International: Taiwan

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Ocean Freight Forwarder Permit

Yes

Required where applicable. Under the Shipping Act, an ocean freight forwarder is a business that, in its own name and on behalf of others, has shipping lines carry goods for a fee. A mover that books ocean shipments in its own name for its clients, for example by issuing its own bill of lading (the transport document that serves as the contract of carriage and receipt for the goods), falls within this definition. The company must apply through the maritime authority for MOTC approval, complete company registration within six months, and obtain a permit before operating.

Ocean Forwarder Conditions

The applicant must be a company with paid-up capital of at least NT$7.5 million, plus NT$1.5 million for each additional branch. It must lodge a guarantee deposit of NT$3 million when the permit is issued, plus NT$300,000 per branch. A forwarder that carries liability insurance of at least NT$2 million per accident and NT$5 million in total can lodge a reduced deposit of NT$600,000, plus NT$60,000 per branch. Samples of the bills of lading or cargo receipts it issues must be filed with the maritime authority and must show the company’s name, address, and permit number.

Penalty for Operating Without a Permit

Operating as an ocean freight forwarder without a permit carries a fine of NT$100,000 to NT$500,000 and an order to correct within a set period.

Air Freight Forwarder Permit

Required where applicable. An air freight forwarder is a business that, in its own name and on behalf of others, has airlines carry air cargo for a fee. The company applies to the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), which forwards the application to the MOTC for approval. It needs paid-up capital of at least NT$5 million, must complete company registration within six months of approval, and cannot operate until the CAA issues the permit. Its house air waybills (the forwarder’s own transport documents) must show the company name, address, and permit number.

Foreign Forwarders

A foreign ocean or air freight forwarder may operate in Taiwan only by setting up an approved branch or by appointing a licensed Taiwan forwarder to handle its business. A foreign ocean forwarder’s branch needs at least NT$7.5 million in operating capital in Taiwan.

Cross-Border Road Transport

Not applicable. Taiwan has no land borders, so there is no international road haulage permit for movers. The trucking legs of an international move fall under the domestic truck freight business licence on the Taiwan page.

Insurance

An ocean forwarder that relies on liability insurance to reduce its guarantee deposit must keep the policy in force continuously. Trucks used on the domestic legs need the compulsory motor insurance described on the Taiwan page. This research found no rule requiring movers to insure customers’ goods on international moves, so customers should ask what protection, if any, is offered.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A household goods mover operating only within Taiwan needs the truck freight business licence and other domestic requirements on the Taiwan page. International moves add a forwarding permit where the mover itself contracts for the sea or air leg. A mover that books ocean freight with shipping lines in its own name for its clients is an ocean freight forwarder and needs an MOTC permit, with capital, guarantee deposit, and bill of lading filing conditions. A mover that does the same with airlines needs an air freight forwarder permit from the CAA and MOTC. A mover that only packs and trucks goods, and leaves the international shipment to a licensed forwarder that contracts with the carrier in its own name, does not itself need these permits; the forwarder’s own permit covers the forwarding it performs, and the mover uses forwarders and carriers that hold the permits they need. Because Taiwan has no land borders, there are no cross-border road permits to consider.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers must:

1. Determine whether the company contracts in its own name with shipping lines or airlines for its clients’ goods. If it does, it acts as a freight forwarder under Taiwan law.
2. For ocean shipments contracted in its own name, obtain an ocean freight forwarder permit from the MOTC through the Maritime and Port Bureau, meeting the company, paid-up capital, and branch capital conditions.
3. Lodge the ocean forwarder guarantee deposit, or the reduced deposit backed by continuous liability insurance at the required limits.
4. File samples of the company’s bills of lading or cargo receipts with the maritime authority, showing the company’s name, address, and permit number, and update them when they change.
5. For air shipments contracted in its own name, obtain an air freight forwarder permit from the CAA and MOTC, meeting the minimum paid-up capital, and issue house air waybills that show the company name, address, and permit number.
6. If the company is a foreign forwarder, operate only through an approved Taiwan branch or a licensed Taiwan forwarder appointed as agent.
7. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers and forwarders that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Ocean freight forwarder permit heldWhere applicable (mover contracts in its own name with shipping lines for clients' goods)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Ocean forwarder guarantee deposit lodged, or reduced deposit with liability insurance kept in force at the required limitsWhere applicable (mover holds an ocean freight forwarder permit)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Air freight forwarder permit heldWhere applicable (mover contracts in its own name with airlines for clients' goods)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Approved Taiwan branch, or a licensed Taiwan forwarder appointed as agentWhere applicable (mover is a foreign ocean or air freight forwarder)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Bill of lading or cargo receipt samples filed with the maritime authority, and documents show the company’s name, address, and permit numberWhere applicable (mover holds an ocean freight forwarder permit)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• House air waybills show the company name, address, and permit numberWhere applicable (mover holds an air freight forwarder permit)Verified by AffirmationRequired