Last revised on October 18, 2012
• VISA EXEMPT ENTRY: Any US passport holder can enjoy visa-exempt entry into Taiwan for up to 90 days if arrive in Taiwan on or after Nov. 1st, 2012 for whatever purpose if:
oHe or she has a passport with validity of at least six months after entry; and
oHe or she has a confirmed return air ticket or an air ticket and a visa for the next destination, and a confirmed seat reservation for departure;
oHe or she has no criminal record.
The 90 days' duration of stay starts from the next day of arrival and is NOT EXTENDABLE.
Visa-exempt entry cannot be converted to visitor or resident visa.
•LANDING VISA:
oOnly for those holders of US passports with validity less than six months.
oa confirmed return air ticket or an air ticket and a visa for the next destination, and a confirmed seat reservation for departure.
ofill out an application form with two photos.
ono criminal record.
oPassengers who apply for visas upon arrival at the ports of entry in the ROC shall be charged a special handling fee of NT$4,800 (about US$160.00) plus an additional fee of NT$800（about US$24.00）.
oA single entry visa of which duration of stay is no more than 30 days may be granted.
oThe 30-days visa which starts from the next day of arrival and is NOT EXTENDABLE.
oLanding visa cannot be converted to visitor or resident visa.
oPort of Entry: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Kaohsiung International Airport
•VISTOR and RESIDENT VISA:
oA visitor visa is required for the US passport holder who wants to visit the ROC for of period of more than 30 days (90 days if arrive in Taiwan on or after Nov. 1st, 2012) and fewer than 180 days.
oA resident visa is required for the US passport holder who wants to visit the ROC for a period of more than 180 days.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITOR AND RESIDENT VISA
1.Completed application form signed by the applicant.
2.Two passport-size photos:
oNeeded for computerized visa sticker.
o4.5cm x 3.5cm in size, taken within the past 6 months.
oFull face, front view with a plain white background, color photos.
oIdentical, not wearing a hat or headgear except for religious reasons.
oWithout dark glasses or glasses with tinted lenses, unless it is for medical reasons.
oNo composite photos.
3.Passport (original and photocopy) which must be valid for 6 months and with blank pages
4. Travel itinerary (date of arrival in and departure from Taiwan).
5.Please support your visa application with necessary documents for the various purposes of visiting Taiwan. Other additional documents may be required during processing. Please check the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.boca.gov.tw) for detailed information (Please to go the English vision of the website and check the section for visa). For example, applicants for tourism visa should support their cases with return tickets, evidence of funds for traveling and living cost in Taiwan (for example, bank statements) and letter of their current employment in the US. For the purpose of visiting relatives, visa applicants should provide proof of relative's residence in Taiwan (for example, Household Registration, Alien Residence Certificate or Permanent Residence Certificate for spouse and relatives within 3-generation only) and documents that can prove the relationship (for example, Birth Certificate or Household Registration …etc). For business visa, applicants should support their cases with evidence of business activities (such as letters from the employers stating the applicant’s current job and assignment, invitation letters from Taiwanese companies, on-going letters, trading records (e.g. LC, remittance receipt...etc.) and details of the contact person in Taiwan (including name, address, telephone number...etc.). For those who hold dual citizenship of the US and the ROC (Taiwan), please present this office with proofs of their ROC citizenship (for example, ROC ID card, passport, or transcript of house registration, etc.).
6.Visa processing fee is $160 (for both visitor and resident visa and for single- and multiple-entry visa). You may pay cash. In case of application by mail, money order and certified checks are also acceptable. Please make the money orders or certified checks payable to: TECO in Miami (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami)
7.For return mail service, please prepare self-addressed stamped return envelope for different categories of mail of your choice. Please be reminded that the visa application fee does not include the return postage, and make sure you add sufficient postage if you request this office to return by mail.
8.Mailing address and telephone number for this office is as follows:
TECO in Miami,
2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 610
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Tel: (305) 443 8917
Fax: (305) 442-6054
9.Visa application form must be filled out and printed out online at https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw.
10.The government of the Republic of China has the right to refuse a visa application and withhold disclosure of the reasons for the decision. Visa application fee is not refundable.
11.According to ROC Entry, Exit and Immigration Law, foreigners are prohibited to engage in activities different from their purposes of visiting Taiwan. Therefore, those who visit Taiwan on a short-term visit visas (i.e. for the purposes of tourism, visiting relatives, business, attending international conferences and exhibitions, studying Chinese, employment, and religious mission) should depart within the prescribed time limit.
12.VISITOR VISA EXTENSION: Those who have been granted extendable 60-day or 90-day visas (i.e. their visas do not indicate: “No Extension”) can apply for visa extension from the local filed offices of the National Immigration Agency (NIA) within the prescribed time limit of their first stay. However, it is up to the National Immigration Agency to approve or disapprove such application. Except for some extraordinary cases, the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not the competent authority for visitor visa extensions, and therefore does not accept applications thereof. For detailed information, please refer to the NIA website: www.immigration.gov.tw.
