VISA

Visa-Exempt Entry

Countries eligible for Visa-exempt entry:

  1. The nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a duration of stay up to 90 days:Andorra, Australia* (effective from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018), Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras*, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan*, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia* (effective from May 21, 2018 to March 31, 2019), Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Poland,Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu*, the United Kingdom, the United States of America*,and Vatican City State.
  2. Nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, with a duration of stay of up to 30 days: Belize*, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Nauru*, Saint Christopher and Nevis*, Saint Lucia*, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore.
  3. Nationals of the kingdom of Thailand (effective from August 1, 2016, to July 31, 2019)-except those holding diplomatic or official/service passports-are eligible for the visa exemption program, with a duration of stay of up to 14 days
  4. Nationals of Brunei (effective from August 1, 2016, to July 31, 2019)-except those holding diplomatic or official/ service passports-are eligible for the visa exemption program, with a duration of stay of up to 14 days. In addition, effective from December 1, 2016, to July 31, 2019, those holding a Brunei Certificate of Identity are eligible for the visa exemption program, with a duration of stay of up to 14 days.
  5. Nationals of Philippines (effective from November 1, 2017, to July 31, 2019), except those holding diplomatic or official/service passports, are eligible for the visa exemption program, with a duration of stay of up to 14 days.
  6. Nationals of Russia (effective from September 6, 2018, to July 31, 2019), except those holding diplomatic or official/service passports, are eligible for the visa exemption program, with a duration of stay of up to 14 days.

Requirements

  1. A passport with remaining validity of at least six months as of the date of entry
    • Visa-exempt entry only applies to foreign visitors holding formal passports (i.e., ordinary, official/service and diplomatic passports). Those holding emergency, temporary, or other informal passports or travel documents are ineligible, with the exception of those holding a Brunei Certificate of Identity.
    • Holders of Belizean, Nauru, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucian and Tuvalu Passports with place of birth recorded on the passport data page as : Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, Syria and Yemen are ineligible for the visa exemption. Holders of Honduran passport with "place of birth" recorded on the passport data page as the People's Republic of China are also ineligible for the visa exemption.
    • USA and Japan nationals who possess a,including emergency passports,valid for the intended period of stay are eligible for visa-exempt entry.
    • Holder of emergency or temporary passport (except those from the United States of America) should apply for a visa at an ROC overseas mission, or a landing visa after arriving in the ROC.
    • A confirmed return air/sea ticket or air/sea ticket and a visa for the next destination, and a confirmed seat reservation for departure flight.
    • Not determined by immigration officers at ports of entry in the ROC to be otherwise ineligible.
    • Holders of Brunei, Philippines, Russia and Thailand passports must have: A proof of accommodation (hotel) booking, host / sponsor's contact information and sufficient travel funds.

Duration of stay:

  1. The duration of stay starts from the day after arrival and is not extendable. Foreign visitors must depart by the end of the said duration.information on penalties for overstay.
  2. Visa-exempt entry cannot be converted to visa-based stay, unless any of the following applies:

Foreign nationals entering the ROC on a visa exemption may only apply for conversion to a visitor visa within the permitted duration of stay at the Bureau of Consular Affairs or MOFA branch offices in the event of situations that prevent them from leaving the ROC, such as severe acute illness, natural disaster, or other force majeure reason. In addition, white-collar professionals who have obtained a work permit within their permitted duration of stay(Brunei, Philippines, Russia and Thailand are not included) may apply for a work visa together with their spouse and minors (under age 20) who entered the ROC at the same time.

For Canadian and UK passport holders,  Notice for British & Canadian Passport Holders Who Enter Taiwan Visa-Free and Apply for an Extension of Stay.

A. Foreign visitors entering the R.O.C. through visa-exemption may only apply for converting to visitor visas within their legal stay at the Bureau of Consular Affairs or branch offices of MOFA in case of: severe acute diseases, natural disasters or other force majeure reasons, which hold them back from leaving the R.O.C. In addition, white-collar professionals who have obtained the work permits within their legal stay may apply for work visas, together with their spouse and minors (under age 20) entering the R.O.C. at the same time.

B. For U.K. and Canadian passport holders, please refer to  here.

Further information: click here.

Landing Visasstrong

Countries eligible for Landing Visas

  1. Holders of Turkish passport with validity of more than six months.
  2. Holders of emergency or temporary passports with validity of more than six months for nationals of those countries(except for US) eligible for visa-exempt entry.

Requirements

  1. a confirmed return air/sea  ticket or an air/sea ticket and a visa for the next destination, and a confirmed seat reservation for departure.
  2. fill out an application form with two photos.
  3. visa fee of NT$ 1,600 (citizens of the countries with reciprocal agreements shall be issued visas gratis) plus a handling fee of NT$ 800; For Turkish citizens: shall only be charged a handling fee of NT$800.No fee will be charged for Turkish citizens.
  4. no criminal record or not  prohibited by the local authorities.

Duration of stay

  1. The 30-day duration of stay starts from the next day of arrival and is not extendable.
  2. The above-said landing visa cannot be converted to visitor or resident visa under normal circumstances.

Ports of entry

  1. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei SongShan Airport,
  2. Taichung Airport, Kaohsiung International Airport.

Method of Lodgement

  1. Passengers entering the Republic of China through the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport may apply for a landing visa at the Visa Office of Consular Affairs Bureau at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
  2. Passengers who enter the Republic of China through the Taipei SongShan Airport, the TaichungAirport and the Kaohsiung International Airport shall apply for "temporary entry permit" at Border Affairs Corps of National Immigration Agency.The holder of this permit should apply for a visa as soon as possible at the Bureau of Consular Affairs or at any of the branch offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taichung, Chiayi, Kaohsiung or Hualian. The holder will need to submit his/her passport, temporary entry permit when applying for the visa.
  3. In the event of a long national holiday, the holder may apply for a visa at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TIA) Visa Office, Bureau of Consular Affairs. The holder is not allowed to depart from the airports until he/she has applied for a visa.

Remark

  1. Nationals who have entered Taiwan on Landing Visas for purposes that do not require a permit – such as tourism, visiting friends or relatives, social visits, conducting business, attending exhibitions, fact-finding missions, and international exchanges – who then intend to engage in activities that, according to the laws and regulations of relevant agencies, do require a permit must still obtain such a permit. Nationals who intend to enter Taiwan for the purposes that require qualifications – such as religious work – must obtain a visa from the R.O.C. overseas missions before entering Taiwan.
  2. Before arriving in Taiwan, Please complete online immigration arrival cards at National Immigration Website.

Further information: click here.

Procedures for Nationals of the Designated Countries Applying for Visitor Visas to the Republic of China(R.O.C.)

Nationals from the following countries applying for visitor visas to the R.O.C. must fulfill the procedure of this section:

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Ghana
  • India
  • Iran
  • Nepal
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Senegal
  • Somalia
  • Sri Lanka 
  • Syria

Nationals from the following countries applying for visitor visas to the R.O.C. must submit their application at the designated overseas missions:

  • Bhutan (Nationals of Bhutan are eligible to apply for tourist visas. For nationals of Bhutan applying for business visas, the overseas missions of the R.O.C. will not request a Guarantee of Sponsorship from the applicant’s sponsor in Taiwan.)
  • India (Identity Certificate)
  • Sri Lanka(Nationals of Sri Lanka are eligible to apply for tourist visas. For nationals of Sri Lanka applying for business visas, the overseas missions of the R.O.C. will not request a Guarantee of Sponsorship from the applicant’s sponsor in Taiwan.)

Nationals from the following countries applying for visitor visas to the R.O.C. must submit their application at the designated overseas missions:

  • Nepal (Only at Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in New Delhi)
  • India (Identity Certificate) (Only at Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in NewDelhi)
  • Nigeria (Only at the Taipei Trade Office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria )
  • Ghana (Only at the Taipei Trade Office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria)

As for other particular cases of visa application from the designated countries, the overseas missions of the R.O.C. might request a Guarantee from the applicant’s sponsor in Taiwan if necessary.

For visa applicants of the designated countries who intend to come to the R.O.C. to conduct economic and commercial businesses, their sponsors in the R.O.C. may submit relevant documents(See point 7 on the Visitor Visa for Business Purpose for details.)together with a cable fee(50 NT dollars each "paid in counter")to this Bureau (Counter Nos.31~33, 3rd floor) . After examination, this Bureau will notify the designated R.O.C. foreign mission. The mission will then review other necessary documents submitted by the visa applicants in person, give an interview and make a final decision in the case.


Further information: click here

Flow Chart of Visitor Visa Application

Eligibility

  • Nationals of the following countries are eligible for an eVisa when they meet relevant criteria:Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Dominica, Ecuador, Kiribati, Kuwait, Mauritius, Montenegro, Oman, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Eswatini, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates.
  • Furthermore, foreign nationals who have been invited to attend international conferences, sporting events, trade fairs or other activities in Taiwan—organized, co-organized, or sponsored by central government agencies—are also eligible for an eVisa. Such foreign nationals must obtain an Ecode from the host organization in Taiwan (n.b., not the Bureau of Consular Affairs) prior to submitting an online application for an eVisa. Nationals of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are only eligible for an eVisa when participating in sporting events in Taiwan.Tourist groups from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam under “Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries” are eligible for an eVisa. Nationals of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka for the purpose of conducting business at the recommendation of local offices of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) are eligible for an eVisa.
  • Foreign nationals who intend to travel to Taiwan but are not eligible for an eVisa must fill in a form under General Visa Applications on the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs and submit this application form to an ROC overseas mission.

Requirements & Procedures

  • eVisa applicants must possess an ordinary, official, or diplomatic passport with validity of at least six months as of the date of intended entry into Taiwan.
  • To obtain an eVisa, applicants must submit relevant personal information and pay the required fee by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) online. ROC overseas missions may, depending on the applicant’s nationality and purpose of visit, request through email that the applicant submit additional documents within a specific timeframe. If these documents are not submitted by the given deadline, the application may be denied.
  • When an eVisa application has been approved, the applicant will receive a notice by email containing a webpage link to download and print the eVisa. The eVisa holder is required to present a paper copy of the eVisa at the immigration checkpoint for verification by the National Immigration Agency upon arrival in Taiwan. However, immigration officers at ports of entry in Taiwan have the right to deny entry to eVisa holders without providing further explanation.

Purposes of Visit

Please note that eVisas are only granted for tourism and business purposes, as well as for visiting relatives and attending international conferences or sporting events in Taiwan. If you intend to travel to Taiwan for other purposes – such as employment, study, residence with family, or Mandarin language courses – you must submit an application for a suitable type of visa at an ROC overseas mission.

For more information, please check here