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).
Accordingly, the Taipei Representative Office in Singapore will accept applications for special entry permits (visas) from foreigners visiting Taiwan for business purposes, including inspection, investment, employment or fulfilling contractual obligations, from March 7 onwards.
Where the applicant has been issued an employment permit by the central competent authority for the purpose of business and the period of employment is for more than 6 months, the applicant's foreign spouse and minor children may apply for a dependent visa at the same time.
Those who have previously been issued a special entry permit (visa) for business activities with the validity period expiring between May 19, 2021 to August 18, 2021 may update the required documents and apply to the original issuing office for a new visa of the same type and for the same purpose, without having to pay the usual fee. Visa exemption, visa on arrival and e-Visa are still suspended.
In addition, foreign business visitors who are holders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card (ABTC) can enter the country after presenting the relevant business certificates for inspection and clearance by border authorities.
The command center currently allows certain categories of foreigners to enter Taiwan, including persons travelling for emergency humanitarian or for business reasons, foreign students, foreign spouses and minor children of foreign nationals, foreign spouses and minor children of Chinese residence permit holders.
Visa applications for reasons other than those stated above such as visiting relatives, job hunting, starting a business, working on vacation, preaching, internships, volunteering and medical treatment will not be processed.
For information on relevant regulations, please refer to the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at https://www.boca.gov.tw/np-137-2.html.
