How to Use Wise Card in Taiwan: Guide for Aussies

Taiwan offers an attractive mix of modern cities, stunning natural sites, an interesting history and great eating - making it an enduringly popular destination for adventurous Aussies.

So, can I use my Wise card in Taiwan to spend and withdraw easily with low fees? This guide covers all you need to know about how to use a Wise card in Taiwan so you can plan your visit.

Can I use Wise in Taiwan?

Yes. If you have a Wise account issued in Australia, you can use it when travelling to Taiwan to:

• Spend using your Wise card
• Convert AUD to other supported currencies, 40+ currencies available to hold
• Send money internationally, including to Taiwan

Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate, with fees shown upfront. This means no hidden markups when you spend or transfer money overseas. If you’re travelling with your kids, you can also get a Wise Young Explorer card for kids aged 6 - 17 to allow them to use Wise as you travel, too.

Does the Wise have Taiwan dollar as a supported currency?

You can’t hold a Taiwanese dollar balance in a Wise account. However, you can use a Wise card to spend in TWD when you’re in Taiwan, as it will convert from another currency you hold in your account, at the mid-market exchange rate, for great value spending and withdrawals.

Can I use the Wise card in Taiwan?

You can use your Wise card conveniently in Taiwan wherever the card network is supported.

Wise cards are issued on either the Visa or Mastercard networks which are popularly used in ATMs and for point of sale payments in Taiwan. That means you can use your Wise card for spending and withdrawals very widely and with low costs.

How to order a Wise card

To order a Wise card you’ll need to register an account and pay a one time fee. Everything can be arranged in the Wise app for convenience with no need to visit a bank or stand in line in a physical location:

1. Open your Wise account, get verified and add a balance in AUD or another supported top up currency
2. In the Wise app, go to the "Card" tab, and select "Order physical card"
3. Enter your shipping address, set a PIN, and confirm the name on the card
4. Pay the one-time fee of 10 AUD and your card will be dispatched to you

It takes about 7 - 14 days to receive your Wise card in Australia, but you can start to use your digital card as soon as you order, for instant mobile and online payments.

➡️ Order a Wise card

How you can use the Wise card in Taiwan

You can’t hold a TWD balance in your Wise account but you can still use your card for convenient payments with the mid-market rate and low fees. Just add money in AUD or another supported currency from your bank, with a card, or using PayID, and the card will convert as you spend or withdraw from the balance which has the lowest possible fee.

Let's have a look at how the Wise card works in Taiwan for daily spending and withdrawals:

Make Chip and PIN payments

Use your Wise physical card to spend in stores and anywhere the network is accepted, with Chip and PIN payments for security. You can also use your physical card for contactless transactions where they’re accepted.

Add to your digital wallet

Add your physical card to wallets like Apple Pay, or simply use Wise digital cards to tap and pay wherever you are. Digital cards can be generated and used immediately for free - have up to 3 at any one time for secure and convenient spending in person and online.

ATM withdrawals with your Wise card

With Wise you can make withdrawals up to 400 AUD/month with no fee. A 2.69% fee then applies to any amount in excess of the monthly 400 AUD free withdrawal allowance*

ATMs are widely available across Taiwan, including in:

• Convenience stores like 7-Eleven and FamilyMart
• MRT stations
• Banks

Find fee free ATMs through the Wise app using the travel hub feature, to avoid any hidden operator fees. To make sure no extra costs creep in, remember to also pay in the local currency - Taiwan dollars in this case - even if the ATM offers the option to pay in AUD instead. Paying in your home currency costs more in the end thanks to hidden operator fees and markups.

Link to local apps

Before you go, check out which apps you might like to use while you’re away to keep seamless access to all the services you need.

For example, Grab¹ is a handy tool in Taiwan for ride hailing and food delivery, while Easycard² can help with paying public transport fares. Link up your preferred apps to Wise ahead of time to avoid foreign transaction fees and surprise costs when you arrive.

Making online payments with the Wise card

Use your Wise card even before you depart, for payments on websites based in Taiwan, such as for hotel or attraction bookings. This helps you get organised in advance, can mean access to better deals on things like tours and tickets, and also means you get the mid-market rate on your advance payments, so you know you’re never paying more than you have to.

Tips for using your Wise card

Before you head to the airport, check out these few final tips for using your Wise card in Taiwan:

• Book discounted airport lounge passes in the Wise app to start your trip in style
• Get a Wise Young Explorer card if you’re travelling with children so they can manage their own travel budget and spending
• On arrival get some cash with your Wise card at an ATM - cash is still the preferred payment method in small stores and markets so having some is handy
• Use the Wise app when you travel, for freezing or unfreezing your card, checking and adding a balance, and viewing transactions instantly

Your Wise card works in Taiwan to make spending in TWD effortless, and hold down the costs as you travel. You can’t hold a balance in TWD with Wise but the Wise card can automatically convert for you at the point of payment, using the balance in your account which attracts the lowest possible fees. This means you’ll get a great deal no matter how you choose to pay.

🚀 Get your Wise card

1. Grab (Apple App Store)
2. Easycard