Do you really need a visa to visit Taiwan?
The following question is the one I’ve received the most on this website since I created it in 2008: “I am from xyz country, do I need a Taiwan visa?”
The second most common question I am asked is: “Am I eligible for the visa-free landing permit to Taiwan?”
In the past, getting a tourist visa to Taiwan was a real pain in the butt. Nowadays, it’s really easy! You basically don’t need one anymore.
One of the best aspects of traveling to Taiwan is how easy it is for most citizens to enter the country. Read on…
Visa-Free 90-Day Landing Permit
Citizens of the following countries can enter the island without a visa for Taiwan and can get a 90-day visa-exempt permit right at the airport upon landing in Taiwan
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras*, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan*, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Paraguay, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America*, and Vatican City State.
Visa-Free 30-Day Landing Permit
You can get a free, 30-day visa-free landing permit at the airport if you have one of the following passports:
Belize*, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Malaysia, Saint Christopher and Nevis*, Saint Lucia*, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Singapore.
Citizens of Thailand (effective from August 1, 2016, to July 31, 2018), except those holding diplomatic or official/service passports, are also eligible for the visa exemption program, with a duration of stay of up to 30 days.
Requirements to be eligible for the Taiwan visa-free program
- You need to have a passport that is valid for 6 months and an onward ticket with a confirmed seat.
- Japanese citizens who possess a passport valid for the intended period of stay are eligible for visa-exempt entry.
- US citizens who possess a passport valid for the intended period of stay are eligible for visa-exempt entry.
- The Taiwan visa-free landing permit is not extendable.
- If you are coming to Taiwan to study or work, you will need to apply for a visa at an overseas mission of the Republic of China (R.O.C.). In other words, this landing permit cannot be converted into a student visa, work visa, or resident certificate. If you intend to enroll into a Mandarin Chinese language program, or if you plan on teaching English in Taiwan, you will need to get a different visa in order to convert it into an ARC.
For more information about Taiwan visa application forms, visitor visas, eVisa, resident visa, fees, and working holidays, you can visit Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
Read about the ARC, (Alien Resident Certificate), the permit you’ll need if you want to stay in Taiwan for longer than 6 months to work or study.