fly. Land, turn on your phone, and catch the Airport MRT while everyone else is still handing over their passports.
Performance
Why the airport kiosk is a trap
Taiwan requires all local SIM cards to be registered with two forms of ID, usually a passport and a boarding pass or visa. This takes time.
Registering passports, choosing plans, and swapping physical SIM cards takes 5-10 minutes per person. Multiply that by a flight full of tourists, and you're waiting.
Roaming and travel eSIMs like Saily operate differently and bypass the strict local KYC registration requirements for short-term visitors.
With an eSIM active the moment you land, you can connect to the network, top up your EasyCard via Apple Pay, and jump on the Express Train to Taipei.
The Arrival Strategy
How to handle your connectivity
Download the Saily app and purchase your Taiwan plan while you are still at home on your fast Wi-Fi. Install the eSIM profile on your phone but leave it turned off.
When the plane touches down at Taoyuan and you can use your devices, simply go to your settings and turn the eSIM on. You'll instantly connect to Taiwan Mobile or Chunghwa Telecom.
No lost SIM cards
Don't risk losing your tiny home country SIM card while swapping it out on the plane.
Keep LINE active
eSIMs let you keep your primary line active for 2FA SMS while using Saily solely for data.
Live picks
Top 5 Taiwan-ready packages in the live feed
Saily
Taiwan 1GB 7 days
Hidden caveat: No local number. Travel eSIM is data-only — no +886. Use LINE/WhatsApp for local contacts.
Saily
Taiwan 3GB 30 days
Hidden caveat: No local number. Travel eSIM is data-only — no +886. Use LINE/WhatsApp for local contacts.
Saily
Taiwan 5GB 30 days
Hidden caveat: No local number. Travel eSIM is data-only — no +886. Use LINE/WhatsApp for local contacts.
Saily
Taiwan UNLIMITED 5 days
Hidden caveat: No local number. Travel eSIM is data-only — no +886. Use LINE/WhatsApp for local contacts.
Saily
Taiwan 10GB 30 days
Hidden caveat: No local number. Travel eSIM is data-only — no +886. Use LINE/WhatsApp for local contacts.
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