Hi all,
I just found out that I’m 5 weeks pregnant. My partner is working in Taipei on an ARC but I will visit him as a tourist (British Citizen, 90-day visa-free).
I’m keen to see specialists to get advice and do any early tests needed. Do pregnancy clinics in Taipei accept foreign tourists? Of course I’m willing to pay for all treatments as I don’t have insurance and appreciate that I’m not a Taiwanese citizen.
I’d appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance.
Yes they accept foreign tourists. Arrange travel insurance so you can use that to claim back any medical costs. Taiwan even without insurance is very cheap. You may want to see a specialist in a hospital. You do not need to see a GP for a referral to see a specialist in Taiwan.
You might try Taipei Medical Hospital’s International Health Care Center.
This is a well organized, convenient, and fairly international (by Taiwan standards) hospital. Friends have received excellent care there.
Or you could go straight to their Obstetrics specialists here.
A family member did her lying in at this fancy clinic where they take care of the mother and baby for a month in a hotel-like environment. Fathers can stay/visit of couse. It my be interesting to take a tour to see how middle class Taiwanese moms prefer to be taken care of after giving birth. Many travel back to Taiwan to give birth because they can’t find these services overseas.
I’d do this one, at least in the first case. I don’t see much of an advantage to them going to the International Healthcare Center, and it’s a fair bit more expensive.
The page you linked (“The fee given above above [sic] applies to foreign patients without Taiwan NHI”) suggests that TMUH is now charging the international rate for patients without NHI (like Adventist, I believe).
I’m not sure if that’s true, but it definitely wasn’t the case when I was going to TMUH without NHI in 2020. That picture does seem to have been added since 2021 though, so maybe it’s a new policy.
coming for a visit? or plan to give birth here?
in any case, they will accept you, but you will have to pay out of pocket, travel insurance usually doeant cover pregnancy tests, check your policy for details.
Taiwan checkup schedule might differ than the uk (they follow the USA protocol here) , check in advance the hospital can do the checks you need done.
the Adventist hospital in Taipei has a good OBGYN clinic with English speaking doctors.
Flying while pregnant is generally safe, but best to ask your UK doctor first.
Actually, you can renew it up to six months.
Thank you everyone for your advice! This has settled my nerves a little. I’ll contact the obstetrics directly and will enquire about the tests available and the costs involved. I’ll share updates here in case it helps anyone else.
@Marco Do you know how I would be able to prolong my stay to 6 months as a British citizen? I didn’t know this was possible.
Thanks again all, really appreciate it.
A point of note, about 7 years ago before I got an ARC, I tried to extend my 90 day to 6 months and they did not let me. I don’t remember the reason but if I recall, they only give you the extension for a very good reason. May be easier now though.
Interesting. I’ve never heard/read of anyone actually doing it, though I asked BOCA about it maybe 6 years ago and got the impression that it was just a formality rather than something applicants regularly get turned down for. Actually I guess that not too many people are applying, given how few Brit and Canadian “tourists” are here on visa exemptions anyway and how few of those want to stay more than 90 days.
I decided not to apply in the end because they make it pretty clear you’re expected to leave within the 180 days and can’t extend further, and I thought it had the potential to raise questions on subsequent visa runs. (I wasn’t intending to stay in Taiwan so long at that time. Damn it.)
I can count on 1 hand how many British people I have met in Taiwan over the past 8 years
Have you also looked into the working holiday visa so you can stay for 12 months?
I’m probably at one and a bit hands now in terms of meaningful social interactions (over 7 years), but I do have a tendency to visibly recoil when someone wants to introduce me to a British person solely because we’re both British. 
Mine are:
I think that might be it.
Out of those I think only 3 of them still live in Taiwan, and I am only in contact with two of them
With or without leaving?
Without leaving. If you do it with leaving, it’s just a new visa exemption not a renewal. It’s only for UK and Canadian citizens though, so doesn’t include you IIRC.
I don’t mind leaving. lol
Yeah, I used to use it as a convenient excuse for a short holiday I’m obligated to take.