Eleven Countries Granted Visa-Exempt Status

In a move that seeks to further strengthen bilateral relations and increase tourism, business, trade and cultural exchanges, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has granted visa-exempt status to nationals of 11 South American countries.  Qualified nationals from these countries may enter Taiwan for up to 30 or 90 days for  tourist and business visits without requiring an entry visa. These countries were previously eligible for the electronic visa (eVisa) program.

Effective immediately, nationals of El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Paraguay are granted visa-exempt stays of up to 90 days while nationals of Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Christopher and Nevis, and Saint Lucia are granted visa-exempt stays of up to 30 days.

To qualify, applicants from these countries must: 

• Have a standard passport valid for at least six months; 
• Hold a return flight ticket, or a flight ticket and a valid visa for an onward destination; and
• Possess no criminal record, as verified by immigration authorities upon arrival at an airport or other designated ports of entry in Taiwan. 

Holders of Belizean, Saint Christopher and Nevis, and Saint Lucian passports with their "place of birth" indicated on the passport data page as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, People's Republic of China, Syria or Yemen, are not eligible for the visa exemption. Similarly, holders of Honduran passports indicating People's Republic of China as their birth place are also not eligible for the visa exemption.

To expedite their entry, all visa-exempt travelers are recommended to complete an online immigration arrival card (in lieu of a paper arrival card) on the website of the National Immigration Agency prior to arrival.

What This Means for Foreign Nationals 

Eligible foreign nationals should benefit from this visa-free entry process and should contact their immigration professional for specific requirements.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].