The phoenix flower is blooming and graduation season is here again. Many people choose to study abroad or take a working holiday abroad. A few days ago, a netizen posted a message on Threads asking for help. How can I retain my Taiwan phone number in the most cost-effective way and be able to receive Taiwan credit card verification SMS as usual when I go abroad?
How can I change my Taiwan phone number to the most economical tariff plan and be able to send and receive credit card authentication SMS messages? Here is an analysis and explanation:
If you are studying abroad or on a working holiday, if you want to keep your original Taiwan phone number at a low cost and receive credit card OTP verification code messages stably, the most core approach is to “change the tariff to a prepaid card plan or the lowest monthly rental plan”, make sure to “turn on international roaming and Wi-Fi calling”, if it is a prepaid card plan “need to recharge at least 100 yuan every six months”, it is best to have a mobile phone with eSim that can install local phone numbers, and prepare a record for receiving credit card OTP text messages. The summary video and detailed description are as follows:
1. Change the tariff to a prepaid card plan or a minimum monthly fee plan:
Since all telecom operators currently support overseas roaming with prepaid cards and receive free international text messages, the most economical way is to apply to the telecom operator to change your original phone number to a prepaid card plan.
Special reminder,In order to prevent fraud, telecom operators are currently strictly controlling the application of prepaid cards to avoid difficulties in changing to prepaid cards. It is recommended that you give priority to applying at directly operated telecom stores! Furthermore,It is free for Taiwan phone numbers to receive text messages abroad, but sending text messages must have sent international roaming text messages and charges will apply.。
but,If there are high-value transfers or mobile payment binding, you may need to apply for the “minimum monthly fee” plan instead.。
In order to prevent fraud, some banks will require “Mobile ID” when making high-value transfers or binding mobile payments. This authentication must be through “the non-prepaid card monthly rental number of a family member within the second degree of relatives or myself” and identity verification through 4G/5G mobile networks. The prepaid card number will not pass Mobile ID authentication, which will result in prepaid card users being unable to use certain Taiwanese online banking functions abroad.
In other words, if you have special transfer or mobile payment needs abroad, it is best to switch to the lowest monthly fee plan of the three major telecommunications companies. At present, ordinary adults can apply for the lowest monthly rental plan. Taiwan Mobile’s monthly rental starts at $99 (you pay as much as you use for 4G), Far EasTone Telecom starts at $149 (149 for parents and children), and Chunghwa Telecom starts at $199 (4G 199). The minimum monthly rental fee plans for adults in the three major telecommunications companies in 2026 are as follows:
Among them, the lowest monthly rent is Taiwan Mobile’s “pay as you use 4G” plan. There are many special regulations for this rate. For details, please see [This article】。
2. To use the prepaid card solution, you must apply to the telecom operator in advance to activate VoLTE/VoWiFi/roaming services:
Compared with the monthly rental plan that automatically activates VoLTE/VoWiFi services without application, prepaid card users must actively apply to the telecommunications company in advance to “apply for free activation” of VoLTE/VoWiFi services, and the mobile phone must also have this function turned on before going abroad. Therefore, before going abroad, be sure to apply to the telecommunications operator in advance to activate VoLTE services and international roaming functions.
Users of the three major telecom prepaid cards can apply to activate VoLTE/VoWiFi/international roaming services through the official prepaid card APP, call the customer service hotline, or go to a physical store.
3. If you use a prepaid card plan, “you need to store at least 100 yuan every six months”:
If you apply for a prepaid card plan, since the prepaid card has a validity limit of six months, you must recharge it online every 180 days through the Taiwan Telecom App or the official website, with a minimum recharge of NT$100.
4. The mobile phone should preferably “support eSim or be able to install foreign local phone numbers”:
In order to ensure that the Taiwan prepaid card can receive credit card authentication SMS at any time, the Taiwan phone number should be set as the main phone number of the default voice number, and the mobile data should be installed with a foreign local Internet phone number. Since some countries (such as the United States) can only apply for esim plans locally, and foreign travel eSim plans are also more favorable and convenient, it will be more convenient and foolproof if you have a mobile phone that supports eSIM!
5. Prepare the record for receiving credit card OTP SMS:
Due to Taiwan’s difficult diplomatic situation, Taiwan’s three major telecommunications companies may not necessarily have international roaming cooperation agreements with various countries. In order to prevent Taiwanese prepaid card numbers from being unable to receive international text messages abroad and affecting the use of credit cards, it is recommended to prepare a record for receiving credit card OTP text messages (such as using email instead..).
Before going abroad, you can call your credit card bank and ask whether the credit card you hold supports using email to receive dynamic verification codes, or binding the bank’s official app (such as mobile online banking) to directly pop up the push button for card verification, as a double insurance when you do not receive SMS messages.
Source: KOCPC Chinese