Are you looking to travel to Taiwan and need a visa? Read this article until the end to find out everything you need to know about Taiwanese visas.
Do you need a visa to Taiwan?
You will most likely be required a visa to be able to travel to Taiwan, however, there are also countries that are visa-exempt, thus do not require one.
Knowing that Taiwan has established some visa-exempt agreements with other nations, this enables the citizens of those nations to travel to Taiwan without a visa for a short period of time, usually a total of 90 days.
All European and EFTA countries as well as the United States, Australia, Japan, and other nations, will not need a Taiwan visa.
Taiwan visa requirements
The following documents are required in order to apply for a Taiwanese visa:
- A valid passport
- Completed application form of the visa
- Passport size photos
- A return flight ticket
- Evidence that you have enough funds to cover your living expenses
- Payment of the visa
Note: You will also need additional documents which you can find below for each type of Taiwanese visa. However, we always recommend that you contact the nearest embassy or consulate to make sure what type of documents you need to submit for each type of visa.
Which are Taiwan visa types?
Taiwan visas are categorized into short-stay visas and long-stay visas. Short-stay visas can be for purposes of visit, tourism, or business, while long-stay visas are can be for work, study purposes, etc.
Taiwan short-stay visa
A short-stay visa is classified into different categories depending on the intent of your travel:
- Taiwan tourism visa – Granted for tourism, leisure activities.
- Taiwan business visa – Granted for business purposes such as negotiations or conferences.
- Taiwan visitor visa – This is different from a tourist visa because it is granted only if you have a close relative living in Taiwan and you wish to visit them.
- Taiwan medical visa – It is granted to foreigners who want to come to Taiwan to seek medical assistance.
- Taiwan cultural visa – Granted to individuals who plan to travel to Taiwan for cultural events.
Besides the general requirements, you will also need to submit additional documents depending on the type of visa.
For a business visa, you will need:
- Evidence that you are traveling for business purposes only. This can be an invitation letter from the company which states your intent of travel.
- Company’s details
- A stamped guarantee letter
- A letter outlining your partnership and your travel plans in Taiwan.
- Taiwanese business license documents or amendments of the registration documents
For a visitor visa:
- Evidence that your relative is a resident of Taiwan
- Evidence of relationship
- Invitation letter
For a medical visa:
- A letter stating your medical condition as well as the diagnosis
- A letter from the institution you are going to receive medical assistance at
For a cultural visa:
- An invitation letter from the organization that is holding the event and in most cases an approval letter as well.
Taiwan long-stay visa types
A Taiwan long-stay visa is categorized into the following:
- Taiwan work visa
- Taiwan study visa
- Family reunification visa
- Entrepreneur visa
- Holiday work visa
Taiwan work visa
To work in Taiwan, you must have the following:
- Work permit
- Work visa
- Residence permit which allows you to stay in Taiwan for an extended period of time.
Nevertheless, not many can simply pack their stuff and hope of finding a job in Taiwan. The work permits are only issued to specific Taiwan employees by the government. Furthermore, you must have an employment offer to be eligible to apply for a Taiwanese work visa.
The requirements for the Taiwanese work visa are:
- Application form
- Passport size picture
- A valid passport
- Health certificate
- The initial and photocopy of the work permit
- Other documentation based on your career
Taiwan study visa
A Taiwan student visa is required for international students who want to study in an educational institution in Taiwan.
For starters, Taiwan offers excellent educational opportunities, good living standards, and is a secure environment. Taiwanese academic institutions offer a number of English-language courses, and the citizens are shown to be very welcoming to international tourists. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about the island’s rich and fascinating history.
The requirements for the Taiwanese student visa are:
- Taiwan student visa application form
- Your valid passport
- A biometric photo
- Enrollment confirmation
- Health certificate
- Financial support evidence
Additional information may be asked to you for example whether you are an exchange student or want to learn the Mandarin Chinese language.
Taiwan family reunification visa
This visa is required for foreigners who want to join a close relative in Taiwan. It is a form of Taiwan residency visa that is provided for long-term stays.
The following are qualified to apply for the family reunification visa:
- If you are the spouse of a Taiwanese citizen
- You are a Taiwanese citizen’s son or daughter or grandchild under the age of 20
Documents required for this type of visa are:
- Fully completed application form
- A valid passport
- A copy of your passport personal information page
- Passport photo
- Payment of the visa
- Health certificate
- Police clearance
- Marriage certificate for partners
- If a family member has a Taiwan Household Registration Certificate, it should indicate your registration of marriage, full name in the native language, and nationality. In case if they do not have it then their Alien Residence card must be valid.
If you are joining a parent and you are under the age of 20:
- Certificate of birth
- Evidence of parent’s marriage
- Parent’s household registration evidence
- In cases when your parents are divorced you will need a custody evidence
If you want to visit your grandparents and are under the age of 20:
- Approval letter from your parent or legal guardian
Taiwan entrepreneur visa
In an attempt to draw more international investment, the Taiwanese government has announced a visa for entrepreneurs. For several factors, the Entrepreneur Visa is an appealing choice for international investors:
- It gives them a year to build a company/business after their arrival in Taiwan, so you wouldn’t have to start one beforehand.
- You’ll get a one-year residence with several entries at first.
- If your company succeeds, you will be able to expand your visa.
- A group of up to three people can apply along for such a visa.
That being said, you and your teammates, if there are any, must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to obtain the entrepreneur visa.
Taiwan holiday work visa
The working holiday visa allows foreigners to travel, work and stay in Taiwan for a period of up to one year.
The documents for this visa are:
- Completed application form of the work holiday visa
- Your valid passport
- Two recent passport photos
- Evidence of round-trip ticket
- Evidence of ample financial resources
- Health insurance
- A description of your trip to Taiwan
- Other documents that may be asked by the diplomatic missions
Taiwan visa photo requirements
As you have seen above, each type of visa requires you to submit at least two recent passport size photos.
A Taiwan visa photo must comply with the following requirements:
- Size of 45 x 35mm
- The photo should be submitted in color
- It should be a recent one
- Background: White
- No smiling
- Eyes open
- Glasses: only if your eyes are visible
- Headcovering: only for religious purposes
