To travel to Taiwan with an approved visa, you must pay a Taiwan visa fee for your visa application process. Nevertheless, this step is not as simple as you expect because of its procedure and requirements. For more details, you can spend a few minutes reading this article in order to fully comprehend this visa fee.
The Taiwan visa fee is an administrative charge paid for processing the visa application. Besides, you might have to pay extra fees, for example, the fee for submitting your documents. However, in case that your application is rejected or withdrawn, this amount of money is not refundable.
Like other countries, Taiwan also has its own distinct types of visas based on the purpose of your trip and the length of your stay.
Of all these types of visas, a Taiwan visitor visa and a Taiwan resident visa are the most common ones that you can choose when visiting Taiwan.
It is only valid for short-term visits lasting up to 90 days.
It can be used for social visits, business, tourism, and other approved activities that are not necessary to obtain extra permission or take up paid work.
It is classified as a single-entry visitor visa or a multiple-entry visitor visa.
Foreign nationals who want to stay in Taiwan for more than 90 days for a specific reason, including working or studying, must apply for this type of visa.
It includes many different types of visas, such as a work visa, a student visa, a family reunification visa, etc.
Here are some types of Taiwan resident visas:
Taiwan work visa: Foreign nationals who wish to start a paid job in a Taiwanese company are granted this type of visa. In addition to the Taiwan work visa, a work permit is also needed.
Taiwan student visa: This type of visa is for international students who want to study at a Taiwanese educational institution. They must already have been admitted to a Taiwanese school or university before applying.
Taiwan family reunification visa: It allows foreign citizens to join a spouse, parent, or child who resides in Taiwan.
Taiwan entrepreneur visa: It is issued to foreign citizens who wish to establish a business in Taiwan. The aim of the Taiwanese government is to entice international entrepreneurs to invest in Taiwan's economy.
Taiwan working holidays visa: Young persons (students or recent graduates) in the age range of 18 to 30 from other nations that have established a working holiday scheme with Taiwan are eligible to apply for this visa. It permits them to work in Taiwan for a maximum of 1 year.
Taiwan digital nomad visa: It is registered by foreign digital nomads who want to work remotely from Taiwan.
Note:
If you enter Taiwan by applying for a resident visa, you must obtain an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) along with a re-entry permit at local service centers of the National Immigration Agency within 15 days of your stay, beginning on the day after you arrived in Taiwan.
In case you enter Taiwan with a different type of visa and have already submitted an application for a resident visa, you also need to get an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) within 15 days after receiving your resident visa.
Taiwan has various types of visas
Citizens of most nations must apply for a visa in order to enter Taiwan. However, Taiwan and multiple foreign nations have signed visa-waiver agreements, granting citizens of other nations visa-free entry to Taiwan for short-term visits (up to 90 days).
In particular, citizens of the US, Australia, Japan, the EU, EFTA, and many other nations are exempt from the requirements for obtaining a visitor visa before traveling to Taiwan.
Nevertheless, if you were born in Hong Kong, Macau, or the People's Republic of China, you might not be eligible for a visa exemption. Therefore, if you are a citizen of these nations, you ought to apply for a visitor visa to Taiwan in advance.
Depending on your nationality, you can be permitted to travel to Taiwan without obtaining a Taiwan visa. However, the length of your stay varies based on the country you belong to.
Here are the foreign nations whose nationals can stay in Taiwan visa-free:
The length of stay |
Countries |
---|---|
Up to 90 days |
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Island, Monaco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Vatican City State, etc. |
Up to 30 days |
Belize, Malaysia, Nauru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, etc. |
Up to 14 days |
The kingdom of Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines. |
Note:
Only foreign nationals who possess formal passports can stay in Taiwan without a visitor visa. Therefore, visa-exempt entry does not apply for those who obtain emergency, temporary, or informal passports or travel documents.
The citizens of the Philippines, Brunei, and Thailand can visit Taiwan without a visitor visa until the date of July 31, 2024.
Visa exemption is not available to holders of passports from Belize, Eswatini, Nauru, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Tuvalu whose place of birth is listed on the passport data page as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, Syria, or Yemen.
Visa exemption is not available to Honduran passport holders whose place of birth is shown as the People's Republic of China on the passport data page.
If you are not listed in the table above, you need to apply for a Taiwan visa in advance. However, the aforementioned visa-exempt entry is only used for foreign nationals who want to travel for short-term stays (up to 90 days), not for long-term ones. Therefore, you must have a Taiwan visa in case you want to stay in Taiwan for a long time.
Unless you are exempt from the Taiwan visa requirements, you must implement the following steps to get a Taiwan visa:
This is the most crucial step that you need to complete carefully and correctly. This application form can be carried out online at the website of the Taiwan Government.
In this step, you must provide your personal details, including your full name, nationality, date of birth, place of birth, gender, address, contact information, etc.
Moreover, you need to offer your passport details, consisting of the date of issue, date of expiry, passport type, and passport number.
In addition, other information related to your travel purpose, the type of visa that you want to apply for, your contact details in Taiwan, etc. are needed.
The Taiwan visa application form must be printed and signed after it is filled out. You must sign your visa application form, even if you have someone else complete it.
In the process of the visa application, your required documents must be prepared beforehand, including:
A printed copy of your application form;
Your passport or another valid travel document;
2 passport-sized photos;
A return or onward ticket proving that you plan to exit Taiwan as soon as your visit to this nation is over;
Proof of your financial condition, proving that you have enough money to pay for your stay in Taiwan;
Proof that your Taiwan visa fee was paid;
Any extra paperwork required for the reason for your visit, consisting of a letter from your employer if you go on business or an invitation letter from your family in Taiwan along with the proof of your relationship if you plan to have a social visit.
Note:
Your passport must have two blank pages for the entry and exit stamps and be valid for at least six months after the date of entry.
In case of using urgent visa service, the fee will be higher.
After completing the steps above, you need to submit your documents in person to one of the Taiwan diplomatic missions (including the Taiwan Embassies and Consulates) within 30 days.
About 25 Foreign Embassies and 8 Consulates are located in Taiwan. Besides, Taiwan has roughly 79 Embassies and 32 Consulates worldwide. Therefore, you should choose the nearest missions to save time and money.
Note:
In certain cases, the staff of the diplomatic missions may ask you to have an interview if necessary.
For the purpose of submitting documents, some diplomatic missions may require you to appear at the missions, while others might allow you to authorize another person to apply for your visa.
The Taiwan visa fee must be paid at the time of application.
After submitting your application, you need to wait until the Taiwan diplomatic mission has made a decision on your application.
Note:
The Taiwan Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) will receive your application if the diplomatic mission determines that it requires an additional assessment.
If your application is approved by the BOCA, they will notify the diplomatic mission, which will then issue your visa.
The Taiwan diplomatic mission that you apply to will issue your visa. They will let you know when you can get your passport with the visa attached if your application is approved. You need to complete this step as instructed.
If you want your passport to be delivered by mail, you must enclose a prepaid and self-addressed envelope containing your documents.
Depending on the missions to which you submit your application and the types of visa you request, the Taiwan visa fee varies as follows:
Taiwan-visa types |
Taiwan diplomatic missions overseas |
Diplomatic missions in Taiwan |
---|---|---|
Visitor visa (Single entry) |
US$50 |
NT$1,600 |
Visitor visa (Multiple entries) |
US$100 |
NT$3,200 |
Resident visa (Single entry) |
US$66 |
NT$2,200 |
Resident visa (Multiple entries) |
US$132 |
NT$4,400 |
Note:
Those fees may be changed based on the rules of the Taiwan Government, requesting agencies, or other organizations.
You will not receive a refund for this charge, even if your application is rejected and you are unable to visit Taiwan.
The Taiwan visa fee varies based on visa types and diplomatic missions
Except for the Taiwan visa fee, you may be required to pay for other fees, such as special handling fees as well as postage and telegram charges.
For the special handling fees, some requirements include as follows:
Applications for visas submitted on arrival at Taiwanese ports of entry will be required to pay an extra fee of NT$800 or US$24.
Rush handling will incur an extra 50% surcharge on rates in accordance with the various types of visas. However, the applicant might not be charged extra if the request for rush handling is made in response to an emergency or in order to carry out official duties.
For holders who have a visitor visa but still want to reapply for a different type of visitor visa or a resident visa, their applications submitted in Taiwan will incur an extra fee of NT$800 or US$24.
For the nations that impose a special handling fee on Taiwan passport holders, the applications for Taiwan visas will incur additional fees equal to the amount of the visa application.
For the postage and telegram charges, you need to learn about the following details:
Postage and telegram fees are the costs paid by the Taiwan missions overseas and the Ministry when processing visa applications.
Postage fees are also the costs incurred by the Taiwan missions overseas for sending passports, visas, and other pertinent application forms.
The Ministry will set the aforementioned telegram fees, which may differ depending on the region.
The postage costs of each application incurred by Taiwan missions overseas will be used to determine the postage charges for mailing documents.
Depending on the different nations, the processing time for a Taiwan visa can range from 2 to 10 working days after the Taiwan diplomatic mission receives your completed application. For further information, you should get in touch with the diplomatic mission.
An on-time payment of the Taiwan visa fee will help you have a fantastic vacation. Here are some advantages if you pay your fee on time:
Extra time to enjoy the pleasure of travel: An on-time payment of your fee will assist you in avoiding unexpected situations. Therefore, you will have more time to look forward to the amazing things Taiwan has to offer such as Taiwanese cuisine, festivals, etc.
No problems with sanctions: If you pay the visa fee on time, you can prevent potential fines or additional costs associated with late payments. This helps you become economical and avoid unnecessary complications.
Smooth processing: Processing goes more smoothly when you pay the fee on time. Your application has been moved up the queue more quickly. This will raise the possibility that it will be completed within the estimated time frame and on schedule.
An arrangement without stress: You can avoid delays and last-minute worries by making the payments in advance. Therefore, you will have more time to concern yourself with other things and enjoy your trip.
If your visa fee has been paid, you will have a chance to obtain a Taiwan visa and then visit this beautiful nation. You may complete your Taiwan visa fee efficiently and quickly by using the following advice:
Avoid registering the visa application in high seasons: Longer processing times, particularly for fee payments, may arise from traveling during the high seasons. In case you still want to travel to Taiwan during this period of time, applying for a visa should be scheduled well beforehand.
Make an early payment: Your application will be swiftly placed in the queue if the fee is received on schedule. Therefore, the processing time might be sped up.
Remember to keep track of deadlines: You should note down the deadlines for applying for a visa. It should be ensured that you have made the required payment on time.
Reach out to the diplomatic missions for assistance if needed: If you require assistance, you should get in touch with the Taiwan diplomatic missions to ask for more details or support for your payment issues.
Keep your receipts: You should keep your payment receipt carefully in case you require it at a later time or have any inquiries.
To sum up, citizens of nations should notice that the Taiwan visa fee may vary. Therefore, it is very necessary for you to visit the official Taiwanese Government website or the Taiwanese diplomatic mission located in your own country to get more information related to the visa fee.
We hope you will have an incredible trip to Taiwan without any unnecessary complications or unexpected situations! Especially if you need our assistance, please reach out to us at [email protected].