Taiwan to resume visa-free entry for certain countries from Sep 12

Taiwan will resume visa-free entry for visitors from multiple countries starting Sep 12, announced Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC) in a press release on Monday (Sep 5).

These countries include the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Singapore was briefly on Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs’ list of countries eligible for visa-free entry on Monday, but was recategorised under the “Temporarily Suspending” category on Tuesday (Sep 6). This means travellers from Singapore will still require a visa to enter the country.

CECC chief Victor Wang said the three days of quarantine, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test upon arrival and current cap on 50,000 arrivals a week would still remain for the time being.

According to the CECC, the decision to further loosen border restrictions was based on how most countries have already reopened their borders and resumed pre-pandemic border measures.

It accounted for the need to balance the country’s epidemic prevention, economic and social activities and international exchanges.

In July, the CECC announced that foreign nationals may apply for a special entry permit visa to visit Taiwan for professional purposes such as religious work, internships and volunteering.

In August, Taiwan removed the requirement for travellers to show pre-departure PCR test results within two days of their flight schedule time.

Current travel requirements, duration of stay information and a full list of visa-exempt countries can be found on the consular’s website.