A Taiwan Tourist Visa is required for traveling to the Republic of China (Taiwan) for all those who are not visa-exempt. Tourist visas can only be obtained from Taiwanese overseas missions.
You will have to complete the application form online. Then you must print it and submit it along with the required documents at a Taiwanese embassy in person.
Quick summary:
- Eligibility: All non-visa-exempt nationalities except for China, Hong Kong, Macau, and 14 other high-risk countries
- Validity: 3 to 12 months
- Allowed stay: 14, 30, 60, or 90 days
- Processing time: 2-7 days
- Fee: 50 USD for single entry or 100 USD for multiple entry visa
- Extensions: Possible for some visas
If you haven’t already, read the Taiwan Visa Guide for general information on available visas for tourists, their eligibility and requirements.
Table of Contents
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Understanding Taiwan Tourist Visa
Tourist visa validity
The validity of Taiwan’s tourist visas depends on any reciprocal visa agreements Taiwan has with your country.
In all cases, a Visitor Visa for tourism is valid for between 3 months and a year.
Duration of stay
The duration of stay granted varies depending on your nationality, itinerary, and embassy where you apply. It can be either 14, 30, 60, or 90 days with the most common being 60 days.
Allowed number of entries
Single-entry visas allow only one entry and multiple-entry visas allow for multiple entries. You can decide which visa to apply for depending on your purpose and circumstances.
Allowed ports of entry
You can enter Taiwan from any airport or seaport using a tourist visa.
When to apply
The visa processing time depends on the Taiwanese embassy where you apply. Most embassies work rather quickly. It usually takes a few days to a week to issue a tourist visa if no additional documents or background checks are required.
Below is the summary of when to apply for the tourist visa.
- Latest: 1 week before traveling
- Earliest: 3 months before traveling
Tourist visa extension
Extensions are possible only for visas with an allowed stay of 60 or 90 days. The visa sticker must not have a “no extension” remark on it.
You can extend the 60-day visa twice for up to a maximum stay of 180 days in Taiwan.
You can extend the 90-day visa once for up to a maximum stay of 180 days in Taiwan.
You can apply for the extension at local service centers of the National Immigration Agency in Taiwan.
The visa extension fee is the same as the respective visa application fee.
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Taiwan Tourist Visa Requirements
Who needs a tourist visa
All nationalities that are NOT Visa-Exempt require a tourist visa to travel to Taiwan.
Some eligible nationalities can take advantage of other visa options such as Visa on Arrival, eVisa or Travel Authorization Certificate to travel to Taiwan.
Permanent residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China may be eligible for Entry & Exit Permit instead.
High-risk countries ineligible for a tourist visa
Nationals from the following countries are NOT eligible for a tourist visa.
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Cameroon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Iraq
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Senegal
- Somalia
- Syria
NOTE
The above 14 nationalities are NOT eligible for a “tourist visa” but are eligible for other types of visitor visas such as business, family, etc. but require a sponsor.
Documents required
The documents required for the Taiwan tourist visa are:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of arrival
- A copy of the passport biodata page
- Completed, printed, and signed application form
- Two recent photos
- Bank statement for the past 3 months
- Travel Itinerary (a day-by-day itinerary on a sheet of paper is sufficient)
- A return or onward airline ticket or steamship ticket
- Visa for the next country after Taiwan if you need one
Apart from the above documents, you may be asked for additional documents during visa processing.
Photo requirements
The photo for the tourist visa must meet the following requirements.
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Must be of size 35 mm x 45 mm
- The length between the top of head and chin must be between 32 mm and 36 mm
- Must be on a white background
- Front facing, eyes looking at the camera
- No hat and no head coverings that obscure the face or ears
- No colored glasses, no glasses with heavy frames or with the frames covering the eyes
- Must have not been modified
Tourist visa fee
The visa fee depends on whether you are applying for a single-entry or a multiple-entry visa.
- Single-entry tourist visa fee: 1,600 TWD or 50 USD
- Multiple-entry tourist visa fee: 3,200 TWD or 100 USD
The fee is 50% more for expedited processing.
The fee is payable in the local currency of the embassy where you apply or in US dollars.
Processing time
The processing time depends on the individual embassies, whether more documents are required, and whether a background check is necessary.
In most cases, visa processing times are between 2 and 7 days. You can speed this up by paying 50% extra for express processing.
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Tourist Visa Application Process
How to apply for Taiwan tourist visa
Step 1: Go to the BOCA website of the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Step 2: Click “New” under “General Visa Applications”.
Step 3: Select your nationality and pick “1-180 days”. Tourist visas are not available for stays over 180 days. Then select either a single or multiple entry visa and your purpose for traveling (most likely “tourism”).
Step 4: Fill out the application form and submit it. You will see an Application Form number and a button to print the form. Clicking this button downloads the form as a PDF. Print it, sign it, and attach 2 photos.
Step 5: Visit the Taiwan overseas mission that you selected during the application and submit all necessary documents along with the printed application form. Pay the visa fee.
(Not for all) Step 6: You may be requested to visit the embassy again for an interview.
(Not for all) Step 7: You may have to have a Guarantor in Taiwan submit a Letter of Guarantee for your visa application to the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Step 8: Visit the embassy again to collect your passport with the visa sticker.
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Entry Procedure at the Border
You must complete the Taiwan Arrival Card before proceeding to the immigration.
Present your passport at the immigration kiosk and receive an entry stamp. Check the entry stamp for the allowed duration of stay.
You may also be asked to show any of the documents you used for the visa application, for example, your onward ticket or bank statement.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to apply at a Taiwan embassy in my country of residence? What if there isn’t one?
You can apply at any ROC (Taiwan) embassy, consulate, or representative office. If there isn’t one in your country, you can visit the closest one instead.
What is the minimum bank balance required for a Taiwan tourist visa?
Taiwanese embassies do not provide guidance on the minimum bank balance required for the tourist visa. But as a general rule, have at least 2,000 USD in your bank account every month for the past 3 months.
Can I get a Taiwan visa online?
Certain nationalities are eligible for the Taiwan eVisa or Travel Authorization Certificate. The regular sticker tourist visa can only be obtained from a Taiwanese embassy.
