1. Heads of state and deputy heads of state, prime ministers, deputy prime ministers and ministers of foreign affairs and their dependents.
2. Personnel dispatched to the ROC by foreign governments and their dependants and entourage.
3. Officials dispatched to the ROC by foreign governments on short-term missions and their dependants.
4. Senior foreign officials such as administrative heads or deputy heads of international intergovernmental organizations dispatched to the ROC and their dependants.
5. Diplomatic messengers sent by foreign governments.
Courtesy visa
Courtesy visas may be issued to the following foreign passport holders:
1. Former heads of state and deputy heads of state, prime ministers, deputy prime ministers, ministers of foreign affairs and their dependents.
2. Personnel dispatched by foreign governments to the ROC on official duties and their dependants and entourage.
3. Foreign employees other than the senior employees referred to in Paragraph 4 of Article 8 who come to the ROC for public duties and their dependants.
4. Foreign employees of international intergovernmental international organizations invited by the ROC government and their dependants.
5. Foreign passport holders who visit the ROC at the invitation of the ROC government or who have made great contributions to the ROC and their dependants.
Visitor visa
Foreign passport holders who are in possession of foreign passports and intend to stay in the ROC for a short-term period may apply for a visitor visa.
Resident visa
Foreign passport holders who are in possession of foreign passports and intend to stay in the ROC for a long-term period may apply for a resident visa.
Rejection of a Taiwan visa
When processing visa applications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ROC overseas missions shall take into consideration the national interest, the individual status of applicants, and the relations between the resident countries of the applicants and the ROC. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ROC overseas missions may refuse to issue visas to a foreign passport holder who:
- has a criminal record within or outside the ROC, or has been denied entry, ordered to leave or deported by the ROC government.
- has entered the ROC illegally.
- has a contagious disease, mental illness or other diseases, which may be detrimental to public health or social order.
- has made a false statement or withheld a fact relating to the purpose of entry into the ROC as declared on the visa application.
- has overstayed a visitor or resident visa or worked illegally in the ROC.
- is believed through convincing evidence to lack financial support or intends to engage in unauthorized employment in the ROC.
- is in possession of a foreign passport that is not recognized by the ROC government, or whose foreign status is not recognized by the ROC government.
- is in possession of a foreign passport that has expired or that if lost, cannot be reissued or extended.
- is in possession of a foreign passport or other travel document that was illegally obtained, forged or tampered with.
- is believed through convincing evidence to be intending to evade laws in order to come to the ROC.
- is suspected of engaging in terrorist activities.
- is believed through convincing evidence to be detrimental to the national interest, public safety, public order, or the morals of the ROC.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ROC overseas missions are not required to give any reason to a visa applicant for refusal based on any of the above stipulations.
Extending a Taiwan visa
I. Receiving units: Local city (county) Police Bureau’s Foreign Affairs Divisions (Section).
II. Required documents:
A. An application form
B. Passport and photocopy of passport (original to be returned after verification)
C. Related documents;
1. Those visiting family:
- Household certificate of visited family, household registration transcript issued within 3 months, or Alien Resident Certificate.
- Proof of family relationship (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)
2. Mandarin language study:
- Proof of registration and class schedule from a university language center or language school licensed by local educational authorities.
- Attendance record (those applying for a first time extension do not need to include the attendance record.)
3. Religious activities:
- Invitation letter or relevant certificates from religious organization in Taiwan.
- Copy of proof of religious organization’s registration.
Those accepting employment: Approval letter from responsible government agency.
Those seeking medical treatment: documented proof provided by hospital within 1 month.
III. Processing time: First come first served.
IV. Application method: Can be done in person or applicant may authorize another person to represent them.
(In the case of authorizing a representative, applicant should fill out an authorized statement on the application form or attach a letter of authorization.)
Notices:
- The period of stay is calculated from the day following entry.
- Those with landing visas or visa-exemption entry, cannot apply for extension.
- Those needing to extend for valid reasons, should apply for extension within 15 days before visa expiry date. Each extension must not exceed the originally permitted time on the visa. The cumulative length of stay must not exceed 6 months or 180 days.
- In the event of forces majeur or other major events, the non-resident visa holder should go to the local police bureau’s foreign affairs division and apply for extension.
