Visa policy of Taiwan

Entry stamp
Exit stamp
Entry and exit stamps.

Visitors to Taiwan must obtain a visa or authorization in advance, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries whose nationals are eligible for visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months (except the citizens of Japan who can hold a passport valid for 3 months, and citizens of United States who are only required to hold a passport valid for the entire duration of stay). Special requirements are in force if the visitor is a current or former national of People's Republic of China who resides in Mainland China.[1]

Visa policy map

Visa policy of Taiwan

Visa exemption

Holders of passports of the following 48 jurisdictions do not require a visa to visit Taiwan for less than 90 days unless otherwise noted (duration of stay starts from the next day of arrival).[2][3] Extensions are not possible except for citizens of Canada and the United Kingdom, who may apply to extend the stay from 90 days to 180 days in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.[4]

The visa exemption does not apply for holders of emergency or temporary passports, except for citizens of United States. Other visa exempt nationals holding such passports, however, would still be able to apply for a visa on arrival.

Stateless permanent residents of Brunei holding the Bruneian International Certificate of Identity (ICI) with a validity of at least 6 months are also exempt from visa requirement until 31 July 2017.[6][2]

In addition, holders of diplomatic or official/service passports of Belize, Burkina Faso, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nauru, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Sao Tome and Principe, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Swaziland do not require a visa for up to 90 days.

Visa on arrival

Nationals of the following countries can obtain a visa on arrival for a fee:[7]

In addition, holders of emergency or temporary passports with validity of more than 6 months issued by visa-exempt countries are eligible for visa on arrival for a fee. The duration of stay is 30 days regardless of nationality and cannot be extended. This measure does not apply to holders of emergency or temporary passports issued by the United States as they are visa exempt.[7]

Visa on arrival is only available at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. For passengers arriving at Taipei Songshan Airport, Kaohsiung International Airport or Taichung Airport, they would be issued a temporary entry permit and will have to apply for a visa at the Bureau of Consular Affairs office or one of the offices of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan at their earliest convenience. Failure to comply may result in a derogatory record.[7] Passengers arriving at ports of entry other than those listed above will be denied entry.

Exit & Entry Permit on arrival

Qualified permanent residents of these Chinese Special Administrative Regions (SARs) may be eligible for an Exit & Entry Permit upon arrival for NT$300 or may apply for an Entry Permit online at no cost to visit Taiwan for less than 30 days.[1]

The requirements are:

Visitors who were not born in Hong Kong or Macau are required to hold their Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards or Macau Permanent Resident Identity Cards, as well as their proof of previous visits to Taiwan, when applying for Exit and Entry Permits on arrival.

eVisa

Since January 12, 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ROC started to implement the eVisa Program. Citizens of the following countries can apply for a single-entry eVisa to visit Taiwan for less than 30 days. The fee for each application is NT$1,632.[9][10] On 7 October 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ROC further expanded the list of countries eligible to apply for eVisa.[11]

* - also eligible for visa on arrival.
** - until 6 October 2018.

Nationals of the following countries may apply for a single-entry eVisa for a maximum stay of 30 days if they are travelling with an approved tour group:[12]

Also, all foreign nationals except Chinese nationals who are invited by the Taiwanese government to attend international conferences, sports events, trade fairs or other activities organized, co-organized or sponsored by Taiwanese government agencies or certain NGOs are also eligible for an eVisa. Such applicants must obtain an e-code from their host organizations in Taiwan prior to applying for an eVisa.[13]

APEC Business Travel Card

Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing the code "TWN" on the back of the card can enter Taiwan visa-free for business trips for up to 90 days.[1] ABTCs are issued to nationals of:[14]

ABTCs are also issued to nationals of  China and permanent residents of  Hong Kong, however Chinese nationals residing in Mainland China are subject to entry restrictions and cannot use the card to enter Taiwan. Chinese nationals permanently residing in Hong Kong are also ineligible and are required to obtain an Exit and Entry Permit.

Online Travel Authorization Certificate

Nationals of the following countries can apply for a no-fee Travel Authorization Certificate online for multiple visits to Taiwan, for a duration of no more than 30 days each visit during the certificate's 90-day validity period, if they have never been employed as a guest worker to Taiwan and have met the additional requirements listed below:[15]

They are required to hold a residential or visitor visa (including Visa Waiver Registration Certificates issued by Japan to Indonesian nationals, and e-Visas), or a residential certificate (including permanent residency) issued by the following countries. The visa can be either valid or expired, but it must not have expired for more than 10 years prior to the date of arrival in Taiwan. Holders of work permits are not eligible. In addition, travelers utilizing the scheme must also hold a return or onward plane or ship ticket and will be required to present it to the immigration officer.[16]

Frequent visitors to Taiwan from these countries can also receive multiple entry visas with validity of two to five years.[17]

Nationals of People's Republic of China who are Mainland residents

Nationals of  People's Republic of China with residency in Mainland China require prior approvals from Taiwanese government and are required to hold an Exit and Entry Permit prior to travelling to Taiwan.[18] As of August 2016, Mainland residents can only visit Taiwan as a part of a pre-approved tour group unless they qualify for one of the exemptions:

As of May 2016, Mainland resident visitors applying from Mainland China are subject to a daily quota of 14,600 persons per day, with half of the quota available to individual tour applicants. Those who applied from Hong Kong, Macau or a third country are not subject to a quota.[22]

All PRC nationals who are residents of Mainland China cannot travel to Taiwan on their passports when departing from Mainland China and must hold a Travel Permit to and from Taiwan for Mainland Residents (大陸居民往來台灣通行證), colloquially known as Mainland Resident Travel Permit (大通證), issued by the Chinese authorities. The permit is a pink, passport-like travel document, and it must be used along with the appropriate exit endorsements (similar to exit visas).[18] Although travelling with the Mainland Resident Travel Permit is not mandatory when departing from Hong Kong, Macau or a third country, the Exit and Entry Permit itself is not a travel document but a de facto entry visa, and is usually tied to the document number of Mainland Resident Travel Permit or the Chinese passport, hence the travelers are still required to carry the travel document they used to apply for the Exit and Entry Permit when travelling to Taiwan.[23]

Since January 2016, Mainland residents are no longer required to hold a Mainland Resident Travel Permit if they depart from airports in Chongqing, Kunming or Nanchang and are only in transit through Taiwan to a third country. Otherwise, the Mainland Resident Travel Permit with exit endorsement is also required for transit through Taiwan if departing from Mainland China, but the Exit and Entry Permit is not required if the passengers do not pass immigration control in Taiwan and only remain airside.[24]

Restrictions for former nationals of People's Republic of China who were Mainland residents

Although the aforementioned restrictions do not apply to former nationals of People's Republic of China with Mainland residency, they also face entry restrictions and are required to apply for a visa unless they meet the following requirements:[1]

If the requirements are met, they may enter Taiwan according to the visa requirements of the nationality they have acquired. However, documentations supporting the change in nationality, such as a naturalization certificate, is required.

Working Holiday Visa

Nationals of the following countries are eligible to apply for the Taiwanese working holiday visa (named as "Youth Mobility Scheme" for British and Canadian citizens) through Taiwanese diplomatic missions of their countries of nationality, if they are ordinary residents in their country of nationality and are within the age limits:[25][26][27]

1 - for British citizens residing in United Kingdom only.[28]

Statistics

Most visitors arriving to Taiwan on short term basis were from the following countries of nationality:

See also

References

  1. ↑ For British passport holders, only British citizens enjoy visa-free entry.
  2. 1 2 Holders of diplomatic and official passports are not eligible.
  3. ↑ Under the Laws and Regulations Regarding Hong Kong & Macao Affairs, BN(O)s, regardless of ethnicity, are not treated as British nationals, but permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau.
  1. 1 2 3 4 Visa Information Chinese Taipei (TW), IATA
  2. 1 2 Visa-Exempt Entry Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of China.
  3. ↑ Taiwan grants visa-free treatment for Andorra, San Marino citizens
  4. ↑ Notice for British Passport Holders Who Entered Taiwan Visa-Free and Are Applying for an Extension of Stay Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of China.
  5. 1 2 "積極推動新南向政策 林揆拍板：泰國、汶萊旅客免簽". Executive Yuan (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  6. ↑ 12月1日起 可停留30天 汶永久居民赴台免签证
  7. 1 2 3 Landing Visas
  8. ↑ Article 5 and 6 of the Enforcement Rules of the Act Governing Relations with Hong Kong and Macau
  9. ↑ MOFA launches eVisa Program
  10. ↑ eVisa Frequently Asked Questions
  11. ↑ Taiwan includes nine more countries in e-visa program
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ R.O.C.(Taiwan) launches the eVisa Program on Jan. 12, 2016
  14. ↑ ABTC Summary
  15. ↑ Online Application for R.O.C. (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate (Applicable to citizens of India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand)
  16. ↑ Amend Online Application for R.O.C. (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate (Applicable to citizens of India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos)
  17. ↑ http://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201606150316-1.aspx
  18. 1 2 办理台湾自由行需知及台湾自由行个人注意事项
  19. ↑ 大陸地區人民來臺從事個人旅遊觀光活動線上申請須知
  20. ↑ 大陸地區人民自國外或香港澳門來臺從事觀光活動線上申請須知
  21. ↑ 公告大陸地區人民以旅行事由於入境金門、馬祖、澎湖時向內政部入出國及移民署申請發給臨時入境停留通知單，其適用對象、限制方式、人數及應備文件，自中華民國104年1月1日生效。
  22. ↑ 陸客自由行少65％ 打趴台觀光業
  23. ↑ 大陸人士 - 申辦「觀光」須知
  24. ↑ 大陆游客经台湾中转今日开放试行 南昌昆明重庆三市试点
  25. ↑ http://www.boca.gov.tw/lp.asp?ctNode=783&CtUnit=80&BaseDSD=7&mp=2
  26. ↑ http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1314&ctNode=783&mp=2
  27. ↑ 中華民國國民申請其他國家「度假打工(青年交流)簽證」參考資料
  28. ↑ http://www.boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=4966&ctNode=783&mp=2
  29. ↑ "Tourism Bureau, M.O.T.C. Republic of China (Taiwan) Visitor Arrivals by Residence, 2013". admin.taiwan.net.tw. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  30. ↑ "Tourism Bureau, M.O.T.C. Republic of China (Taiwan) Visitor Arrivals by Residence, 2014". admin.taiwan.net.tw. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  31. ↑ "Tourism Bureau, M.O.T.C. Republic of China (Taiwan) Visitor Arrivals by Residence, 2015". admin.taiwan.net.tw. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
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