【Important Announcement】 Entry Regulations for Foreign Passport Holders

【7th October, 2022】Taiwan to adjust entry regulations for foreign nationals

Following an announcement by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), in addition to full reinstatement of visa-exempt entry scheme from September 29, nationals of countries that are not eligible for this scheme may apply for visas to enter Taiwan for the purposes of regular social visits and tourism, starting October 13. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will adjust entry regulations for foreign visitors to Taiwan as follows:

1. Full reinstatement of specific visa regulations
Eligible foreign nationals may enter Taiwan on a landing visa, apply for an e-Visa in advance, or apply for a Travel Authorization Certificate for nationals from Southeast Asian countries from the National Immigration Agency (NIA) online application system. Applications from travelers on High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian countries (Project Kuan-Hong) will be accepted in accordance with the timeframe set by the competent authority—the Tourism Bureau.

2. Full reinstatement of regular visa application procedures
Foreign nationals may apply for a visa at a Republic of China (Taiwan) overseas mission based on their purpose of travel (including regular social visits and tourism) by submitting relevant documents.

For information on required documentation and other details for visa applications, please visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. Please check announcements on the NIA website regarding the online application system for Travel Authorization Certificates for nationals from Southeast Asian countries. In addition, a cap on the total number of arrivals remains in place and inbound passengers are still required to follow current CECC regulations.

Source: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

【23 September, 2022】

Taiwan to fully reinstate visa-exempt treatment for nationals of eligible countries from September 29. For more details, please visit BOCA website.

【5 September, 2022】

Taiwan to reinstate visa-exempt entry scheme for nationals of the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, European countries, and diplomatic allies from September 12. For more details, please visit BOCA website.

【22 August, 2022】The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that, effective immediately, weekly cap of international arrivals increased to 50,000 people.

【15 August, 2022】The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that effective from September 1, 3+4 quarantine policy to remain in place for arrivals; one person per room rule to be adopted during four days of self-initiated epidemic prevention.

【10 August, 2022】The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that, effective from August 15, Taiwan to remove requirement that inbound passengers should provide COVID-19 PCR test result within two days of flight schedule time.

【13 June, 2022】

Starting June 15, Taiwan to gradually ease border controls, shorten quarantine period, and control number of arrival

Quarantine period and location:
A. The day of arrival counts as Day 0; a three-day home quarantine and four-day self-initiated epidemic prevention following the end of quarantine will be required. The previous seven-day self-health management will be terminated.
B. Epidemic prevention rules to follow during the self-initiated epidemic prevention period:
1. Avoid going outside unless necessary.
2. A negative result from an at-home rapid test taken within two days should be presented if an arrival needs to go out to work or buy daily necessities.
3. Masks must be worn at all times when outside and social distancing must be maintained.
4. An arrival fulfilling business contractual obligations may go to work, conduct site visits, give a speech, or have a meeting, provided that a mask must be worn at all times when outside and social distancing must be maintained.
5. Masks must be worn at all times and social distancing must be maintained at work; masks can be temporarily removed when dining and should be put on after finishing dining.
6. Avoid going to crowded venues or contact with nonspecific persons.
7. An arrival fulfilling business contractual obligations may dine alone or with specific persons in a separate space in a restaurant provided that table dividers must be installed or social distancing must be maintained.
8. Non-urgent medical services or examinations should be postponed.
C. An arrival should observe the rule of one person per residence in his or her quarantine location or stay in a quarantine hotel; in principle, the arrival should undergo the three-day quarantine and four-day self-initiated epidemic prevention in the same location. Furthermore, in consideration of shared living arrangements for migrant workers, fishermen, and students and their higher risk of cluster infection, the regulatory authority of the respective business will ask such individuals to complete the self-initiated epidemic prevention period in their quarantine location and not to attend classes, work, or go out unless necessary during the period.

For details, please visit Taiwan Centers for Disease Control or phone +886-2-2395-9825

【24 February, 2022】

On February 24, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that Taiwan will allow nonresident business travelers to enter Taiwan starting 00:00 on March 7, 2022 (departure time at the airport of departure).

Details are as below:
A. Foreign nationals: they may enter Taiwan for business activities including business visits, investment, fulfillment of contractual obligations, and employment; applicants should apply for a special entry permit at an R.O.C. overseas representative office.
B. People from China, Hong Kong and Macao: they may enter Taiwan to fulfill contractual obligations or as part of internal transfers within multinational enterprises. For Chinese nationals, the company or institution inviting them should apply for a special entry permit on the online application system of the National Immigration Agency, and Hong Kong and Macao residents should apply for a special entry permit at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong or Macao, or an R.O.C. overseas representative office in their place of residence.

The CECC pointed out that nonresident business travelers must cooperate with all epidemic prevention measures, provide related documents for entry, and abide by related regulations.

December 27, 2021

In response to rapid spread of Omicron variant, COVID-19 RT-PCR test reports required for inbound passengers must be issued within two days which is based on specimen collection date.

On December 27, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that starting 00:00 on January 4, 2022 (departure date), the 3-day period of a COVID-19 RT-PCR test report required for inbound passengers prior to boarding will be changed to "two days," which will be calculated based on the "specimen collection date" instead of the test report date; the newly revised two-day period will be based on the incoming flight's scheduled departure time at the place of departure, that is, counting two calendar days backwards from the incoming flight's scheduled departure time (excluding the flight date). Passengers are urged to ensure their COVID-19 RT-PCR test report meets the above-mentioned requirements before boarding.

Source: Centers for Disease Control

September 13, 2021
CECC announces that foreign spouses and minor children of R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationals may apply visa as special entry permit to enter Taiwan while strict border controls remain in place

Given that the COVID-19 pandemic situation has stabilized in Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), considering the strong demand for the families of R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationals to be reunited and seeking to safeguard the right to family reunification, announced on September 13 that it would allow foreign spouses of R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationals who have completed marriage procedures and their minor children to apply to enter Taiwan while strict border controls remain in place.

In cooperating with the CECC’s border control measures, R.O.C. (Taiwan) overseas missions will process visa applications for the foreign spouses and minor children of R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationals in accordance with the prevailing regulations applicable to visa applications for such individuals. The quarantine measures for such individuals entering Taiwan will be subject to the CECC’s quarantine regulations.

Individuals who have a spousal or dependent visa (marked TS or TC) that expired in the period from May 19 to September 13 this year will be granted an automatic visa extension until December 31, 2021. They do not need to re-apply for a special entry permit visa. (E)

Source: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Starting from 4th of May 2021, Taiwan to impose entry ban on travelers with history of travel to India, except for R.O.C. nationals and non-R.O.C. nationals with ARC; returning R.O.C. nationals and non-R.O.C. nationals with ARC must be quarantined at group quarantine facilities and undergo testing.For more information please visit Centers for Disease Control's website.

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced on February 24, 2021, that implementation of the Fall-Winter COVID-19 Prevention Program (2020/12/01-2021/2/28) will be continued until further notice, but that entry regulations will be adjusted. In accordance with the decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will update regulations concerning the entry of foreign nationals into the Republic of China (Taiwan). Beginning March 1, 2021, foreign nationals who wish to travel to Taiwan for reasons other than tourism and regular social visits may apply for a special entry permit with an R.O.C. overseas mission by submitting relevant documents and forms. However, the entry of foreign students will still be based on regulations of the Ministry of Education. (Please note that currently only students in formal degree programs in Taiwan and recipients of the MOFA Taiwan Scholarship attending the Mandarin Language Enrichment Program may enter the country.)

Please log in to Quarantine System for Entry to provide home/ prepaid quarantine information within 48hours before departure.

For more information please visit Centers for Disease Control's website.

<November 25th, 2020> Fall-Winter COVID-19 Prevention Program will be implemented from December 1, 2020. Travelers to Taiwan must provide a COVID-19 RT-PCR test result. Exempted circumstances applied. For more information please visit Centers for Disease Control's website.

For information regarding getting a COVID-19 test in NSW, please visit NSW Health's website.

<September 30, 2020>Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) moved Australia to medium-risk countries/ regions. Business travelers to Taiwan from Australia are eligible for shortened quarantine periods. For for information please visit CDC website.

Source: Bureau of Consular Affairs