Shipping to Taiwan from the USA runs on both USPS and UPS with no service suspensions in 2026: UPS Worldwide Express and Worldwide Saver deliver in 1 to 3 business days, while USPS Priority Mail International (up to 44 pounds to Taiwan) usually takes 6 to 10 business days and hands off to Chunghwa Post. Parcels valued at NT$2,000 or less generally clear free of duty and tax, but the recipient may need to verify the shipment in Taiwan Customs’ EZWAY app before it is released.
This guide covers the services that run the lane, realistic transit times, Taiwan’s customs rules and frequency limits, items USPS lists as prohibited, and how to address a parcel so it clears. To price your parcel, compare live USPS and UPS rates to Taiwan in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
Which carriers ship from the US to Taiwan?
USPS and UPS both accept parcels to Taiwan, including the outlying islands. USPS lists no suspension for Taiwan, and its country listing sets lower weight caps than many destinations, so check them before you pack a heavy box.
| Service | Expected delivery | Max weight to Taiwan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Worldwide Express / Worldwide Saver | 1 to 3 business days | Per UPS package limits | Electronics, B2B and time-sensitive orders |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited | 2 to 5 business days | Per UPS package limits | Heavier parcels that still need door-to-door tracking |
| USPS Priority Mail Express International | 3 to 5 business days to many major markets | 33 lb; Flat Rate Envelope 4 lb | Urgent documents and small parcels |
| USPS Priority Mail International | 6 to 10 business days | 44 lb; Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes 20 lb | Most personal and gift parcels |
| USPS First-Class Package International Service | Varies | 4 lb, contents valued up to $400 | Light, non-dutiable items |
USPS’s Taiwan listing notes that First-Class Package International items containing dutiable articles must be registered, so for merchandise Priority Mail International is the safer USPS choice. Restricted Delivery and USPS Delivered Duty Paid are not available to Taiwan.
Through ParcelPath you can buy USPS labels at up to 89% off retail and UPS labels at up to 85% off, with no subscription or per-label fee. ParcelPath issues USPS and UPS labels only. DHL Express and FedEx also serve Taiwan if you book with them directly.
How long does shipping to Taiwan take?
UPS Worldwide Express and Worldwide Saver deliver to Taiwan in 1 to 3 business days and Worldwide Expedited in 2 to 5, with UPS handling customs brokerage. On the USPS side, Priority Mail Express International lists 3 to 5 business days for many major markets and Priority Mail International 6 to 10 business days.
The clock often stops at customs rather than in the air. A parcel waiting for the recipient’s EZWAY confirmation, or for duty on a value over NT$2,000, sits until that step is done. Peak season from mid-November through early January and the weeks around Lunar New Year also slow USPS and Chunghwa Post handling, so allow extra time for gifts.
What customs rules apply when shipping to Taiwan?
Taiwan’s Customs Administration applies three rules that shape most US-to-Taiwan parcels:
- The NT$2,000 threshold. Express and postal consignments valued at NT$2,000 or less are generally exempt from duty and business tax. Above that, duty applies by product, plus a 5% business tax.
- The frequency limit. Each recipient gets six duty-free low-value shipments per half-year (January to June and July to December). From the seventh shipment in a period, duty and tax apply even under NT$2,000.
- EZWAY real-name verification. Since July 1, 2022, recipients of express parcels must confirm their imports in the EZWAY app, which links each shipment to their national ID or resident certificate.
USPS’s country listing adds an import-licence rule: the recipient needs an import licence for incoming goods except gifts valued up to $1,000 for personal or family use and printed books up to $1,000. Business shipments therefore go through formal import procedures, and a series of small parcels to one person can be treated as commercial imports.
Taiwan also bans or restricts many products made in mainland China, so the country of origin on your declaration matters, not only the item.
What can’t you ship to Taiwan?
The USPS International Mail Manual lists these items as prohibited in mail to Taiwan:
- cigars, cigarettes and prepared tobacco
- extracts, essences and concentrates of tea
- sugar, molasses, saccharine and other sweetening substances
- coins over 100 years old and banknotes in New Taiwan dollars
- radioactive materials
Priority Mail Express International to Taiwan also excludes valuables such as jewelry, watches, precious metals and negotiable securities. Lithium batteries, medicines, supplements and food carry their own carrier and Taiwan import rules, so check them before shipping.
How do you prepare a parcel for Taiwan?
- Write the address in English and Chinese. USPS recommends both when possible, with the five- or six-digit postal code. Add “Via Taiwan” for Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matsu.
- Include the recipient’s mobile number. EZWAY verification and delivery notices depend on it.
- Tell the recipient to watch for EZWAY. A quick message before you ship prevents the most common hold.
- Describe and value items precisely. State quantity, value and country of origin, and add the six-digit HS code that USPS has required for commercial items since September 1, 2025.
- Track the frequency limit. If you send often to the same person, count shipments per half-year.
For sending to nearby markets, see our guides to shipping to Hong Kong, India and Bangladesh, or the overview of shipping to Asia. The shipping calculator hub explains how carrier calculators price international parcels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to ship to Taiwan from the USA?
For gifts and personal parcels, USPS Priority Mail International is usually the lowest-priced tracked option for shipping to Taiwan, accepting up to 44 pounds. Very light non-dutiable items can go by First-Class Package International Service up to 4 pounds. UPS can be competitive for business shipments that need delivery in 1 to 3 business days.
How long does shipping to Taiwan take?
Shipping to Taiwan takes 1 to 3 business days with UPS Worldwide Express or Worldwide Saver, 2 to 5 with UPS Worldwide Expedited, about 3 to 5 with USPS Priority Mail Express International and 6 to 10 with USPS Priority Mail International. EZWAY verification or duty payment can add days at customs.
What is the duty-free limit for shipping to Taiwan?
Taiwan generally exempts express and postal parcels valued at NT$2,000 or less from duty and business tax. Each recipient is limited to six such duty-free shipments per half-year, January to June and July to December. From the seventh shipment in a period, or above NT$2,000, duty and the 5% business tax apply.
What is EZWAY and does my recipient in Taiwan need it?
EZWAY is Taiwan Customs’ mobile app for real-name verification of imported parcels. Since July 2022, recipients of express parcels must confirm each shipment in the app, linking it to their national ID or resident certificate. If they don’t confirm, the parcel can be held, so let the recipient know before you ship.
Sources
- USPS International Mail Manual: Taiwan country listing
- USPS: International Mail and Shipping Services
- USPS International Service Alerts
- UPS: International Shipping Services
- USPS: International Shipping
Part of our Asia guide. Related: China, Thailand, Shipping to Asia.
