Starting on March 7, 2022, Taiwan will allow foreign business travelers to enter the country for the following business purposes. This article contains information on the latest quarantine policy and the types of business visas and how to apply for them.
Chapter List
Taiwan opens its borders to all business travelers
On February 24th 2022, Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that Taiwan will allow nonresident business travelers to enter Taiwan starting March 7th, 2022.
Who are "business travelers"?A. Foreign nationals:
These individuals may enter Taiwan for business activities including business visits, investment, fulfilment of contractual obligations, and employment. All applicants should apply for a special entry permit at an R.O.C. overseas representative office
B.People from China, Hong Kong and Macao:
These individuals may enter Taiwan to fulfil contractual obligations or as part of internal transfers within multinational enterprises. For Chinese nationals, the company or institution inviting them should apply for a special entry permit on the online application system of the National Immigration Agency, and Hong Kong and Macao residents should apply for a special entry permit at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong or Macao, or an R.O.C. overseas representative office in their place of residence.
Foreign professionals who are eligible to apply for business visas also include:
NB: All nonresident business travelers must cooperate with all epidemic prevention measures, provide related documents for entry, and abide by related regulations. Visa application for business travelers to Taiwan
Visitor Visa For Business purpose
Eligible applicants
Foreign nationals who hold ordinary passports or other travel documents, intend to stay in the R.O.C. ( Taiwan ) for less than six (6) months for the purpose of engaging in business.
Documents required to apply for visitor visa for business purposes:
Completed and signed application form
Completed and signed application form which you can access through this website.Remember to print it out and ensure the application form shows a barcode on it.
Fill the online visitor visa form for Business purpose Taiwan,step-by-step guide:
The original and photocopy of your passpord
The original and photocopy of your passport(valid for more than 6 months and must have blank pages.)
2-inch colour photos
2-inch colour photos(with white background) taken within 6 months.
Evidence of business activities
Details of the contact person in Taiwan
Details of the contact person in Taiwan ( For e.g. name, address, telephone number...etc.)
Other additional documents
Other additional documents may be required during the process. For e.g. a ticket, electronic ticket, or proof of a travel agency etc.
Required documents from the guarantor of visa applicants
Required documents from the guarantor of visa applicants from designated countries wishing to conduct commercial business in Taiwan:
Applying for the visitor visa for business purposes at TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office):
When you have gathered all the documents, take them to any one of the (preferably the closest) Republic of China (Taiwan) embassies in your country and they will apply for the visitor visa for business purposes on your behalf. Ensure to call the embassy before your trip to confirm that all your documents are prepared according to their regulations. It is important to note that documents may vary slightly per country.
NB1: Interview may be required when necessary. NB2: Visa-exempt entry, visa on arrival, and e-visa services remain suspended. NB3: The Republic of China (Taiwan) has the right to refuse applications for visas without providing any explanation for such decisions; visa application fee is not refundable. Application fee for US passport holders: $US160 for US passport holders (regardless of single or multiple entry visa). Application fees for all countries except the United States:
The processing time for a Taiwan visa depends on the country from which you are applying. Generally speaking it does not take long and varies from 2-10 working days from the time the embassy received your completed application. You should inquire with the Taiwan diplomatic mission through which you are applying to make sure. Resident visas, on the other hand, may take longer.
Visitor/Resident Visa for employment purpose(Taiwan)
Eligibility: Foreign nationals who have found a job in Taiwan.
NB:This does not mean foreign nationals who will travel to Taiwan and then begin their search for employment.
Taiwan work permit
In order to work in Taiwan, a foreign worker must first sign an employment contract with the company, where the company must then apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor before the worker may work in Taiwan. A work visa and an Alien Residence Certificate is required to legally reside in Taiwan during the duration of employment in Taiwan.
How to apply for a Taiwan work permit ?
Employers are responsible for applying for a work permit on behalf of their employees. They can choose to apply for the work permit in one of the following ways.
1) Online through Taiwan’s Workforce Development Agency (WDA) of the Ministry of Labour website. 2) Mailing or delivering an in person physical application to Taiwan’s Workforce Development Agency (WDA) of the Ministry of Labour. NB:Work Permit applications for teachers are not available at Taiwan’s Workforce Development Agency. They need to be collected at the Taiwan Ministry of Education. Individuals who have successfully gotten their work permit can then proceed to apply for the Taiwan employment visa. Documents required to apply for visitor/resident visa for employment purpose:
Completed and signed application form
Completed and signed application form which you can access through this website.Remember to print it out and ensure the application form shows a barcode on it.
Fill in the application form, you can refer to the step-by-step guide.
The original and photocopy of your passport
The original and photocopy of your passport (valid for more than 6 months and must have blank pages).
2-inch colour photos
2-inch colour photos (with white background) taken within 6 months.
An approval Letter
An approval Letter(like a work permit) issued by the Ministry of Labour in Taiwan which your employer will apply for on your behalf.
Other additional documents
Other additional documents may be required during the process for example a ticket, electronic ticket or proof of a travel agency.
Applying for the visitor/resident visa for employment purposes(Taiwan)
At TECO(Taipei Economic and Cultural Office):
When you have gathered all the documents, take them to any one of the (preferably the closest) Republic of China (Taiwan) embassies in your country and they will apply for the visa on your behalf. Ensure to call the embassy before your trip to confirm that all your documents are prepared according to their regulations. It is important to note that documents may vary slightly per country.
NB1: Interview may be required when necessary. NB2: Visa-exempt entry, visa on arrival, and e-visa services remain suspended. NB3: The Republic of China (Taiwan) has the right to refuse applications for visas without providing any explanation for such decisions; visa application fee is not refundable. Application fee for US passport holders :$US160 for US passport holders (regardless of single or multiple entry visa).
Application fees for all countries except the United States.
Visitor/Resident visa for investment
Eligibility:
Foreign nationals who can provide one original and one photocopy of proof of investment issued by competent authorities of the central government of the R.O.C. (Taiwan). A minimum investment amount of 200,000.00 USD is required. For more information please visit this website.
Documents required to apply for resident visa for investment:
Completed and signed application form
Completed and signed application form which you can access through this website. Remember to print it out and ensure the application form shows a barcode on it. If you don’t know how to fill in the application form, you can refer to the step-by-step guide.
Two colour passport-size photos
Two colour passport-size photos with a white background taken within six months. The photos must be pasted on the application form.
Passport and one photocopy of the passport
The passport must be valid for at least 6 months and there are blank pages left in it. One photocopy of the passport bio-page including the holder’s picture is required.
Original and one photocopy of proof of investment
Original and one photocopy of proof of investment issued by competent authorities of the central government of the R.O.C. (Taiwan). According to "Regulations on the Operation of Foreign Investors or Representatives of Foreign Corporations Applying for Resident Visas," a minimum investment amount of 200,000.00 USD is required.
Other supporting documents
Other supporting documents which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who apply for a Resident Visa after having arrived in the R.O.C. (Taiwan) are required to present also one photocopy of the Visitor Visa and the immigration entry stamp.
Applying for the resident visa for investment at TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office):
When you have gathered all the documents, take them to any one of the (preferably the closest) Republic of China (Taiwan) embassies in your country and they will apply for the visa on your behalf. Ensure to call the embassy before your trip to confirm that all your documents are prepared according to their regulations. It is important to note that documents may vary slightly per country.
NB1: Processing of Resident Visa application inside the R.O.C. (Taiwan) takes 8 work days. Resident Visa applicants are advised to apply to the Bureau of Consular Affairs 8 work days before the duration of stay expires. NB2: Those who enter the R.O.C. (Taiwan) without a visa or with a landing visa and those who currently stay in the R.O.C. (Taiwan) as blue collar workers may not apply for a Resident Visa on the ground of investment. NB3: The Republic of China (Taiwan) has the right to refuse applications for visas without providing any explanation for such decisions; the visa application fee is not refundable. Application fee for US passport holders:$US160 for US passport holders (regardless of single or multiple entry visa).
Application fees for all countries except the United States
Flow chart for Visitor/Resident Visa application
Taiwan quarantine and self-health management regulations for business travelers.(effective March 7th 2022-present)
New regulations
1. All arrivals will be required to quarantine for a period of 10 days followed by 7 days of self-health management.
2. The arrival should quarantine at home or a residence of his or her family or friends (one person per residence). If the principle of one person per residence cannot be followed, the arrival should complete the 10-day quarantine at a quarantine hotel. 3. Family members/household members who arrive on the same day can choose to quarantine together in their home or a residence of their friends or family. They can also choose to quarantine together at a quarantine hotel. Under this condition the principle of one person per residence is not necessary. What does one person per residence mean?
1. Arrivals need to have an independent address, and the living area needs to be separated from other non-quarantine members.
NB: If you are not sure whether your house meets the requirements of one person per residence, you can call the local government in your city responsible for quarantine and they will have it checked for you
▲Source:Taiwan centre of Disease Control
Testing measures
1. PCR testing:
A total of 2 tests will be conducted; one upon arrival at the airport and the other at the end of quarantine (day 10) as shown in the picture. The latter will be done at a hospital or a location arranged or designated by their local government. Individuals who have a negative test can then move on to do 7 days of self-health management.
NB: Both tests are sponsored by the Taiwan government. 2. At-home rapid antigen tests:
A total of 5 test kits will be given; the tests should be taken on the 3rd, 5th and 7th day of quarantine. During the self-health management period, individuals will be required to take another at home rapid test on the 2nd and 4th day.
NB: The rapid antigen tests kits will be sponsored by the Taiwan government. Quarantine protocols to follow before you arrive in Taiwan:
1. Booking a quarantine & self-health management hotel in Taiwan
2. Take a PCR test within 2 days of departure
Have a negative RT-PCR test issued within 2 days of your departure date.
3. Fill in the Quarantine System for Entry Form
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