Certain foreign nationals who wish to travel to Taiwan (officially known as the Republic of China or ROC), need to be in possession of a Taiwan visa, depending on the purpose of their travel as well as the duration of stay. There are two main types of visas for Taiwan:
- Taiwan Visitor Visa, which is most commonly referred to as a Taiwan Tourist Visa, issued for stays of up to 90 days.
- Taiwan Resident Visa, which is issued for stays longer than 90 days. The Taiwan Work Visa, Student Visa, Family Reunion Visa, etc., are types of the Resident Visa.
This article will detail the Taiwan Visitor Visa, including its types, application process, requirements, and other relevant questions.
Who Needs a Taiwan Tourist Visa?
You must have a visa before traveling to Taiwan unless you are from a visa-exempt country.
Several countries have reached a visa-waiver agreement with Taiwan, which means their nationals may travel to Taiwan visa-free for short stays (up to 14, 21, 30, and 90 days depending on the country).
For example, all EU and EFTA nationals can travel to Taiwan without a visa and stay there for up to 90 days. For longer stays, they will need a Taiwan Resident Visa.
What are the Types of Taiwan Visitor Visas?
The Taiwan visitor visas are divided based on their purpose. As such, the most common types are the:
- Taiwan Tourist Visa, which is issued to visa-required foreign nationals who want to visit Taiwan for tourism purposes.
- Taiwan Business Visa, which is issued to visa-required foreign nationals who will travel to Taiwan for business-related purposes, such as to attend a meeting.
- Taiwan Visit Visa, which is issued to visa-required foreign nationals who will travel to Taiwan to visit friends or family or another organization.
- Taiwan Medical Treatment Visa, issued to visa-required foreign nationals who will undergo medical treatment in a Taiwanese medical institution.
- Taiwan Tourist Visa for employment-seeking purpose
- Taiwan Tourist Visa for attending academic/social/cultural events
What are the requirements for a Taiwan Visitor Visa?
The documents you have to submit when you apply for a Taiwan Visitor Visa include:
- Taiwan Visa Application Form completed and signed
- Original passport, with a validity of at least six more months after the date of arrival and with at least three blank pages.
- Passport-size pictures: 35mm by 45mm, with a white background.
- Travel itinerary/travel ticket, proving you intend to leave Taiwan after your visa expires.
- Proof of accommodation in Taiwan, such as a hotel reservation, letter of invitation from your host, etc.
- Proof of sufficient financial means to cover the duration of your stay.
- Employment status documents, such as a letter from your employer. If you are a student, submit a letter from your school.
See a more detailed list of the standard documents required for all Taiwan visa applications.
Additionally, based on the purpose of your travel, the documents you must submit include:
For a Business Visa:
- Proof you are traveling for business:
- Letter from your company, stating you are employed there and the details of your assignment
- Letter of Invitation from the Taiwanese company
- Proof of correspondence or prior relations between the two companies, including commercial business exchanges
- The details of your contact in Taiwan: their name, address, phone number etc.
- Letter of Guarantee for Visa Application to the Republic of China, stamped by the company of your guarantor.
- A letter from your guarantor explaining your relationship and detailing your itinerary while in Taiwan
- The registration documents or the amendment of business registration document of the Taiwanese company
For Visit Visa:
- Proof of your host’s residence in Taiwan:
- Household Registration issued within the last three months
- Alien Residence Certificate or Permanent Residence Certificate
- Proof of relationship, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, Household Registration, etc.
- Letter of invitation, from the person/organization inviting you.
For Medical Treatment Visa:
- Letter from your current medical care provider, stating your diagnosis
- Letter from the medical institution in Taiwan, detailing the medical treatment you will receive
For employment-seeking purpose
- A completed and signed “Employment-Seeking VISA Application Checklist”, downloaded from the website of the Taiwan Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA).
- Proof of health insurance for the time you will be in Taiwan
- Proof of at least one of the following:
- That you have been previously employed and received a monthly salary which was at least NT$47,971
- That you have graduated within the past year from one of the top 500 universities listed by the Taiwan Ministry of Education
- That you have received approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
For attending academic/social/cultural events
- If you will attend a conference or exhibit: Letter of invitation from the conference/event you’ll be attending or otherwise, proof of you will attend it
- If you will attend a training course: Letter of Approval, issued by the relevant government agency
- If you’ll take part in a performance event: a Letter of Approval issued by the Ministry of Labor (your employer or sponsor must apply for it on your behalf)
How to apply for Taiwan Tourist Visa?
The application process for a Taiwan tourist visa is divided into two parts:
- Online application. You must complete a Taiwan Visa Application Form online, print it, and sign it.
- Submitting the documents. After you print the online Taiwan Visa Application Form, you must collect the required documents for your specific visa and submit them along with the application form at a Taiwanese diplomatic mission.
How Long Can Does it Take to Get a Tourist Visa for Taiwan?
The time it takes to process a Taiwan tourist visa depends on the specific diplomatic mission where you are applying from. However, in most cases, it takes somewhere between 2 to 5 working days to process a visa, starting from the time they receive your completed application.
The processing time may be affected by any mission documents or whether the diplomatic mission has to refer your application to the Bureau of Consular Affairs for approval.
How Long Can I Stay in Taiwan With a Tourist Visa?
A Taiwan Tourist Visa allows the holder to stay in Taiwan for a maximum of 90 days from the day of arrival. Some countries have a shorter allowed time of stays such as 14, 30, or 60 days. The visa for Taiwan is valid for:
- Up to three months, if you have a single-entry Taiwan visa
- Up to five years, if you have a multiple-entry Taiwan visa
Can you extend a Taiwan Tourist Visa?
Yes, you can. You can extend a Taiwan tourist visa at a local office of the Taiwan National Immigration Agency before your current visa expires if you have a valid reason.
However, if your visa has a stamp that states “No Extension Will Be Granted”, you first have to apply to get your non-extendable visa changed to an extendable one from the Taiwan Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA).
What is the Taiwan Tourist Visa fee?
Taiwan Tourist Visa fees are as follows:
If applying at a Taiwan Diplomatic Mission:
- Single-Entry Visitor Visa: US$50
- Multiple-Entry Visitor Visa: US$100
If applying in Taiwan:
- Single-Entry Visitor Visa: NT$1,600
- Multiple-Entry Visitor Visa: NT$3,200
The fees may change slightly depending on which diplomatic mission you apply from. Additionally, different offices have different requirements when it comes to paying the visa fee – some may ask you to pay via bank, while others will only accept exact cash.
Taiwan eVisa
The eVisa for Taiwan is a type of Tourist/Visitor visa which is available only to nationals of certain countries (listed below).
If you are eligible for an eVisa, you do not have to go to any Taiwanese diplomatic mission – the entire application process takes place online. You may apply here, and after it is processed, you will receive your eVisa via email. Then, you must print it and show it to the immigration officers after you travel.
Nationals of the following countries can apply for a Taiwan eVisa (for any purpose):
| Bahrain | Burkina Faso | Colombia | Dominica | Ecuador |
| Kiribati | Kuwait | Mauritius | Montenegro | Oman |
| Panama | Peru | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Solomon Islands |
| Turkey | United Arab Emirates. |
| Only if they are traveling with a tourist group under “Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries”. |
| Cambodia |
| India |
| Indonesia |
| Laos |
| Myanmar |
| Vietnam |
| Only if they will conduct business in Taiwan with a recommendation by the local offices of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). |
| Bangladesh |
| Bhutan |
| India |
| Iran |
| Nepal |
| Pakistan |
| Sri Lanka |
Taiwan Landing Visa (Visa On Arrival)
The Taiwan Landing Visa is issued after the foreigner arrives in Taiwan. However, it is only available to:
- Turkish citizens
- Holders of emergency or temporary passports issued by a visa-exempt country
If you are eligible for a Taiwan Landing Visa, you can receive it after you arrive at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
Other eligible points of entry are:
- Taipei Songshan Airport
- Kaohsiung International Airport
- Taichung Airport
If you arrive through one of the last three points of entry, you will receive an entry permit, which allows you to enter Taiwan. But then you also have to apply for the Taiwan visa at one of the following:
- Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA)
- A local office of the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- The BOCA office at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
If you arrive through any other point of entry, you will not be eligible for a Taiwan Landing Visa.
Taiwan Visitor Visa Requirements for Specific Countries
If you are from one of the countries mentioned in the table below, you cannot get a Taiwan Visitor Visa unless you fulfill one of these requirements:
- You have been invited by a Taiwan government agency on official business
- You will be partaking in an international activity or meeting for religious, athletic, or cultural exchange purposes which is organized by a Taiwanese organization
- You will visit a family member who is a legal resident in Taiwan, such as a spouse, a family member of lineal relationship, or a sibling.
- You will conduct economic or commercial businesses (for which you will need a Letter of Guarantee from your contact in Taiwan)
- You are a crew member and will come to Taiwan to report for duty
- You will come to Taiwan for medical treatment
| Afghanistan | Algeria | Bangladesh | Bhutan | Cameroon |
| Gambia | Ghana | India (only applies to holders of Identity Certificates) | Iraq | Nepal |
| Niger | Nigeria | Pakistan | Senegal | Somalia |
| Sri Lanka | Syria |
You may apply for a Taiwan Visitor Visa at one of the following locations:
- Nepal: the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in New Delhi
- India: the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in New Delhi
- Nigeria: the Taipei Trade Office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Ghana: the Taipei Trade Office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Exceptions: If you are from Bhutan or Sri Lanka, you can also apply for a Taiwan tourist visa and you don’t have to submit a Letter of Guarantee when applying for a business visa.
Entry Requirements to Taiwan for Citizens of the PRC, Hong Kong, and Macau
If you are from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Macau or Hong Kong, you cannot apply for a Taiwan Tourist Visa. Instead, you need an Exit and Entry Permit, which can be issued in one of two ways:
- Single-entry Exit and Entry Permit, issued on an A4 paper.
- Multiple-entry Exit and Entry Permit, which is on the form of a passport-size booklet.
If you are from Hong Kong and Macau, you need an Entry and Exit Permit if you have one of the following travel documents:
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport (HKSAR)
- British National (Overseas) passport (BN(O))
- Macao Special Administrative Region passport (MSAR)
If you have another nationality or are living in another country, you don’t have to get an Entry and Exit Permit since you are not considered as a resident. Instead, you will be subject to the visa requirements of your second country of nationality.
If you are from the People’s Republic of China, you have to get an Entry and Exit Permit but you are also subject to a daily quota of visitors to Taiwan (14,600 persons per day, where half of the quota should go to individual tour applicants). If you have obtained another nationality, you must follow the Taiwan visa requirements of your current nationality. Even so, as a former PRC citizen, you may still face some restrictions when you travel to Taiwan, such as:
- You may still have to get a visa because you were born in China, even if you’re currently a national of a visa-exempt country
- You need an Exit and Entry Permit to enter Taiwan if you have only lived outside China for less than 4 years