SIM cards are easy to get in Taiwan, and coverage and speeds are great in well-populated areas. To purchase a SIM card in a store, you need to have two photo IDs. Your passport and another ID, such as a driver’s license.

The country has four GSM-network providers:

• Chunghwa Telecom (Emome)
• Taiwan Mobile (myfone)
• FarEasTone
• T Star (formely Vibo)

All other operators are on incompatible WiMAX or CDMA standard. 

I choose Taiwan Mobile (myfone), which is Taiwan’s second largest provider. You can get their prepaid starter packs at one of their service centers, or at the Taoyuan Airport (exit the arriving hall to your left side and you will see the Taiwan Mobile Service Center at this side of the hall). The airport store has limited hours from 8am-10pm, though. 

I bought 350 minutes of talk-time and 7 days of unlimited data for NT$900 ($27.78 USD). Service worked well in Taipei and Kaohsiung.