Video Tutorials・Declaration Compliance・2026-03-24・Last updated:
In March 2026, HowBridge's founder posted this video: after electric vehicles, the second thing customs is scrutinising is Bluetooth and wireless devices — Bluetooth earphones, phones with wireless functions, IP routers, drones; if the packaging says "wireless" or "Bluetooth", it gets flagged. He relayed NCC's rule as "inspection is required whether for personal use or for sale", with a fee of about NT$1,500 for two phones. This article checks the video against Article 18 of the Regulations Governing Controlled Telecommunications Radio-Frequency Devices and NCC's public statements: personal use has a clear allowance that needs no approval letter, and the NT$750 review fee has already lapsed; but since 1 August 2026 NCC has had no commissioners in office, and goods above the allowance that need an approval letter really are stuck at customs. If you are shipping Bluetooth products now, what you need to watch is the allowance, not an inspection fee.
Key points in 30 seconds: ① Bluetooth earphones, Wi-Fi routers, phones and tablets with wireless functions, drones and walkie-talkies are all Class 2 controlled telecommunications radio-frequency devices regulated by NCC; their tariff lines usually carry the import regulations 602 (NCC) and C01/C02 (BSMI). ② Under Article 18 of the Regulations Governing Controlled Telecommunications RF Devices, for personal use: no more than 5 units carried in person at a time and no more than 2 units by post or courier at a time, with no import approval letter required; the same person may import no more than 10 units of the same brand and model per year; above the allowance you must apply to NCC for an import approval letter with a personal-use affidavit. ③ Devices that have passed type approval or completed a declaration of conformity clear customs with their certification number. ④ The inspection fee mentioned in the video: NCC's NT$750 personal-use review fee was introduced in February 2025, suspended on 10 February, lapsed around June after the Legislative Yuan rejected it, and NCC has decided not to collect it; the NT$1,500 in the video was an agent's or forwarder's charge at the time, not an NCC fee. ⑤ Since 2026-08-01 NCC has had no commissioners in office and cannot issue import approval letters — shipments above 2 units (for example three audio items on one bill of lading) are stuck at customs, while type-approved devices are unaffected.
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After electric vehicles, Bluetooth is the second item singled out — NCC does not give a personal-use inspection exemption #TaiwanLine #HowBridge
The video was filmed on 24 March 2026. The founder says what customs has been catching lately is Bluetooth devices: Bluetooth earphones, phones with Bluetooth or wireless functions, IP routers, drones — "all wireless and Bluetooth devices are on this round's list". Products whose packaging says wireless or Bluetooth, or that obviously have those functions, get strict checks. He relays NCC's rule as "any product, whether for personal use or for sale, is treated the same and must be inspected"; according to reliable information the fee for two phones is NT$1,500, and the inspection is only a paper review with no teardown, easy to pass — "it is a formality to collect money".
The phenomenon the video describes is real: wireless devices are indeed a joint priority for customs and NCC. But whether "inspection is required even for personal use" and "NT$1,500" are accurate depends on checking them against the regulations — which we do item by item below.
Low-power RF devices such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 4G/5G equipment are Class 2 controlled telecommunications radio-frequency devices regulated by NCC, and importing them in principle requires NCC import approval (commonly called an import approval letter or special approval). But Article 18 of the Regulations Governing Controlled Telecommunications Radio-Frequency Devices gives personal use a clear exemption:
| Method of import | Personal-use allowance without an approval letter | If exceeded |
|---|---|---|
| Carried in person on entry | No more than 5 units at a time | 6–10 units: apply to NCC for an import approval letter with a personal-use affidavit |
| Post or courier (consolidation uses this route) | No more than 2 units at a time | 3–10 units: apply to NCC for an import approval letter with a personal-use affidavit |
| Annual limit for the same brand and model | No more than 10 units per person per year | Anything above is no longer personal use |
| Type-approved or declaration of conformity registered | Clears customs with the certification number | No unit limit (a legally marketed product) |
So is "inspection even for personal use" correct?：There are two layers. The NCC layer: for personal use, up to 2 units by post need no approval letter — it is not "everything must be inspected"; only above 2 units do you need an approval letter, and the device must meet the technical specifications. The BSMI layer: if phones, tablets and the like are commodities subject to inspection, then according to Taipei Customs, a total value of US$1,000 or less for the same specification, or more than US$1,000 but no more than 5 pieces, is exempt from applying to the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection. The video's "treated the same" is closer to the situation above the allowance or for commercial imports.
From 5 February 2025 NCC introduced a NT$750 review fee per case for "import approval of Class 2 controlled telecommunications RF devices for personal use", and issued 366 cases within 5 days; on 10 February it announced a suspension and applied to the Ministry of Finance under the Charges and Fees Act to stop collection for 1 year. The Legislative Yuan's Transportation Committee then resolved on 2 April to return it and not place it on record, and the provision lapsed around June 2025; in January 2026 an NCC official said "the policy decision is not to collect it", so there is no question of restarting collection when the suspension ends.
In other words, NCC itself charges no review fee for personal-use applications. The "NT$1,500 for two phones, paper review, no teardown" in the video corresponds to what agents charged at the time for handling import approval letters, or what forwarders charged customers — that is a business charge, not an NCC fee; and within 2 units no approval letter is needed at all. The question a consolidation customer should ask is: does this shipment exceed 2 units? Not: pay the inspection fee first.
Don't do this: split into multiple bills of lading or borrow someone's name to stay at "2 units"：The annual limit of 10 units of the same brand and model is counted per natural person; splitting under borrowed names is the same trick as the "piece by piece" imports that got caught in the electric vehicle crackdown, and you are liable for every item declared in your name. See Not even one electric vehicle can be imported: why the piece-by-piece route was closed.
This is what you most need to know when shipping Bluetooth products now. The terms of NCC's three commissioners expired on 31 July 2026, and from 1 August NCC entered a vacancy period with no commissioners in office; the Executive Yuan submitted a new list of nominees on 24 July, the Legislative Yuan held a public hearing on the consent case on 19 August, and as of this article's update date the vote is still pending. The Central News Agency reported on 5 August that NCC said it cannot process import approval letters for controlled RF devices or manufacturing approval letters for domestic manufacturers; affected products include walkie-talkies, drones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth earphones, Bluetooth speakers and 4G and 5G phones. One person who bought audio equipment from Japan could not clear customs because three items were listed on one import bill of lading, exceeding the 2-item limit for postal imports.
NCC also explained that type-approved devices can clear customs with their certification number, and that the iPhone 18 is currently unaffected. So the dividing line is clear: up to 2 units for personal use without an approval letter → as usual; type-approved retail products → as usual; more than 2 units without type approval → no approval letter can be issued and the goods are stuck.
Check NCC's latest announcements：How long the vacancy lasts depends on the Legislative Yuan's vote; this article was updated on 2026-09-02. Before shipping, check the NCC website or contact NCC to confirm whether approval-letter services have resumed, especially for 3 or more units, drones and walkie-talkies, which always need an approval letter.
Turning the rules into a pre-order checklist:
How HowBridge handles it：Our Shenzhen warehouse checks product names on receipt: for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and wireless products we remind members of the 2-unit personal-use allowance, and for items that exceed it or that always need an approval letter, such as drones and walkie-talkies, we confirm NCC's service status before shipping so your goods do not get stuck at customs. For related tariff lines and restrictions see Taiwan's list of prohibited and restricted imports.
For personal use, up to 2 units at a time by post or courier need no import approval letter under Article 18 of the Regulations Governing Controlled Telecommunications RF Devices; the limit is 10 units of the same brand and model per year. Only above 2 units do you need to apply to NCC for an approval letter with a personal-use affidavit.
NCC's NT$750 personal-use review fee was suspended right after it was introduced in February 2025, lapsed around June after the Legislative Yuan returned it, and NCC has decided not to collect it. The NT$1,500 mentioned in the video was an agent's or forwarder's charge at the time, not an NCC fee; and within 2 units for personal use no approval letter is needed at all.
The NCC commissioners' terms expired on 31 July and from 1 August there have been no commissioners in office, so no import approval letters can be issued. Shipments above the 2-unit personal-use allowance without type approval (for example three audio items on one bill of lading) are therefore stuck; type-approved devices can clear customs with their certification number. When services resume depends on the Legislative Yuan's vote on the new nominees, so check NCC's latest announcements.
According to Taipei Customs, phones, tablets and similar devices with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions are exempt from applying to the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection for a certificate when the total value of the same specification is US$1,000 or less, or exceeds US$1,000 with no more than 5 pieces. NCC and BSMI are two separate sets of rules and must be considered separately.
They are likewise RF devices controlled by NCC, and the Central News Agency reported that during the commissioner vacancy NCC cannot process import approval letters for walkie-talkies and drones. Drones are additionally subject to Civil Aeronautics Administration rules, so confirm with NCC and the relevant authorities before shipping.
Up to 2 units for personal use need no approval letter; but the device itself must still meet the relevant technical specifications, and products without type approval may not be sold in Taiwan. To resell or to exceed the allowance, you must go through type approval or apply for an approval letter.
#NCC #Bluetooth earphones #Wireless devices #RF equipment #2 units for personal use #Import approval letter #Type approval #Drones #Taiwan Line
This article is compiled from Article 18 of the Regulations Governing Controlled Telecommunications Radio-Frequency Devices, Taipei Customs' notice on passengers carrying phones, tablets and telecommunications RF terminal equipment, Central News Agency reports of 2025-02-19 and 2026-08-05, and a TechNews report of 2026-01-29, and distinguishes NCC fees from business charges; unit allowances, the status of approval-letter services and inspection requirements are subject to the latest announcements of NCC, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection and the Customs Administration. It is provided for general reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual customs matter.
Shipping Bluetooth or wireless products to Taiwan? Count the units first, then check the tariff HowBridge Smart Tariff Search is free: enter the product name to see import regulations such as 602 and C01/C02. Our Shenzhen warehouse reminds you of the 2-unit personal-use allowance on receipt, confirms NCC's status before shipping items that need an approval letter, and consolidates other shippable categories to save freight, declared accurately for smooth entry into Taiwan. Register for free · Get your Shenzhen consolidation warehouse address