APPLYING
FOR A VISAAPPLYING
FOR A VISA
Foreign nationals may obtain R.O.C. tourist visas if they hold foreign passports or travel documents valid for more than six months.
Visa requirements included. one completed application form； incoming and outgoing travel ticket; one portrait photo; documents
verifying the purpose of the visits, and other relevant documents. The Visitor Visa Application Form can be downloaded from
the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The completed form should be submitted to an overseas
mission of the Republic of China for visa issuance.
Entry and Exit For Visitor Visa
1. Documents required for entry:
(1) A valid visitor visa,
(2) A passport valid for at least six months,
(3) A confirmed return air ticket or an air ticket and a visa for the next destination, and a confirmed seat reservation for his/her departure.
2. Visitor aliens should depart before their visa’s expiry date. If they have to continue their visit in the ROC, they must apply to the local
police bureau within 15 days before the allowed period of stay expires.
3. The exit procedure for overstayed visitors:
(1) Aliens who have overstayed less than 30 days in the ROC shall pay the fine at the local police bureau or the inspection section at the
airports/seaports in accordance with The Detective Procedure and Fine Standard of the Penalty Case of the Immigration Law before they
are allowed to leave the country.
(2) Aliens who have overstayed more than 31 days in the ROC shall pay the fine at the local police bureau, before they are allowed to
leave the country.
Entry and Exit For Resident Aliens
Resident aliens who exit the ROC are required to show their passports and Alien Resident Certificates to the Customs. Aliens who wish to
re-enter after their departure are required to apply for a re-entry permit from the authorities before they leave the ROC and show it to the
Customs when they re-enter.
Entry and Exit For Permanent Resident Alien
Permanent Resident Aliens who exit the ROC are required to show their passports and Alien Permanent Resident Certificates to Customs,
the same when they reenter the ROC. (Permanent Resident Aliens shall be exempt from applying the reentry permit.) More information：
http://www.immigration.gov.tw/.
Students applying from abroad who have received a formal letter of admission should apply to the nearest ROC embassy, consulate or
representative agency for a visitor visa. Extendible and non-extendible visitor visas are issued to students. Most allow the holder to remain
in Taiwan for 60 days. The former may be extended twice for a maximum stay of up to 180 days. If the visa is non-extendible or when no
further extensions will be granted, the holder must leave Taiwan for a short time. If the visa is not valid for multiple entries, a new visa must
be obtained from abroad.
Regulations Governing Visiting, Residence and Permanent Resident of Aliens
Article 3
The allowed period of stay for aliens, when entering into the ROC with visitor visas or through the visa-exemption, starts from the next day of
their entry into the ROC. Aliens must leave the country before the expiration date of the above-mentioned period of stay.
According to paragraph 1 of Article 29 of the Act, application for extension of visiting can be submitted, with proper documents of proof, to the
Authority for approval within 15 days before the allowed period of stay expires. Each extension must not exceed the original duration granted
on the visitor visas, with a maximum stay of six months. Application for extension over six months due to reasons of force majeure or other
major incidents must be submitted to the Authority for approval.
Aliens entering into the ROC through visa-exemption, when unable to leave the country before the visa-exemption period due to force majeure
reasons or other major incidents, must apply for a visitor visa from the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its
branch offices.
Article 4
Aliens holding resident visas or conforming to any of the subparagraphs in Article 24 of the Act must apply for Alien Resident Certificates from
the Authority within 15 days from the next day of their arrival or the occurrence of the circumstance. The term of the residence starts from the
next day of the arrival or the occurrence of the circumstance.
Aliens born in the ROC are entitled to apply for Alien Resident Certificates, with such application to be submitted through their parents,
guardians or institutions related to children welfare.
Aliens, when their Alien Permanent Resident Certificates are revoked in accordance with subparagraph 4 of Article 31 of the Act, are entitled to
apply for Alien Resident Certificate if their residence is still valid.
Article 5
When applying for Alien Resident Certificates, aliens must submit the following documents with two current, full-face photographs of
themselves to the Authority:
1. Application Form for Alien Resident Certificate
2. Passport and resident visa
3. Other relevant documents
Passport and resident visa are not required if the application conforms to subparagraphs 1 to 3 of Article 24 of the Act.
Article 8
The term of residence granted on the Alien Residence Certificate for the following aliens is determined by their purpose of residence, with a
maximum period of one year:
1. Aliens enrolled in a Mandarin Center affiliated with schools or universities approved by the educational authorities.
2. Aliens approved by the educational or competent authorities to study or receive training in the ROC.
3. Other aliens with needs of residence in the ROC.
Article 11
Aliens, when there is a change to their purpose of residence in the ROC, are required to reapply for a resident visa from the Bureau of Consular
Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its branch offices within 15 days after the actual change takes place, before they can apply for
another term of residence from the Authority.
Article 14
In accordance with Article 32 of the Act, aliens, who wish to reenter the ROC after their departure during the valid term of residence, are
required to apply for a reentry permit from the Authority before they leave the ROC.
The reentry permits referred to in the previous paragraph are of two types, multiple reentry and single reentry. Aliens may apply for the reentry
permit at the time when they submit their application for an Alien Resident Certificate. The valid term of the reentry permit may not exceed the
term granted on the Alien Resident Certificate.
The reentry permit is considered revoked or cancelled if the Alien Resident Certificate has been revoked or cancelled.
Aliens holding an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate can reenter the ROC with the Alien Permanent Resident Certificate and a valid passport.