Vacation In Taiwan: Do You Need A Visa When The Country Reopens?

Unlike China across the strait, Taiwan is the most vibrant democracy in Asia and also makes it relatively easy to visit. Basically, visa requirements for entering the country depend on your nationality, as well as any ongoing COFVID-19 restrictions. Read on to find out whether you do require a visa to visit Taiwan, the various types, as well as the procedures to get one.

Taiwan visas and COVID-19

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Taiwan has remained mostly closed to international tourists. However, April 2022 saw the rules relaxing a little to allow certain travelers to apply for a visa. These included foreign business travelers, relatives of Taiwanese nationals, overseas students, foreigners with Alien Resident Certificates and blue-collar workers from neighboring countries. However, as of July 2022, there is no news about leisure travelers being able to visit the country and no sign of a reopening date.

Visa-free entry to Taiwan

In normal times, outside of the pandemic, international visitors from Australia, Canada, most European countries, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea can visit Taiwan without the need for a visa. Meanwhile, they are also allowed to stay in the country for 90 days. However, visitors from several other countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, are permitted to stay for 30 days visa-free.

However, international travelers from most other countries need to apply for a Visitor Visa. Moreover, Chinese citizens are required to apply for a special type of travel permit. Meanwhile, visa-exempt travelers are required to have a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry. They must also have two blank pages for entry and exit stamps. On arrival in Taiwan, travelers will also need to show proof of a confirmed travel ticket. Meanwhile, they will also need an itinerary for departing the country prior to the end of the visa-free travel period.

Extending a stay in Taiwan

Often when visiting a country, travelers decide they want to spend more time exploring and finding out more about the culture. Before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, only travelers from Canada and the UK were allowed to extend their visa-free stay by 90 days, up to a maximum of 180 days.

Travelers need to head to the nearest National Immigration Agency Office in Taiwan to apply to extend their visas. Visas cost around US$50 (although this varies from country to country), while resident visas cost around US$100

Meanwhile, citizens of many visa-free countries can also apply for a visa under Taiwan’s working holidays scheme. This scheme is targeted at travelers between the ages of 18 and 30. It allows for stays of up to 12 months, allowing the holder to work during their visit. However, there are a couple of restrictions, including not remaining with a single employer for longer than three months.

Where can you apply for a visa for Taiwan?

Anyone considering travel to Taiwan should make their first port of call the Consular Affairs section of the MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) website for the country. The website includes a list of Taiwan’s embassies and missions abroad. It also offers a dedicated visa section under News and Events, showing the latest requirements and regulations.

The MOFA website also provides links to online visa application forms that should be completed. Once complete, the form can be posted to the nearest Taiwan overseas embassy or mission, or presented in person. The forms must be accompanied by the necessary supporting documents, depending on the visa type applied for.

As mentioned, currently, leisure travel is still off the cards for Taiwan. However, once it reopens to international visitors, the process will likely be the same. Check back with Tourist Meets Traveler for updated news in the future.