Taiwan is a beautiful island with captivating snowy peaks, hot springs, and wildlife reserves. The Taiwan entry policy determines rules and regulations for international travelers visiting the nation. Visitors to Taiwan must get a visa in advance unless they belong to a visa-exempt country. Vietnamese travelers need to apply for a Taiwan (R.O.C.) Travel Authorization Certificate. Moreover, the visa policy of Taiwan is flexible as it allows citizens of sixty-six countries to enter Taiwan without a visa.
Taiwan’s entry policy offers flexibility to visitors as most of them just need a valid passport if the visa is waived off for their country. Travelers from the United States of America and Japan need a valid passport throughout their stay in the country. On the other hand, travelers from visa-eligible and visa-exempt countries require a passport valid for six months.
American travelers need to declare cash over 100,000 NTD or a sum of 10,000 USD in foreign currency. Moreover, they also need to declare if they are carrying cash over twenty thousand Chinese Yuan (RMB) at the time of entry or exit.
According to the visa policy of Taiwan, there are special entry requirements for former and current Chinese nationals (citizens of the People’s Republic of China). It is for those who currently or previously resided in Mainland China. There are different requirements for applicants registering for Taiwanese visitor visas and for citizens of different countries. Tourists are advised to contact Taiwanese Diplomatic Missions to learn more about the visa requirements for Taiwan.
Taiwan offers different types of visas for citizens of eligible nations. The following types of visa types are available:
Foreigners who intend to stay in Taiwan for six months need a Republic of China visitor visa to travel to Taiwan. It could be for tourism, visiting relatives, pursuing short-term courses, short-duration work, or undertaking missionary activity for a short period. Travelers belonging to the nation where P.R.C. has entered reciprocal visa agreements with them will be issued a visitor pass based on the validity of such visa agreements. On the other hand, foreigners from other countries can get a visitor visa valid for three months to one year.
The Taiwan Employment Gold Card functions as both a visa and an open residence and work permit. It enables its holder to live and work in Taiwan for up to three years. All foreigners, including permanent residents of Macau and Hong Kong, are allowed to apply. The card intends to draw skilled professionals to Taiwan’s economy in the field of education, science and technology, sport, legal field, art, and architecture. Candidates must complete a skill-qualification process that requires the submission of evidence to support their claims.
The visa to seek employment is issued to candidates with work experience. Individuals earning more than 47,971 NTD (the Taiwanese minimum wage) and recent graduates of the top five hundred universities can obtain a 6-month multiple-entry visa for visitors.
Holders of Youth Mobility Scheme Resident Visa can enter Taiwan before the expiration of their visa. They can apply for an alien resident card (A.R.C.) valid for a year. Applicants will also need a re-entry permit from the National Immigration Agency within fifteen days of entering Taiwan.
A visitor visa is issued to those students who are interested in pursuing a short-term course lasting six months. If the study program is longer than six months, applicants will need to apply for a Resident visa.
When applicants are regular residents of their country of nationality and meet the age requirements, they may be eligible to apply for a work visa for Taiwan. In that case, citizens of the following fifteen nations may apply for a working holiday visa in Taiwan. British and Canadian citizens can apply for Youth Mobility Scheme through diplomatic missions representing Taiwan in their home countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China offers Taiwan eVisa. Travelers from the following nations are eligible for eVisa for Taiwan:
A single-entry Taiwan eVisa for a maximum stay of 30 days is available for foreigners if they are traveling with an approved tour group:
Turkish nationals can avail visa-on -arrival without any charge. They can stay up to 30 days. However, travelers from certain other visa-exempt nations and holders of temporary or emergency passports are also eligible for a visa-on-arrival in Taiwan. Travelers should note visa-on-arrival is only allowed at certain ports in Taiwan, and not all entry points support it. To learn more about visa-on-arrival in Taiwan, travelers should contact the diplomatic missions of Taiwan in their country.
The visa requirements for foreign nationals are as follows:
Travelers from the following countries do not need a visa for Taiwan for 90 days:
Travelers from the following nations do not need a visa for Taiwan for 30 days:
The following nations enjoy visa-free access to Taiwan for 14 days:
There is an entry and exit permit that is required by travelers from Macau and Hong Kong. It costs 300 NTD upon arrival. However, there is no fee if permanent residents of Macau and Hong Kong apply online. It is valid for less than thirty days.
Holders of APEC Business Travel Cards can enter Taiwan without a visa for up to 90 days. The following country nationals qualify as APEC cardholders:
It is issued to Chinese nationals and holders of permanent residency in Hong Kong. However, Chinese citizens will face restrictions to enter and are not allowed to use APEC Business Cards. Chinese nationals living in Hong Kong need an Entry and Exit Card.
They face entry restrictions and must apply for an Entry and Exit Permit unless they meet the entry criteria. Former Chinese nationals holding residency certificates from the Mainland and residents of Hong Kong and Macau who have renounced their "hukou" ( household registration) are exempt from the restrictions. The conditions are as follows:
For instance, they have acquired Hong Kong or Macau’s permanent resident status. According to Article Nine of the Chinese nationality law, which does not apply to permanent Hong Kong or Macau residents, they have lost their Chinese citizenship. If all conditions are satisfied, individuals may be allowed to enter Taiwan in accordance with the visa requirements of the new nationality they have gained or as residents of Macau and Hong Kong. However, proof of the change in citizenship or residency status, such as a home return permit or a naturalization certificate, is needed.
For nationals of specific nations, Taiwan has additional admission restrictions. Only when one of the following conditions is satisfied may the citizens of the nations listed below go to Taiwan:
A Taiwanese consular official must also interview anyone visiting Taiwan on business, and their Taiwanese sponsors must provide a guarantee to the Consular Affairs Bureau in Taiwan.
The following countries are also eligible to apply for tourist visas and do not need to provide a guarantee from their Taiwanese sponsors in order to apply for business visas. The list of countries is as follows:
In most cases, a Taiwan visa is valid for 90 days. The electronic visa is valid for 30 days.
Taoyuan International Airport serves Northern Taiwan and Taipei. It has two terminals to which two short people movers connect. Terminal 3 is still under construction, whereas plans for Terminal 4 have been halted.
Passengers who are non-citizens of Taiwan (R.O.C.) and passengers who are citizens of R.O.C. with valid passports can enter through the gate if they have registered their fingerprints and facial features. Individuals who have registered their facial features can still undergo manual immigration clearance.
Public transport in Taiwan is efficient, affordable, and safe. Travelers can use buses, the Taiwan Railway Administration Network, and Taiwan’s High-speed Rail. Visitors can easily travel to most tourist spots as the High-speed Rail connects the main cities from the North to the South.
Travelers from visa-eligible countries need a visa to go to Taiwan.
Applicants should apply for a Taiwan visa at least three months before the date of departure. Visa for Taiwan is valid for three months from the date of its issuance, and tourists should apply in advance to avoid any hassles.
No, travelers need to apply for a new passport to apply for a visa.
In most cases, the visa fee is not refundable.
No, an interview for a visa application is not compulsory.
The validity of a visitor visa is 90 days. eVisa is valid for 30 days.
Yes, nationals of certain countries can apply for eVisa.
Most visitors from visa-eligible nations are allowed to stay up to 90 days from the date of arrival. However, certain nationals may be allowed to stay visa-free for a shorter duration, such as 14, 15, or 30 days.
Tourists require a passport with a validity of six months from the entry date. Please note that U.S. and Japanese nationals need a valid passport for the entire duration of their stay. Additionally, travelers will require two blank pages on their passport and a tourist visa if from a visa-required nation.
The visa processing time varies depending on the nationality of the visitor. It also depends on whether travelers are opting for regular or express services. Visa processing time can be three working days for Myanmar and Thai nationals or less in emergency cases. It usually takes 7-10 working days and longer during peak season.