Buzz
Taiwan has become an increasingly attractive destination for Vietnamese travelers, especially the youth. With its numerous stunning attractions and affordable culinary scene, Taiwan offers a lot to explore. Moreover, the visa application process for Taiwan is simpler compared to countries like Japan, South Korea, the US, and European countries. However, recent changes in Taiwan's visa policy for Vietnamese citizens have caused quite a stir on social media.
Many Vietnamese tourists are now feeling anxious and concerned about these changes. So, what exactly has Taiwan changed and tightened in its visa policy that has been causing a buzz lately?
According to an official announcement from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam, the duration of stay for foreign tourists using visa-exempt entry to Taiwan will change as follows:
- Citizens of 6 countries including India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam applying for visa-exempt entry to Taiwan will have their stay duration reduced from 30 days to 14 days.
- Moreover, citizens of these 6 countries, if having valid or expired (within 10 years) visas or residence permits from the US, Canada, Japan, the UK, EU (European Union countries), Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan, will also only be granted visa-exempt entry to Taiwan for a stay of 14 days.
- Note that if your passport is not valid for at least 6 months or if you fail to present a visa or residence permit from the designated countries mentioned above, you will be denied entry to Taiwan.
- Additionally, if your online registration is unsuccessful or if you haven't received a certificate, meaning you don't meet the conditions for visa-exempt entry to Taiwan, you will have to follow the regular procedure by going to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam to apply for a visa.
- This new regulation will take effect from August 1, 2018 (those who have been granted before August 1, 2018 will still maintain the 30-day duration).
With the tightening of stay duration and visa issuance for Vietnamese tourists as mentioned above, obtaining a visa may be slightly more challenging now. However, with a clear travel purpose, a good background, and a complete application, obtaining a visa is still within reach, and you can still apply for a visa on your own without relying on expensive services.
Understanding these concerns, today Mytour will guide you on what to keep in mind when applying for a Taiwan tourist visa so you can travel worry-free. Generally, when applying for an independent tourist visa, there are 4 things you need to prove to the visa issuing authority:
- You have enough money to cover your trip.
- You have a stable job, assets, and responsibilities in Vietnam.
- You do not intend to stay in that country.
- You understand what you will do, where you will go, and proactively arrange your trip.
In this sharing, Mytour will provide details on the necessary documents and guide you through the visa application process for each specific case to make it easy for you to follow!
1. If you are eligible for visa exemption:
Conditions for visa exemption for traveling to Taiwan:
According to the announcement, from August 1, 2018, Vietnamese citizens, if provided with the following documents by the US, Canada, Japan, the UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, will be considered for visa exemption to Taiwan for 14 days, specifically documents such as:
- Valid residence permit or permanent residency card
- Valid visa (including e-visa, but must be printed)
- Expired residence permit or visa within 10 years.
If you meet the above conditions, please visit the website: https://niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw/nia_southeast to apply for an e-visa. After completing the required information, the website will display whether your application is approved or not. If approved, simply print the document and bring it with you for boarding and immigration procedures. In case you do not receive a notification or receive a notification of disapproval, you will not be exempted from a visa, and to enter Taiwan, you must proceed with the Taiwan tourist visa application as usual.
Here is a detailed guide on how to submit an E-visa for those who meet the criteria (If not, scroll down below!)
Step 1: Access the website above and choose the language you want to use. It is recommended to choose Vietnamese for ease of use.
Step 2: Review the Taiwan e-visa application procedures, then click Next.
Step 3: Read carefully the stipulated conditions and necessary precautions, then click Next.
Step 4: Fill in personal information.
- Full name without accents.
- Flight/ Vessel No: flight number on departure date.
- Expect Entry Date: The date you will enter Taiwan.
- Occupation: Your current occupation, if not found in the list, select Other.
- Purpose of Visit: Select Sightseeing.
- Home Address: If staying at a hotel, specify the hotel name. If staying with relatives or renting Airbnb, select the city and specify the address.
- Phone: Enter the country code 84 (without the + sign), for example 84 953142125.
- Email: Enter your email address.
- Special conditions: Select the type of document you have (Visa or residence permit from the list) to enter information. Usually, you will have tourist visas for those countries, so select “Person with immigration permit”, then select the Country that issued the visa to you. Next, enter the Visa number in the “Card Number” box. Once completed, click “NEXT”, or if you want to re-enter, select “RE-FILL”.
Step 5: The website will display all the information you have entered. Please double-check carefully. If you find any errors, you can select “Back” to return to the previous section to correct the information. If you have thoroughly checked, you can click “Submit”.
Step 6: If you meet the specified conditions, the system will immediately display the e-visa result for you. Under the image is the word “Approved”, indicating approval. Now, simply click “PRINT” to save the e-Visa file (in PDF format) to your computer.
This is the e-visa you will receive after successfully applying for visa exemption
Step 7: Print the file and bring it with you on your trip. That's it, you have completed the e-visa application process.
As you can see, applying for a visa on your own is not difficult at all if you understand the process and prepare your documents carefully following the steps provided by Mytour. If you still hesitate because you think you might face difficulties in applying for a visa, consider contacting service centers for more detailed assistance.
2. If you do not meet the requirements for visa exemption:
If you do not meet the requirements for visa exemption to enter Taiwan or if you do not receive any notification or receive a notification of unsuccessful application for e-visa, then you must submit an application for a tourist visa to Taiwan at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. Below are the necessary documents you need:
1. Passport valid for at least 6 months: original and 1 photocopy
2. Visa application form: Visit the link https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw, select General Visa Applications, fill out the form, then print it out along with other relevant documents.
3. 2 photos 4×6: white background taken within the last 3-6 months
4. Employment Certification
- Employment contract (Submit photocopy, original for verification and return)
- Health insurance (Submit photocopy, original for verification and return)
- Social insurance (Submit photocopy, original for verification and return)
- Photo copy with authorized company representative's signature confirming vacation leave for travel purposes.
- If you are a business owner, provide a certified copy of the business registration certificate in your name.
5. Financial Proof
- Bank savings account statement
- Land, property, asset certificates
- Minimum asset value of 100 million VND.
- Note: Submit photocopy, original for verification and return.
6. Round-trip Flight Ticket
7. Hotel Booking
8. Itinerary: The more specific, the easier to apply. You can refer to Mytour's itinerary here.
Visa Application Centers
- From Da Nang to the South: Submit at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office at 336 Nguyen Tri Phuong, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone Number: (04) 3833 5501 – (04) 3833 5505 (extensions 128, 129, 130)
Email: [email protected]
- From Hue to the North: Submit at Room 305, 5th Floor, HITC Building, 239 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi
Phone Number: 08-39621745/50
Email: [email protected]
- Normally, you will have to visit this office 3 times: once to get an appointment for submitting documents, one day for submission (if you go early, you can submit on the appointment day), and one day to pick up the visa.
- The visa processing time is about 5 working days.
Document Submission Time
Tourist visas can only be submitted in the morning, so please note not to go in the afternoon or you will have to return the next day. You should allocate a whole morning for submitting documents because you never know when it's your turn, even if you queue up early.
On the website of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, there is an official announcement regarding the visa submission time as follows:
- Drawing queue number: only before 11 a.m. (the remaining time of the day is for processing the documents of numbers drawn before 11 a.m. – after 11 a.m., you can't draw a number anymore, so you won't be able to submit documents on the same day. Therefore, note that even if you want to submit documents in the afternoon, you still have to draw a number before 11 a.m. and then come back in the afternoon.)
- Document submission time:
- Morning: 8:30-12:00
- Afternoon: 13:30-17:30
Visa Application Fee
- Single-entry visa: 50 USD
- Multiple-entry short-term visa: 100 USD
- If you want expedited processing, the consulate will charge an additional 50% of the prescribed fee.
- Visa fees are payable in USD so remember to exchange money.
Taiwan Visa Interview
For most tourist visas to Taiwan, interviews are not required, but there are still some cases where the embassy requests them. You need to maintain an honest, confident, and relaxed demeanor.
Review the information on the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office website; try to answer smoothly and clearly that you have a job, stable life, many ties in Vietnam so you won't stay in Taiwan permanently; and when staying in Taiwan, you also know where you're going and what you're doing.
Some notes:
- If you're traveling with your parents and they're still of working age or are homemakers, you'll need their labor contracts, social insurance, health insurance of the child along with the family household registration book, and the child's birth certificate to prove the relationship (bring original & photocopy, no need for translation or notarization).
- The simplest (and probably most reliable) financial proof is a savings account. Some cases try other documents like land use certificates, but they're still not accepted and you're asked to submit a savings account. Additionally, if you have assets in investment funds, or other sources, you can print them out for proof, of course with the stamp of confirmation from those organizations.
- If you're a student, instead of a leave request, you request a leave of absence (with the seal of the student political affairs office, for example), and of course, since you're not working, but the documents related to financial capability and work must be your parents'. Therefore, you submit your parents' labor contracts, savings account in their name, and submit along with household registration or birth certificate to prove your relationship with your parents (the person named in the aforementioned documents). The remaining document sections should be prepared similarly as in the article.
That's it, the documents are ready, just prepare yourself with confidence and relaxation, and you'll get the visa – Don't worry too much. Wishing you success in applying for a visa soon and having a great trip to Taiwan with Mytour. Don't forget to click now to discover more travel services and attractive offers in Taiwan from Mytour!
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